Spring is coming
Ukrainians celebrate Maslyanytsya
Maslyanitsa has been a holiday that Ukrainians love to celebrate. Associated with fun and happiness, Maslenitsa is meant to represent the return of the sun. Being a slavic holiday it had come from Pagan time, and was recognized after adoption Christianity.
The main sign of Maslenitsa is the Pancakes or Blini, associating them with the Sun, for they are warm, round, and golden. Blini are baked in every family, and then given out to friends and family during the week. Traditionally, blini are served up with caviar, mushrooms, jam, sour cream, honey and butter.
Cold and tired of winter, Ukrainians use this holiday as one last hurrah before the fasting that marks the Lenten period.
There are a lot of open-air games and traditions on Maslenitsa, such as theater playing, puppets, singing and dancing, troika rides. Bear performance is an old tradition, which can be watched now only in some cities of Russia at holiday time.
* Maslenitsa (also called "cheese-week") falls on the last week before the beginning of the Great Post (Orthodox Christians' tradition). In 2010, it falls on the week of February, 7 - 14.
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