When the air smells of melting snow and the first drops begin to clink from the roofs, it's time for one of the brightest and most joyful national holidays in the Republic of Mari El – Friday. This is the Mari Maslenitsa – the departure of winter and the meeting of spring, a holiday with deep roots, warm traditions and delicious treats.
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DestinationRepublic of Mari El, Morkinsky district, Shorunzha village
Sunny fun with a Mari accent
At first glance, the day resembles the usual Russian Carnival: rolling down a slide, burning an effigy, rosy pancakes, noisy festivities. But in the Mari version, all this acquires its echoes of an ancient agricultural cult that connects man with the earth, the sun and the forces of nature. It is not for nothing that the holiday does not begin "according to schedule", but seven weeks after Shorykyol, the winter new year, as soon as a new moon appears in the sky.
Riding to live in prosperity
The central ceremony of the holiday is skiing down the mountain. And it's more than just children's entertainment. Skiing from the Kuryk ridge (butter mountain) symbolizes renewal, purification, and the beginning of a new life. In the old days, women rolled down on spinning wheels and sheaves, scattering hemp seeds over the snow so that there would be a high harvest in summer. The further you ride, the higher the cannabis will grow, the richer the house will be.
Pancakes worth trying at least once in your life
Without pancakes– nowhere! But not just pancakes. One of the main symbols of the Bakery is three-layer pancakes, which are created as an art object: rye cake, oatmeal layer, and oatmeal stewed in sour cream on top. The taste is sincere, rich, and comes from a place where everything is done with soul and meaning. Pancakes symbolize the sun, warmth, prosperity – and a family is sure to gather at the table.
Hospitality is ceremonial, from the heart
A party is not only a feast at home, but also a trip to visit: with gifts, in strollers pulled by ringing horses, with children and grandmothers, songs and laughter. Visitors are greeted with bread and salt - "kinderke" – and a generous table. A return visit is no longer so much a courtesy as a commitment to friends and ancestors.
A living flame and farewell to winter
On the last day of the festival, the Mari people burn a rye sheaf on a pole, a symbol of winter and all the old, with a cry: "Janya kaen!" – "Maslenitsa is gone!" And then the ashes are scattered over the fields – as a crop of fertility, so that the earth wakes up and gives a bountiful harvest.
Memory is alive in songs and dances
Today, Friday is a favorite holiday of the residents of Mari El. It is celebrated both in villages and in cities, and not only adults, but also children are happy to participate in ritual games, sing and dance, get acquainted with the culture of their people. This is largely due to such collectives as the folklore ensemble Vesela Kumyl, which carefully preserves and transmits the customs, songs, recipes and dances of the Mari tradition.
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