Getting to Know 'Maslenitsa', Russian Pancake Week — tastebook.com

Whole wheat blini with kimchi and Cheddar cheese. Photos: Katie Kosaya To mark the end of winter, Russians gather each year for Maslenitsa (“Масленица”) in celebration of the upcoming spring and the warmth it brings. Traditionally, the week-long holiday consisted of dances, songs, games, spring planning, and the burning of a giant scarecrow doll made of straw or rags—the effigy of winter. Today, Maslenitsa is primarily about plentiful and nourishing Russian food, similar to Mardi Gras or like a springtime Thanksgiving. Blini (“блины”) is the festival’s main treat. It’s one of the most ancient kinds of Russian food, created before the 10th century during pagan times. Blini had ritual significance: Round, blushing, and hot, they are a symbol of the sun rising over the land, brightening and lengthening the days.

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