Maslenitsa, Russian Pancake Week

Activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There are many Orthodox people of different nationalities living in Estonia, who celebrate most of the folk calendar holidays according to the "old" or Julian calendar. So it is also with Shrovetide or Maslenitsa. Orthodox people celebrate Maslenitsa (which stands for “butter week”) for a whole week. Maslenitsa is followed by a 7-week Lent, which requires a quiet lifestyle and abstention from fatty food. Therefore, during the butter week, the stomach is eaten full, people visit each other and enjoy the joys of winter.

On the village green between Seto Farm and Peipus-Russian dwelling
Enjoy sporty outdoor activities like skiing and sledging.
Take part in trials of strength and different folk games.
Hot blinis served straight from the pan.
Try a cup of tea boiled in a samovar.

Eating meat is given up for the Lent on a Sunday already before the beginning of the butter week. So the favourite Maslenitsa dishes are hearty blinis with different fillings. A Russian saying even goes that there is no Maslenitsa without blinis. The golden pancake symbolizes sun coming out after the long winter and bringing us the awaited spring.

At 12 p.m. Folklore group Ošmes introduces Shrovetide customs of one of the ethnic minorities living in Estonia – The Udmurts
At 1 p.m. Concert of Russian folk songs by Konstantin Sedov and Sander Udikas
At 2 p.m. Folklore group Bõlitsa introduces Slavic Shrovetide customs and shows how to make a ritual straw doll.
At 3 p.m. The winter is sent away by burning a ritual straw doll “chuchela” in the bonfire.

During Maslenitsa, it is customary to make a big straw doll dressed as a woman, which will be burned in a bonfire at the end of the butter week. This also symbolizes sending away the winter and welcoming spring. The doll (also called Maslenitsa) is carried through the village and every family can attach items to it that they wish to get rid of. All the bad from present year is sent away with the doll to start the spring clean and fresh.

At the newer dwelling of the Seto farm
Preparing Shrovetide dishes traditional to the Setos (oven-baked blinis from buckwheat flour).

At the older dwelling of the Seto farm
Workshop: making straw dolls.
Shrovetide blini fortune-telling.

At the barn of Seto farm
Blinis with various fillings and Estonian favourite Shrove Tuesday dishes like semla buns, pea soup and barley cake are offered at Kolu Inn’s Shrovetide café. Here, you can also refresh yourself with hot drinks.

Peipus-Russian dwelling
Preparing Shrovetide dishes and drinks of the Russian Old Believers (making honey gingerbreads and sbiten – hot drink with spices)


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