Reviving Maslenitsa



(Lady Maslenitsa)

Although traditionally, Lady Maslenitsa (aka Kostroma) was burned on Forgiveness Sunday (aka “Cheesefare Sunday,” the last Sunday before Orthodox Great Lent begins) - she was revived each year at the beginning of Cheesefare Week (the week before Orthodox Great Lent begins).  However, she was forced to remain somewhat dormant and hidden during the repressive years of Soviet rule. 

Post Perestroika, the public Maslenitsa celebrations that once flourished throughout what is now Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are now being vigorously reinstated.  This Maslenitsa period roughly corresponds to the Western Christian Carnival season.  Wikipedia reports that it has roots in both pagan sun festivals (heralding the ending of winter) and Orthodox Christian rituals (being the last week before the fasting of Great Lent begins). 

During Orthodox Great Lent, it is not only forbidden to consume “meat, fish, dairy products and eggs” – but

“parties, secular music, dancing and other distractions from spiritual life” are also frowned upon.  Therefore,

Maslenitsa “represents the last chance to partake of dairy products [meat, fish and poultry have already been forsaken since the “Meatfare Sunday” before] and those social activities that are not appropriate during the more prayerful, sober and introspective Lenten season.”

Maslenitsa is therefore also known as Cheesefare Week, Butter Week, or Pancake Week.  Pancakes (bliny) are especially popular during Maslenitsa, and have represented the sun’s warm and golden circularity since ancient Slavic times.  Kerry Kubilius reports that Maslenitsa activities can include “troika rides, sledding, theater, puppets, singing and fireworks.”  Maslenitsa is also a family-oriented holiday during which much visiting occurs.

At the end of the week-long festivities, Lady Maslenitsa (a straw effigy) is often thrown into a bonfire “in order to say farewell to winter.”  Due to the stalwart efforts of many who refuse to let their heritage die, she shall surely rise again…        

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslenitsa

http://www.antiochian.org/fasting-great-lent

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bliny

http://goeasteurope.about.com/od/russia/a/maslenitsa.htm

Copyright February 25, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved