Maslenitsa
Slavic Butter Week Festival
Key Features
- Celebrated before Lent
- Week-long festivities
- Pancake (blini) feasts
- Winter farewell rituals
- Joyous celebrations
Daily Activities
- Monday - Welcoming
- Wednesday - Feasting
- Friday - Visiting in-laws
- Sunday - Forgiveness day
- Bonfire on final night
Historical Significance
Maslenitsa combines:
- Pre-Christian spring equinox rites
- Christian preparation for Lent
- Agricultural cycle celebrations
- Communal bonding traditions
- Ancestral remembrance
Regional Variations
Different Slavic Maslenitsa traditions:
- Russia - Large public celebrations
- Ukraine - Kolodka ritual
- Belarus - Kostroma effigy burning
- Poland - Zapusty festivities
Modern Observance
Contemporary Maslenitsa practices:
- City festivals and fairs
- Traditional food markets
- Winter sports competitions
- Cultural performances
- Tourist attractions