"Vareniki fights", tug-of-war and much more: Maslenitsa Friday was held at the Exposition

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Pancake Week continues at the RUSSIA EXPO. Its fifth day is traditionally called "Mother-in-law Evenings". The Friday program started with the concert "We Saw off Maslenitsa" by the folklore and ethnographic ensemble "Zabava" of the Saratov Regional House of Art Workers. The guests were also treated to a silk painting masterclass with artists Elena Sabitova and Lyudmila Maltseva, dedicated to Maslenitsa (or Shrovetide) traditions.

Maslenitsa amusements were organized on the square in front of the Exposition's Main Stage: Vareniki (Dumpling) Fights, Catch a Pancake, Cornhole, Maslenitsa Mosaic, Broomball, Ringball. The folklore ensemble "Zolotayushka" from Nizhny Novgorod presented its program - together with the guests of the Exposition they led round dances and sang ditties.

Meanwhile, Pavilion No. 63 "Technograd. Professionalism" offered Exposition visitors to try themselves in tug-of-war, throwing balls into a basket, pillow fights, running with pot and kettle. The program also included Russian folk games, games with a large canvas, "big family skis", "gorodki" and a masterclass in coin forging.

The second day of the Pancake Festival was held in the House of Russian Cuisine - it was dedicated to pancakes of the peoples of Russia. Guests of the Exposition could try сhepalgash with cottage cheese and hingalsh with pumpkin from Chechen cooks, Mordovian millet pancakes with Altai honey and pine nuts and traditional pancakes with cottage cheese.

One of the central events was a festive procession with the participation of the "Zolotayushka" folklore ensemble. The main character here according to the Maslenitsa custom was the son-in-law, calling in the guests. It ended with a theatrical performance on the Main Street Stage of the Exposition, during which the audience was told about holiday traditions. 

The Maslenitsa Friday program at the Exposition ended with the theater play "Dremushki" by Artem Gaponenko of the Moscow Independent Author's Theatre "O" and a performance by the choral and folk singing ensemble "Lubo Milo" under the direction of Ekaterina and Vladimir Brinchugovs.