Maslenitsa 2003 - Ryerose Marriage Agency

Last year we described and showed the official celebration of Russian Maslenitsa in Gomel. Those who are not acquainted with this article might want to visit THIS PAGE.

In current 2003, we've also made a small photo reportage from the place of events, but fearing repetitions we decided to show you a bit different side of this holiday. Let's see Maslenitsa by the eyes of the person, who took direct part in celebration. Actually according to the traditions, Maslenitsa had to be celebrated on the 1st of March this year. However election of People's deputies of Belarus took a place on that date. For this very reason the feast was moved a week forward and consisted of not less important national holiday - Women's Day, which made the holiday be even more dramatic.

For convenience of the citizens the part of the street, which fits closely to the place of celebrations was closed for the passage of any transport. This introduced a certain acuteness into the general atmosphere of the holiday. On one hand, it was pleasant for the inhabitants of the city to be walking on the roadway, which is rather dangerous during the usual day. On the other hand,work of the public transport the majority of townspeople use was disrupted. As a result, every one who desired to take part in the holiday had to walk 6 bloxes to get to the square.

Anyway the celebration began at 12:00PM as was planned officially. Banner on the entrance to the Lenin square was congratulating dear women on their holiday. After it the reign of the Maslenitsa started. The various mobile cafes and trade points were installed all over the area in order to fill the physical needs of the citizens. Adroit guys were cooking the shashlik directly outdoors. Of course, they already picked the plumbs to introduce the holiday atmosphere to their families in the evening. The difference was extra-funded for the cost of ordinary people, who was cheated for a few gramms from each portion.

Besides the places offering to drink and to have a snack, there were some entertainments. The high pile was erected in the center of the square. This is the old Russian game - the main attribute of Maslenitsa.The strongest and nimblest men try to climb up the pile in order to get the gift suspended on the top. This is not an easy task because the pile is absolutely smooth. This was the reason why the fellow on the photo is almost naked. BTW, he hadn't reached his gift, though he was very close.

Among other amusements, the proposal to ride the horses predominated. The students of the local horse racing school offered to rent their pets trying to help their school financially to survive at the difficult timing. Looks like it's a usual thing for them to take part in such a holidays so the pony was just required. The main competitors of these nice guys - local gipsies - had completely different goals. Historically they don't like to work, but are not against the idea to earn the fast bucks. So they showed themselves up with their horses and carts trying to grab some customers.

According to the old Communist habit the stage was organized next to the monument of Lenin. The local rock, pop, folk and even rap musicians were entertaining people during the day. At the apogee of the holiday by the old Russian tradition, the doll, which personifies winter was burned. It seems like Lenin's statue burns together with it on the photo. However it is not true. This statue was recently reconstructed, which means that it is going to stay here for many more years.

Anyway simple people's minds were far from the politics. They wanted to celebrate this double holiday in the best manner - to have some vodka along with traditional pancakes and red caviar. Although there were a lot of outdoor places to sit, it was not enough. Majority of the people stationed at the fence of the park of Rumyantsev-Paskevich like it was a long bar. The foreign architect who planned the park, most likely did not assume that more than two hundred years later his simple fence from concrete and cast iron will be used in such a way. People dished it with their food and drinks and had their own party. The fence we are talking about has several hundred meters in lenght and each meter was occupied. As soon as there appeared some free space the new company would arrive and stay there. Many toasts to the spring, the sun and, of course, to the women, were said during this day. However different women rendered different honours on their day. Some of them accepted flowers and gifts, while someone was collecting empty bottles and unfinished food from the garbage tanks.

As soon as the sun went under the dramatic theater the janitors started to work. The fact that the holiday was not finished yet hasn't bothered them. These women just wanted to finish everything as soon as possible and to go home. Without any doubts, their families awaited them to continue celebration...