Figure 1.--This is the Maslenitsa mascot. It is a brightly dressed straw effigy of the old year called ‘Lady Maslenitsa'. The mascot takes a key role during the week long celebrations. On the Sunday evening as the celebrations draws to a close, the children burn the effigy. The ashes are buried in the snow to fertilize the earth so that crops will grow and bed plentiful.

Another important Russian Easter tradition is pancakes. Russian pancakes are bini and there are several different popular recipies for making the treats. Americans may have pancake days--the Russians have the mother of all pancake days--in fact an entire week. The last week in February is the week of Pancakes. The celebration is called Maslenitsa. While Maslenitsa has its place in the Russian Orthodox celebration of Easter, it is clealy a celbration with obvious pagan origins. Some see it as originating with the Celtic festival of Imbolc. Some say there were human sacrifices. Maslenitsa occurs near the end of end of winter and the beginning of the agricultural cycle. It is tied in with the idea of death and renewal, thus tieing Imbolc up with Easter. Pancakes (blini) are said to represent the warming round sun which brings life to the thawing soil. A variety of games are organized for the children. Russians after a wek of eating pancakes, on the final day of the week, burn an effigy of an old woman. She represents the old year which the Russians are putting behind them. is burned, representing the death of the old year, clearing the way for rebirth. This tradition may have ecolved from the Celtic human sacrifices. A reader in 2009 Russia has provided us some details about the celebration.

Bini

Another important Russian Easter tradition is pancakes. Russian pancakes are bini and there are several different popular recipies for making the treats. Americans may have pancake days--the Russians have the mother of all pancake days--in fact an entire week.

Dates

The last week in February is the week of Pancakes. The celebration is called Maslenitsa.

Pagan Origins

While Maslenitsa has its place in the Russian Orthodox celebration of Easter, it is clealy a celbration with obvious pagan origins. Some see it as originating with the Celtic festival of Imbolc. Some say there were human sacrifices.

Symbolism

Maslenitsa occurs near the end of end of winter and the beginning of the agricultural cycle. It is tied in with the idea of death and renewal, thus tieing Imbolc up with Easter. Pancakes (blini) are said to represent the warming round sun which brings life to the thawing soil.

Games

A variety of games are organized for the children. Russians after a wek of eating pancakes, on the final day of the week, burn an effigy of an old woman. She represents the old year which the Russians are putting behind them. This tradition may have ecolved from the Celtic human sacrifices.

2009 Celebration

A reader in 2009 Russia has provided us some details about the celebration. "The last week was interesting. It was Maslenitsa. This is a Russian pancake festival. It is a weeklong celebration before the start of lent. It starts on a Monday and finishes the following Sunday. This happened to be St David’s Day so there were other celebrations going besides Maslenitsa that final Day. In England, during the Russian celebrations occurred Pancake Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Maslenitsa is an ancient Russian tradition for it goes back to pagan times. It was then a spring fertility ritual. Orthodox Christianity came along and adapted this celebration to a Christian meaning. It is a festival of the sun. The idea is that winter has banished the sun but it comes to retake its position. In the process winter and the sun fight. The victor is of course the sun."

Created: 7:59 PM 3/6/2009
Last updated: 7:59 PM 3/6/2009