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.

Maslenitsa is the Russian version of Carnival, with eating, drinking, sledding, games, and costume parades. Like many spring festivals it's a melding of Christianity and Earth Religion, and all of its events still focus on driving away the winter and re-awakening nature.

In Russia, Maslenitsa lasts the entire week, and ends with Forgiveness Sunday, the day before the start of Orthodox Lent, on Clean Monday (February 27th this year).

Agenda:

1. Choose a theme for Lent

2. Set intentions for Lent

2. Make an effigy doll

2. Make blini pancakes

1. Choose a theme for Lent:

This year, since Orthodox and Western Lent are in conjunction, I I will take time on Maslenitsa to plan for my Lent celebration, which begins next week. 

I choose the double theme of Active Hope and Resilience: 

Active Hope requires that I maintain a clear view of reality; identify what I hope for - the direction I’d like things to move in and the values I'd like to express; and take steps to move in that direction.

Resilience is a set of practical skills that allow me to be strong, flexible, creative, hopeful, and positive, and to successfully adapt to stressors, and bounce back from difficult experiences.

2. Set intentions for Lent

At Lent I allow myself to be slow, simple, and thoughtful. I spend time each day in focused study and prayer. 

And I also observe Lent as a time of creative action, taking small and large actions at home and in my community.

And I generally also choose something to temporarily reduce or cut out of my life, as a reminder that what I truly need is the nurturing of Spirit (I try to choose something to fast from that is a good symbol of how I am trying to grow).

My intentions this year are to:

• Read and Journal: I intend to study two books: Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit, and 5 Resets by Aditi Nerurkar (resilience skills); also dive in to articles on climate crisis and solutions, and practical nature-culture.
• Resilience skills: I will build new skills to become strong, flexible, creative, hopeful, positive, to adapt to stressors, and bounce back from difficult experiences.
• Take creative action: I'm going to act on what I hope for - the direction I’d like things to move in and the values I'd like to express - with small and large actions at home, in my garden, in my community, and with writing and artwork.
• Fast: This year I'm going to fast from anything processed (packaged cookies, crackers, pasta, candy, canned goods, frozen dinners) as much as possible.

3. Review Essential Intentions:

This week I'm reviewing and recommitting to my core values, and writing new intentions. I ask-

How do I define each of my values?

Why do I value them? Why is it so important to me?

What right action or good deeds do I intend each day?

How do I intend to live, to support and demonstrate my values?

When I turn my values into intentions, they become a pledge for action in the moment - they remind me of my deepest, most essential, most passionate reasons for leading a valuable life. It's vital for me to define my values and principles in a way that touches me at my core, and hone each one down to a phrase that will be useful, day in and day out.

I'm working at this a little each day:

I intend to be a witness to my family, friends and community, by speaking truth with words and actions (choosing those that align me with my highest self), and work diligently on the skills that will serve me as a witness: Resilience, inspirational speaking, equanimity, teaching and writing skills, because my main mission in life is to be a creative force for change, and holding myself to high standards is how I honor the Light of Truth and Love, and manifest self transcendence.

4. 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.

The Maslenitsa doll is a representation of Jarilo's sister, who's name is Morena or Marzanna, the goddess of death, winter and nightmares. The effigy can be any size, from a small doll to a life-sized statue. (Instructions for the large doll seen above are here.)

One year I made this small doll, and took her with me  everywhere, in my pocket and on my handlebars, all week!

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 or scrap cloth into a ball and cover it with the 6″x6″ piece of fabric. 

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.

6- Draw a face with pens if you want.

2025 dolls

5. 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.