Hina Matsuri and Clean Monday

Hina Matsuri is a Japanese festival that falls every year on March 3. It began in ancient times as a Shinto effigy ceremony to prepare farmers for the planting of spring crops: They would rub their negative energy off onto a doll, then float it down the river.

Today girl's set up displays of dolls, have a tea party, and - yes - some people still send dolls down the river.

Today is also Clean Monday, the first Monday of Lent, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. The clean originally referred to the purification of the soul for Lent. Today it's customary to clean the house thoroughly, and, in Greece, people go on picnics, eat shellfish, and fly kites!

Agenda today:

1. Make hina dolls and paper boats

2. The hina-okuri ceremony

3. Prepare to plant

4. Spring cleaning

5. Make hishi mochi and have a tea party

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

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. Make an effigy doll
2. Make blini pancakes

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 (March 7 this year).

Agenda:

1. Make an effigy doll
2. Make blini pancakes

3. Have a fire

4. Spring cleaning

Forgiveness Sunday

Today is Forgiveness Sunday in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It's officially the last day of the Maslenitsa festival in Russia. Lent starts tomorrow, on Clean Monday, in both the Russian and Greek churches.

Agenda Today:

1. Journal queries
2. Make Tyropita (Cheese Pie)
3. Have a fire
4. Ask forgiveness and offer forgiveness

Forgiveness Sunday

Today is Forgiveness Sunday in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It's officially the last day of the Maslenitsa festival in Russia. Lent starts tomorrow, on Clean Monday, in both the Russian and Greek churches.

Agenda Today:

1. Journal queries
2. Make Tyropita (Cheese Pie)
3. Have a fire
4. Ask forgiveness and offer forgiveness

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

First Sunday of Lent and Forgiveness Sunday

Today is Forgiveness Sunday in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It's officially the last day of the Maslenitsa festival in Russia. Lent starts tomorrow, on Clean Monday, in both the Russian and Greek churches.

But this is the first Sunday of Lent for those of us in the Western Church.

Agenda Today:

1. Journal queries
2. Make Tyropita (Cheese Pie)
3. Have a fire
4. Ask forgiveness and offer forgiveness

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 11. Since the Western Lent starts a week earlier (this Wednesday, March 6), I sometimes celebrate Maslenitsa a week earlier, but this year I'm just going to have a shorter version of Maslenitsa.

Agenda this week:

1. Journal queries
2. Make an effigy doll
3. Make blini pancakes
4. Spring cleaning

First Sunday of Lent and Forgiveness Sunday

Today is the first Sunday in Lent, and also Forgiveness Sunday in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It's officially the last day of the Maslenitsa festival in Russia. Lent starts tomorrow, on Clean Monday, in both the Russian and Greek churches. 

Agenda Today:

1. Contemplate the testimony of equality
2. Journal queries
3. Go to a Racism Workshop
4. Ask Forgiveness

5. Make Tyropita (Cheese Pie)
6. Have a fire

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

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.

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave