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The Russian Culture has always been considered
unique in the whole world. Here are just some of the festivals
celebrated in Russia:
Maslyanitsa - Pancake Week
Maslyanitsa, meaning "butter" in Russian, is a
traditional carnival celebrated in the spring just before
Lent. During this week, people cook pancakes served with honey,
caviar, fresh cream and butter. It means that many different
rich foods, including butter, will be eaten before the time
when Lent comes. The traditional dish is a big round hot pan-cake,
with butter.
The pancakes symbolise the sun. The more butter or honey,
caviar and other delicious things, which is put on the pancake,
the hotter the sun is expected to be in the coming summer.
Russian pancakes are called bliny. They have a slightly
sour taste and the thickness of a few playing cards. The light
brown bliny are shaped like small suns, accounting for their
central role in this pagan festival celebrating the end of
winter, when the returning sun brightens the sky.
Nowadays, Maslyanitsa is celebrated at the end of February,
as a merry festival with dances, songs, national costumes,
attractions for children, hot tea and pancakes served outdoors.
Spas - Harvest Festivals
In August, the last month of the summer season, when the harvest
is sown, is the time usually spent to celebrate the three
holidays called "Spas".
The first "Spas" is called Honey Spas which is
celebrated on August 14.
The second "Spas" is called Apple Spas which is
celebrated on August 19.
The third one is called Nut Spas which is celebrated on August
29.
Spas brings cold dew to lands and meadows. After the first
Spas honey is collected, the second Spas brings fresh fruit
and the third one, nuts.
Troitsa
The folk holiday called Troitsa is widely celebrated in Russia.
On Troitsa the houses are usually decorated with fresh green
branches. A maiden's clothes are put on the young birch-trees
and songs and dances round the birch-trees take place. The
garlands made of birch branches and flowers are put into water
for fortune-telling. |
