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 one week before the Eastern Orthodox Lent. 

Carnival season starts on Epiphany (January 6) and ends at Lent. This is 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.

In Russia, Maslenitsa lasts the entire week before Orthodox Lent, which starts next Monday, March 2. Since the Western Lent starts a week earlier (this Wednesday, February 26), I sometimes celebrate Maslenitsa a week earlier, but this year I'm just going to have a shorter and simpler version of Maslenitsa.

Agenda:

1. Make an effigy doll
2. Make blini pancakes

1. Make an effigy doll:

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.

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.

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. One year I made this small doll to carry around with me in my pocket, and took her with me every where all week! 

(Instructions for the large doll seen above are here and instructions for the small doll are here.)

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. The recipe is here.