Maslenitsa – Goodbye To Winter

Sunday dawned bright and sunny – a perfect day to say goodbye to winter.  It was just March 17, but that’s the way they do it here…… with great winter fun.

As David and I had already walked all over before we arrived at the crowded park, and we had Snoopy with us, we didn’t stay a long time, and, therefore, didn’t see a lot of the activity.  Thanks to my friend, Mia Swindoll, and her eye for a great photo, I can show you what she saw and we missed……. and a bit of what we did see while we were there.

It was crowded….. On the pathways,

and inside the stadium.

There were games for the children,

and of course, children can find fun in the snow without any help.

The rides were busy.

Russian women can walk in the highest heels on the iciest streets and look elegant.

Shashlik – Russian Bar-be-que.

David getting caramel popcorn (his favourite) and a very green candy apple.

There were singers

and dancers

and a silly play about Maslenitsa.

Wandering instrumentalists like this accordion player strolled among the crowds.

On a quieter path, horses wait to give you a ride –This old woman represents winter –

They burn her at the end of the day to hasten the spring –

there she goes.

There is a hole in the river ice here where strange, hardy folk take a dip.  The hole in the ice was made at the end of January…another Russian holiday. There is a parade from the church, the priest dips a large cross into the water and everyone starts scooping up water into containers, because it is now sort of magical. Then people, mostly older people, start jumping in. You are expected to get in and dunk (and cross yourself) 3 times before you can get out. It’s supposed to be good for your health for the rest of the year.

This young man must have been doing it on a dare – he puts in his feet and whoops at the cold –

And his “friend” shoves him in.

Needless to say, it didn’t take him long to get back out after fulfilling his obligation.

Next year – I plan on being there for the whole afternoon. Monday and Tuesday were foggy, rainy and quite warm. Although it is cold today, I think the back of the winter has been broken.