| Maslenitsa 2013 |
| Sunday, 10 March 2013 02:48 |
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Maslenitsa is celebrated during the week preceding the Lent. Every day of Maslenitsa was devoted to special rituals. These rituals are still alive; they exemplify the most appreciated traditions among Russians, but most importantly – their constant longing for fun! This year, Maslenitsa celebrations will be held across the country from March 11th through 17th. In St. Petersburg, the city’s parks, museums and restaurants are all busily preparing for the holiday. Visitors to local celebrations can look forward to mounds of buttery blini, swing rides and the burning of a Maslenitsa effigy. Known for its traditional foods and entertainments, the weeklong holiday is traditionally celebrated on a grand scale across both the city and the Leningrad region, and this year is no exception. Locally, festivities are planned for the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Summer Garden, which will be divided into interactive zones to cater for every taste. Over on Yelagin Island, the festival program will include trick horse riding shows and fiery pyrotechnics. Perhaps the most unusual Maslenitsa celebration of all will be held in 300 years St Petersburg's anniversary park in the city’s Primorsky district. According to the organizers, the park will be transformed into an attraction of intergalactic appeal. Among the festival-goers enjoying both intergalactic and Russian folk amusements, visitors to the park can expect to see people dressed as aliens. Plans for the holiday include a celebrity blini eating contest, a selection of “unearthly” treats and gifts, and a banya for little green men. In addition to all the musical entertainment, many museums both in the city and the wider Leningrad region will offer holiday programs specifically meant for children. The State Museum of Religious History, the Rozhdestveno Memorial Estate, the Benois Family Museum, the Khleb-da-sol Ethnic Leisure Center and the Skazkin Dom Interactive Museum will offer a compelling account of Maslenitsa to young visitors and introduce them to the nearly endless variety of holiday customs. Related Article: St-Petersburg Guide's Popular: |
