Maslenitsa, the “Farewell to the Russian Winter”, is one of the most exciting, joyful and tasty festivals of the year. It is celebrated very enthusiastically and flamboyantly all over Russia over a period of 7 days. This ancient pagan celebration, with origins stretching back many centuries, has now become one of Russia’s most popular folk festivals with colorful rites, dances, songs, games and fairs – a festival filled with the beauty, distinctive style and rich variety of traditional crafts, as well as the main culinary delicacy of the season – delectable wheat, buckwheat, oatmeal or maize pancakes – along with many creative variations.
The goal of all these Maslenitsa traditions is to chase the winter away and wake up nature from its long sleep. In olden days, a popular element of Maslenitsa was a straw dummy dressed in woman’s clothes, included in all their celebrations, which was burned on a bonfire on the last day of the week.
Nowadays, the most important Maslenitsa treats are the pancakes. They are made every day from Monday to Sunday; each and every housewife having her own interpretation of the classic recipe.
Back in pagan times, making pancakes was already a tradition in Ancient Rus. The people called on Yarilo, the sun god, to banish the winter; the round golden pancakes were seen as a symbol of the sun.
Each day of the Maslenitsa week has its traditional name, which refers to the activity associated with it. Monday is the “Welcoming in of the Festival”.
Tuesday is “Competition Day”.