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Maslenitsa - The Folk Pancake Feast in Gomel
Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavonic holiday, our legacy from the pagan culture. This is a merry sendoff of the winter, when people celebrate approach of the spring, warmth and renovation of the nature. Even pancakes - the essential attribute of Maslenitsa, have it's ritual significance: circular, auroral, hot, they appear as a symbol of the sun which is shining more and more brightly day by day.
This big lady (on the left) embodys Maslenitsa - the host of the holiday. She leads the feast exhilarating it with funny competitions, adages and rhymes.
Changeless contributors of Maslenitsa: son-in-law, Russian traditional clown - Petrushka and other personages of Russian folklore carry participants of the holiday far back to the past.
Special staff dressed as well known personages of the Russian tales take care of the children. It's time for the parents to relax and have three traditional shots of vodka with pancakes.
The students of the local culinar college regale all desirous with the oatmeal cooked in military travelling kitchen.
Gipsy and bear - are the bound attribute of amusement in Russia.
The Lenin square is full. The feast is approaching it's apogee.
There are many gifts suspended on the top of pile. However the pile is high and it is not easy to get them. This competition is for the strongest men only.
Burning of the dummy as a symbol of leavetaking with winter. The spring is officially coming into an inheritance today.
What a holiday without perfomance of the local folk ensembles! It proves that our culture and folk traditions will never be forgotten!
