Maslenitsa

Maslenitsa (масленица) is the oldest of all Russian holidays. It began as a spring equinox festival called Jarilo, named for the Slavic god of the vegetation and spring. Later it became a Christian holiday, starting on the Monday ten days before Lent- the Russian version of Carnival, with eating, drinking, sledding, games, and costume parades. Even though it's now Christian in theory, all of its events still focus on driving away the winter and re-awakening nature.

Our Maslenitsa doll from two years ago.

On the first day of Maslenitsa, the young people of each town make a straw effigy doll, dress it in bright clothing with ribbons, and take it around with them all week, for sledding and parties. The party atmosphere grows from day to day, and from Thursday through Sunday no one is allowed to work.

The last day of the festival- Sunday- is Forgiveness Day. People visit their relatives and bow to them to seek forgiveness for the wrongs of the past year. (The proper response is “God will forgive you”.) On Sunday evening, the whole town gathers to throw the effigy doll onto a huge bonfire. The doll symbolizes winter, and they hope that all their problems will leave along with winter.

Agenda this week:
1. Journal:
I celebrate this week in a muted way- I don’t live in an area that has big Carnival parties. In keeping with my theme this month of receptivity and nurturance, I will take some time this week to consider things I might be open to in the coming season of Lent.

How can I best nurture the seeds of inspiration growing in me now?
What might I fast from, or do without, in order to prepare for the joy of spring?
Who do I need to ask forgiveness of this week?

2. Make an effigy doll:

Our doll from 2 years ago had yarn hair.
This year we used a piece of cloth and tore strips
for a fringe.

The Maslenitsa doll is a representation of Jarilo's sister, named Morena or Marzanna, the goddess of death, winter and nightmares. The symbolism is of death and rebirth: Burning away the winter so that spring can return.

The effigy can be any size, from a small doll to a life-sized statue.

Supplies: Long stick, fabric, scissors, needle, thread, pens, yarn, string, straw or newspapers

1. Sew a head with two pieces of white fabric and a running stitch.  Draw a face with markers. Stuff with straw or newspapers.

2. Sew a tube for arms and stuff with straw or newspapers.

3. Cut a hole in the center of a large piece of fabric for a dress, and sew strips of cloth or ribbons all over it.

4. To put the doll together, begin by firmly tieing the arms to the long stick. 


Next slide the dress on from the top. Add the head and and tape at the neck. 

We invited our Maslenitsa doll to sit with us the rest of the day.

3. Make Blini Pancakes:

The name Maslenitsa comes from the word maslo, which is Russian for butter. 

During this week, Russians fast from meat, but eat a lot of rich, buttery blini (pronounced blee-NEE) pancakes. Once Lent begins people will eat even simpler foods, so this is the last chance for feasting!

In Russia, blini are eaten for remembrance of the dead, and also as a symbol of the spring sun.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 c. milk
• 1/3 c. butter
• 1/2 c. warm water
• 1 package of active dry yeast
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 c. white flour
• 1 c. buckwheat flour
• 3 large eggs
• oil
• toppings: berries, sour cream, whipped cream, jam, maple syrup, or caviar

Yeast getting bubbly.

1- Scald the milk. Add butter and stir until it melts. Cool to lukewarm.

2- Pour warm water into a large bowl, and sprinkle yeast over it. Stir, then let it sit for about 5 minutes, until it gets bubbly.

3- While the milk cools, combine the salt, sugar, white flour and buckwheat flour.

4- Divide the eggs. Add yolks to the milk and butter, and beat for 2 minutes with a spoon. Combine the milk mixture and yeast, and stir in the flour. Beat for 2 minutes.

5- Cover the bowl, and put it in a warm place until double, about 30 minutes.

6- Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Stir the batter down, and gently fold in the egg whites. Let stand 10 minutes more.

7- Lightly oil a griddle or frying pan, and heat to medium. Pour in a 1/4-cup of batter and spread it out with a spoon (good blini must be very very thin). Cook until the top is bubbly, then turn and cook the back.

8- Serve with berries, sour cream, whipped cream, jam, maple syrup, or caviar. Place the filling in the center of the pancake and roll it up.

4. Have a fire:

After spending the day with our Maslenitsa doll it was time to put it on the fire.

The kids initial response to the idea was "Why?! Why do we have to burn it?"

We talk about the symbolism of burning away the winter so that spring can return.

We talk about how people in different cultures do things that seem odd to us, but it's been their tradition for a very long time so it seems normal to them.

And because most of us have a primitive love of burning things, it took only a minute for them to be gleefully on board. In the end, we marched together out to our fire pit, planted it in the center, said a few words, and lit the match.

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