1. Maslenitsa By: Rudy Cervantez and Eric Hernandez

2. What is Maslenitsa? • Russian: Ма́сленица • Also known as the pancake weeks • Everyday there is a different celebration with a different meaning • Initiated in the Ancient Slavic days • Welcoming of Spring • The week before lent • Three week celebration there is no limitation in diet • The word originated from the word maslo which means butter or oil in Russia

3. When is it Celebrated? Maslenitsa is celebrated between the months of February, March, and April.

4. How do Russians celebrate? • They consume the blini because “it embodies the sun’s grace and might, helping to warm up the frozen earth” • They dance a round dance known as khorovod • Monday: The welcoming of Malenitsa the building of ice hills and sea saw. Make a doll out of straw place it on a pole while dancing khorovod. Later the doll is carried to the top of a snow hill and people enjoy sliding down the hill. • Tuesday: Play day most of the fun happens this day. The kids dig tunnels on the snow hills while performers go from home to perform. Men can kiss any girl they want. The purpose of Tuesday is to make it easier for couples to hook up.

5. Wednesday: “The Sweet Tooth day” on this day son in laws would pay a visit to their mother in laws house and eat blinis. At the end of the day, people sing songs to appreciate mother in laws and their homes. • Thursday: “Boling point” On Thursday ,fistfights take place to acknowledge Russian military. The only rule not tolerated is never his the opponent when on the ground. The young kids go around singing songs asking for candy. • Friday: “Mother in Law eve” Mother in law treats son in law to a lot of pancakes. • Saturday: “Sister in law gathering” wives would invite sister in law for a feast if they are single young men are to attend the party. • Sunday: “Day of forgiveness” on this day married couples visit relatives and friends and give them gifts. On this day the Maslenitsa doll is burnt. Once it is in ashes young people would walk over them making it the end of the Maslenitsa week(s)

6. What kind of foods do they eat? What does the food signify? Throughout the whole week the people eat of Blinis they toppings from jelly to having mushrooms. The Blini signify the sun.

7. How old is this holiday? When did Russians start celebrating it? • It is really hard to tell exactly when this tradition began. From research the tradition originated in the Pagan and early Christian times. • The date for when the Russian began celebrating this holiday is unknown What is the religious aspect of the holiday? • The religious aspect of the tradition is the welcoming of lent What is the pagan/folk aspect of the holiday? • Maslenitsa is associated with rebirth or renewal

8. Maslenitsa evolve throughout time 1878 1919 2006

9. Video of Maslenitsa experience • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ5g2iCd9RY&list=WLu7Y-YK5uf1z2b63Vvf50Ey0yk0DIizkT&hd=1

10. References • https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=R0E3y382srO8DM&tbnid=RcClpBmZ3uAmHM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhavetwinswilltravel.com%2F2013%2F03%2F17%2Fmaslenitsa.aspx&ei=R4esUscTidDZBaedgLgJ&bvm=bv.57967247,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNEOMoDFm6lZxKjYnWOhlnY9MSoy6A&ust=1387124378484092 • http://www.asdk12.org/schools/turnagain/pages/MIR/ • http://en.newstyle-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Maslenitsa_2012_FINAL.jpg • http://russiapedia.rt.com/of-russian-origin/maslenitsa/ • http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/97538/97538,1329290563,1/stock-photo-pancakes-with-red-and-black-caviar-the-celebration-of-maslenitsa-russian-religious-and-folk-95199766.jpg • http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Maslenitsa_kustodiev.jpg/1280px-Maslenitsa_kustodiev.jpg • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Au_maslenitsa.JPG • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD_%D0%9C%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0_1878.jpg • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ5g2iCd9RY&list=WLu7Y-YK5uf1z2b63Vvf50Ey0yk0DIizkT&hd=1