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Welcome to Maslenitsa, the rich Slavic carnival traditions!
Maslenitsa is an Eastern Slavic holiday, that among other things, celebrates the end of Winter with festivities and fun. All are invited to come to enjoy the rich cultural offerings of this Slavic holiday, where there will be music, food, colorful costumes, games, and more. This event is FREE and family-friendly!
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Attendees will learn about what Maslenitsa represents to the culture and will delight with the traditional performances to be held.
The rituals of Maslenitsa are very unusual and interesting because they combine the end of the winter holiday rituals and the opening of new spring festivals and ceremonies, which were to promote a rich harvest. In Slavic mythology, Maslenitsa is a welcoming of spring or the celebration of winter's end. In Christian tradition, Pancake week is celebrated during the last week before Great Lent (the most important fasting season in the church year in Orthodoxy) or the 7th week before Orthodox Easter
Maslenitsa Mardi Gras is a family event with traditional performances, colorful costume parade, and games. There is music and of course a lot of food with the quintessential Maslenitsa delicacy: blini (pancakes) topped with caviar, mushrooms, jam, sour cream, and of course, lots of butter.
Blini (crepes) are essential to the celebration of Maslenitsa. Why blinis? Their round shape and warmth were meant to symbolize the sun.
Being warm, round, and golden they are an appropriate warning to the lingering cold weather. Crepes are King during Maslenitsa, but there's more to the festival than just-food. Our vendors featuring original art, unique gifts, Slavic artifacts souvenirs, jewelry, handmade treasures, home decor, outdoor furnishings consumable yummies, and a little more. See, touch and take home a piece of history at the Maslenitsa Slavic Mardi Gras Festival. You’ll discover the beauty and wonder of the Slavic culture.
According to the pagan beliefs, this is the time when Jarilo, the Sun god, melts the snow awaking Mother Nature with the powers of spring
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Then, of course, there was singing and dancing. There would be a bonfire, on which the scarecrow was be burned in a ritual to see off the winter at the end of the day. Winter was mocked and derided for bringing the frost but thanked for the winter fun and games.
Once the scarecrow caught the light, a Khorovod (traditional community circle dance) would begin. Once “winter” burned out, the final round of hijinks began: youngsters and young couples would jump over the bonfire, and their display of ability would thus bring the Butter Week festivities to a close.
