Maslenitsa 2024 brings blini feasts, sledding, and fiery spring traditions
Maslenitsa, a week-long celebration for Orthodox Christians, begins on March 11, 2024. This festive period is marked by feasting on blini, traditional pancakes symbolizing the sun and the coming of spring.
The week starts with a more subdued tone, but the mood picks up from Thursday. Activities include sledding, horse-drawn sleigh rides, circle dances, singing, and strength contests. Each day has its unique customs. Tuesday is 'Flirtation Day,' where young couples and matchmaking take place, and newlyweds display their happiness by sledding together. Wednesday is 'Sweet Tooth Day,' where sons-in-law visit their mothers-in-law for a stack of blini, emphasizing family ties and generosity. The week culminates on Sunday, with the burning of a straw effigy of Maslenitsa, marking the arrival of spring and asking each other for forgiveness. Historically, Thursdays featured fistfights on frozen rivers, seen as both sport and a way to release pent-up energy before Lent. Throughout the week, Russians bake and eat blini daily, sharing them with family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers.
Maslenitsa, a vibrant celebration of spring and family, concludes on Sunday, March 17, 2024. The burning of the Maslenitsa effigy signifies the end of winter and the beginning of a new season, both literally and metaphorically.
