Maslenitsa (Pancake Day)

Learn more about this unique yummy holiday and start to celebrate it!)

For a first side, it may sounds really strange, but this holiday is full of old traditions and brings a big sense to Eastern Slavic religious. Lets start…

Maslenitsa (Ukranian: Масниця, Масляна; Polish: Zapusty, also known as Butter Week, Crepe week, or Cheesefare Week). It has something in common with polish holiday Tlusty Czwartek.

Some facts of a holiday:

• is celebrated during the last week before Great Lent, that is, the eighth week before Eastern Orthodox Pascha (Easter).
• a sun festival, which brings news that spring is coming
• during the week of Maslenitsa, meat is already forbidden to Orthodox Christians, in addition it is the last week during which eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products are permitted, thus the name “Cheese-fare week” can be explained.
• is celebrated in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus

The other symbol of the celebrations is Lady Maslenitsa – a colorfully dressed scarecrow. At the peak of the holiday, poor Lady Maslenitsa is stripped and burnt in a bonfire which is the way of saying goodbye to the winter. Apart from that, people enjoy the time with carnivals, sleigh-riding, sledding or snowball battles.

The last day of Cheesefare Week is called “Forgiveness Sunday”. Relatives and friends ask each other for forgiveness and might offer them small presents. Everybody has to respond “God will forgive you”. That is the end of the Maslenitsa feast. The next day is called Clean day as everybody is clean of their sins.

This year Maslenitsa is celebrated from the 1st to 13th of March. The main celebrating day is the 7th of March. Don’t waste your time, gather your friends and celebrate this delicious holiday.

Here is a wonderful receipt for making tasty pancakes:

1 liter of milk

3 eggs

1 table spoons of sugar

10 table spoons of flour

pinch salt

5 table spoons of oil

• In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients until smooth. (the flour have to be add at last)
• Add a table spoon of oil to your frying pan and start to make pancakes.
• You may fry it either on one side or on both sides for approximately for 5 min. Then put it on the plate, fill in on your taste and eat!:)

I will go and eat my tasty pancakes, however, propose you to read my other post. Enjoy the Maslenitsa!)

Photo sources: 1; 2; 3.