The Great Maslenitsa at the RUSSIA EXPO - don't miss the week's events
The Pancake Week kicked off on the square in front of the Main Stage of the RUSSIA EXPO. The guests tried their hand at "vareniki fights" and divided into two teams fought in broomball.
The main task for the participants of the "vareniki fights" (“dumpling fights”) was to knock down the cans installed on the vertical stand with soft balls in several attempts. For active Moscow citizens and guests of the capital, the organizers held a game with brooms known to many - broomball. Its goal is to "drive" the ball into the enemy's gate. In total, six types of Maslenitsa amusements were presented: "Maslenitsa Mosaic", "Vareniki Fights", "Catch a Pancake", "Broomball", "Ringthrower", "Cornhole".
In the afternoon, a costumed procession with jesters, stilt walkers, jugglers and acrobats started here. They marched from Pavilion No. 75 to the Arch of the Main Entrance of VDNH and then performed on the Main Stage of the Exposition. In addition, a straw effigy of Maslenitsa was carried along the procession route.
"Capital" Song Theater and "Yar" Moscow Song Theater took part in the procession. Before its start the artists performed Russian folk compositions. Along the way the costumed participants invited the Exposition guests to take part in folk festivities and played zakrutikha, Maslenitsa carousel and rucheyek with children. Wall-to-wall games and round dances were held at the Arch of the Main Entrance.
Afterwards, on the Main Stage of the Exposition there was a theatrical performance where visitors were told about the traditions and rituals of the first day of the Pancake Week. For example, about the fact that the first three days it was possible to do household chores - and from Thursday they were stopped, because the celebration of the Great Maslenitsa began. The first pancake baked for this holiday was given to the poor. And the effigy of Maslenitsa, which was usually made on Monday, was driven in a sleigh before burning.
Pancake Week will last until March 17. Wednesday, March 13, will be dedicated to mother-in-law pancakes. Thursday will be the beginning of the "Great Maslenitsa" and will be marked by a large "Razgulyay", part of which will be a festival of pancakes in the House of Russian Cuisine. Friday will be called "Mother-in-law Evening" and will be the venue for round dances and processions, as well as demonstrations of pancakes from various peoples of Russia.
On Saturday, the Exposition will feature the tradition of "Sister-in-law's Gathering". On that day there will be a performance of "The Humpbacked Horse", and in the House of Russian Cuisine guests will get acquainted with recipes of pancakes from the Primorye and Kamchatka regions, Moscow and Kaliningrad region. Finally, on the last day of the week the Maslenitsa Send-off will be celebrated with a pancake fair, cooks' tournament, traditional individual and team games for the guests. And the main decoration of the day will be a multimedia show "NeuroMaslenitsa. Metamorphoses", combining images from the most famous artistic and literary works.
