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Maslenitsa is one of the biggest and most cheerful Russian and Slavic holidays. This holiday is celebrated by Russians and nearby Slavic countries for one week . Maslenitsa is a folk holiday with non-religious origins, rather it holds mythological elements related to Idolatry in olden Russia. People back then believed that after a long struggle between Spring and Winter, eventually Spring triumphs and spreads sunlight over the earth. Similar to Persian Nowruz holiday, Maslenitsa was celebrated the end of cold winter and greets spring and the warmth it brings. The symbol of this holiday is also the same as the one in Mithraism – the Sun. By Christianity and religious holidays gaining more popularity, the date of this holidays changed to the last week before the Great Lent which is held for 40 days. Maslenitsa is also known as the “cheese week” since during the days of fasting eating any milk, cheese and meat are forbidden by the orthodox church. So people seek to enjoy as many foods, cakes and cheese as possible during Maslenitsa. One of the top favorite foods in this holiday is “blini” which is the Russian equivalent of pancakes and can be eaten alone or with jam, honey, cream, cheese, caviar or meat. Each day of this holiday holds a unique tradition which are less celebrated nowadays due to our modern lifestyle and are only practiced in small towns and villages. The first day was dedicated to visiting family and friends. On the second day young ladies were introduced to bachelors who on the third day proceed to meet the lady’s family to ask their hand in marriage. The fourth day of Maslenitsa which is the most significant part of this folk holiday is the starting point of public celebrations and conflict resolutions which all lead to the final days where everyone is forgiven by each other. And finally after praying for the lost loved ones, people gather to set fire on the effigy of Maslenitsa – a symbolic act for throwing away past bitter memories and accepting good deeds and thoughts, also creating heat for the environment in preparation for the warmth to come in the future months. Experience Russia with ETours Russia, Professional DMC & Tour Operator. We are professional destination management company and tour operator in Russia. We can provide different services for your clients, our mission is to provide high quality services. - Moscow Tours - Saint Petersburg Tours - Kazan Tours - Sochi Tours - Murmansk Tours - Lake Baikal Tours - Kamchatka Tours - Altai Tours - Ulyanovsk Tours - Nizhniy Novgorod Tours - Trans-Siberian Tours For more information, kindly please contact our professional team #maslenitsa #moscow #holiday
