Maslenitsa (Pancake week) is the only purely Russian Holiday that dates back to the pagan times. For seven days russian towns and villages jingle with bells, sing with garmoshkas and glare with gaily-painted dresses. The people are letting the long-annoying winter out and the long-awaited spring in.
The ounters in the Maslenitsa town are groaning with various dainties. There are the paunchy samovars with mellow tea, bunches of sweet-scented barankas, nuts and honey pies. Salted foods, various fish, caviar - choose and eat anything however much you like!
But the essential elements, of course, are pancakes (blini). Pancake is a symbol of sun. It is as round, gold and warm as the sun. Pancakes are served hot with either butter, or sour cream, or caviar, or mushrooms, or sturgeon - to any exquisite taste.
Where else can you take a horse-drawn sledge ride that will take your breath away? Or take a jaunty slip down an enormous ice slope? Or go round on a giant carousel? The Great Maslenitsa will reel you round in a dancing fairy-circle and your feet won't be able to keep still to the sprightly chastooshkas (gaily songs) and byword. Clowns and skomorokhs (histrions) will make you laugh to tears. The show goes on and on in the balagans (Punch-and-Judy shows) and theatres. And those who will not want to be simply a spectator can take part in the masquerade: to dress up beyond recognition or to muffle in a long fur coat and to drink a glass of vodka or a bear.
On the last day of the Great Maslenitsa the feasting and drinking ends up by burning down the scarecrow symbolizing winter thus saying goodbye to winter till the next year.
For the Russians Maslenitsa is like a carnival for the Italians, especially because the initial sense of festivals is the same: the Italian word "carnival" (carne-vale) means "farewell the beef!", and Maslenitsa that precedes the Great Lent, in old time was called "Myasopust" because it was forbidden to eat meat during this week.
The last day of Maslenitsa is called the Forgiveness Day. Everybody ask one another for forgiveness in order to redeem themselves from their sins before the Great Lent. They bow to one another and say, "God will forgive you". Maslenitsa is over and so is the winter giving way to the spring.
Everybody knows what the Russian Soul is! This is prowess, dare-devilry, and, of course, the famous Russian hospitality.
Samovar are not only the feature of home comfort, but the symbol of Russian hospitality.
Samovar is purely Russian invention. Its origin is connected with tea. Tea was delivered to Russia from the territory of West Mongolia in the 17th century and was used as medicine among the nobility.
The first samovar factory was founded in Tula by Nasar Usitsin in 1778. The town of gunsmiths became familiar to all the world as the center of samovar manufacture due to rich ore deposits, highly qualified masters who worked metals and location of Tula in the vicinity of Moscow.
Samovar manufacture appeared to be very profitable. Handicraftsmen quickly became manufacturers, workshops — samovar manufactures. In 1826 there were eight samovar factories, in 1896 — seventy.
Samovars were made from cupronic-kel, red and green copper, pinchbeck, in some cases — from silver. Sometimes they were plated with gold, silver, but basic metal was always — brass.
The highest peak of samovar manufacture in Tula is related to the 80s of the 19-th century.
Among monuments of folk domestic art samovars occupy specific place. Samovars may be considered not only as domestic utensils, some of them are real works of applied arts.
Each of true samovar masters wanted to astonish the customers with their creative fantasy. Strict design, durability in combination with decorative qualities caused interest to samovars all over the world.
Tula samovars were presented at the exhibitions in Russia and abroad.
Traditional Russian dresses from the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries will be put on display, thanks to the collector Sergey Glebushkin from Moscow, Russia.
The ensemble of Russian Traditional Instruments Razdolie from Moscow brings a new dimension of traditional Russian folk instruments presenting music of different styles. The group includes the young artists whose combined musical experiences demonstrate mastery of both their instruments and the music they present.
The Kozak Family Trio is a world renowned musical group. Valentina , Alexander and Olyia have been in the United States since 1990. Valentina holds numerous world titles including "Distinguished Artist of Belarus" and the "Best Performer of European Folklore" (Bratislava 1986).
Russian music, dance and song Ensemble Barynya was established in 1991 in New York City. Barynya presents Russian, music, songs, virtuoso performances on balalaika, garmoshka (Russian folk button accordion), balalaika contrabass, bayan accordion, Gypsy guitar.
At the Festival ensemble "Barynya" will provide outdoor entertainment for adults and children. Barynya performance will include folk music, dancing, costume characters appearances, interaction with public.