Maslenitsa festival, March 17, 2024, at the Children’s Center “Unity”

“How Emelya met Maslenitsa”

Shrovetide festivities “Shirokaya Maslenitsa” were held today on March 17 in a theatrical performance “How Emelya met Maslenitsa” at our Petrovsk – Zabaikalsky Children’s Center “Unity”. The day was filled with with songs, games …and pancakes! Maslenitsa is one of the most long-awaited and happy holidays of the year. Maslenitsa is loved by the population and across the centuries has retained its character as a folk festival. There is no one in Russia who doesn’t love this holiday!

The annual holding of “Maslenitsa” in our center has become a traditional and favorite holiday for children. The rich program allowed children and adults to plunge into the atmosphere of a old-fashioned Russian holiday, charged with energy and enthusiasm. In the first half of the day, a class was held, “Maslenitsa Miracle” for younger children under the guidance of our craftswoman Ms. Grekhneva. Then, the theatrical performance began with the greeting of the leading buffoons, who loudly invited the children to the holiday.

The main character of the performance was Emelya the Fool, a staple character of Russian fairy tales, who had to pass all the tests in preparation for the bright Maslenitsa holiday. Various obstacles and characters of the performance met on his way: Baba-Yaga, Leshiy, Koschey-the Immortal, Zimushka-Winter, and Spring. According to tradition, everyone who comes to the festival could try their hand at various contests and competitions, and prizes await the winners. But the most important thing is that everyone, without exception, received a charge of good spirits, and were able to participate in the all the contests such as “Pancake Eaters,” “Braid a braid,” “Tug of War,” “Hammer a nail,” “Jumping in bags,” “Pans and pancakes,” and “Snowstorm.” The children listened to folk Carnival melodies and songs with great pleasure, participated in fun contests, and danced.

At the end of the holiday, the audience enjoyed watching the main rite of Shrovetide week – the burning of an effigy of Maslenitsa, The Butter Queen, in a great bonfire which symbolizes the passing of winter and the arrival of the first spring warmth, and everyone could ask each other for forgiveness.

Happy holidays, dear friends!

Teacher-organizer: Poluyanova N.S.
Photo: Evsevleeva A.P.