Just to spite the current 2-degree temps and 6 inches of suffocating snow, I think I should make pancakes today.
It is, after all, Maslenitsa—a weeklong Russian celebration that bids farewell to winter and gleefully welcomes in spring. The word “maslenitsa” comes from the Russian word meaning “butter.” It is believed that eating hot, round, buttery pancakes (bearing strong resemblance—err…sort of—to the sun) allows one to take in the warmth of the sun. Eating of pancakes was/is a way to encourage the sun to hurry up and thaw the earth. I found some traditional schedules of events for the celebration, which draws from both pagan and orthodox church customs. Here’s what I learned.
Monday is for welcoming the celebration. Start baking those pancakes and make a doll out of straw. Stick that doll at the top of a snow hill. I’m sure your front yard will work.
Tuesday is for playing. Start eating those pancakes. And supposedly on this day men are allowed to kiss any woman they pass. Um, what?
Wednesday is for feasting. Keep eating those pancakes.
Thursday is for merry-making, not to be confused with Tuesday’s playing. Fun outdoor games abound.
Friday is mother-in-law day. Son-in-laws invite their mom-in-laws over for their pancakes. (hope they have a good recipe)
Saturday is sister-in-law day. Female relatives gather for more pancake-eating and gift-giving.
Sunday is for forgiveness. Ask God and those around you for forgiveness. And I guess you are to burn the straw doll that you made on Monday. The doll symbolizes winter, and so burning it shows your efforts to send off winter until next year. I wonder if my neighborhood association would mind a little bonfire in my front yard?
Please, if you live in Minnesota, eat some pancakes this week!!
2 comments:
cool! i didn't even realize, but i ate some sun yesterday! it was very yummy too - pancakes with wild rice, fruit and nuts inside (at mill city cafe). just might have to continue eating sun all week. let the pancake feast begin!
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