Maslenitsa

Maslenitsa actually starts next week, February 12, but I celebrate it now to stay in harmony with the Western Lent calender.

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- 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.

Maslenitsa lasts one week and ends on the next Sunday with Forgiveness Day.

Agenda this week:

1. Journal queries
2. Make an effigy doll
3. Make blini pancakes
4. House clearing

1. Journal queries:
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? Who can I forgive?

2. 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. This year I decided to make a small doll to carry around with me in my pocket. (Instructions for the large doll seen above are here.)

Supplies: 6″x6″ piece of white fabric, stuffing (or newspaper), craft stick or twig, string, colorful fabric scraps, scissors, needle, thread, pens, yarn

1- Roll up some stuffing into a ball and cover it with the 6″x6″ piece of white fabric. (This year, I used blue fabric for the face, and stuffed it with a scrap of cloth.)


2- Insert a stick into the open end and tie at the neck with string.

3- Wrap a 6” x 6” patterned scrap of cloth over the head to form a scarf, and tie under the chin with another piece of string or yarn.

4- Wrap another 6” x 6” fabric piece around the bottom section of the doll and stick to form the body. The open end of the fabric should be at the back of the doll; tie it on with yarn.










5- Wrap a 3” x 6” piece of fabric around the shoulders of the doll to create a shawl and tie the ends together, or pin.

My doll will ride around in my pocket this week.

6- Draw a face with pens if you want.

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. House clearing:

February is when I begin to clear away the excess to make room for growth. Clutter might give me the illusion that I have important things to do, but it adds one more layer of chaos and confusion to my life.

Now that I've gotten the mold in my house under control I can concentrate on clearing surfaces, sorting the stuff on my shelves, and donating things I no longer need. I take it one room at a time, and this week I will start in the bedrooms:

• Look through my winter clothes and donate anything I haven't worn.
• Mend everything in my sewing basket.
• Clear off our bed headboard shelves.