Saturday was the Maslenitsa celebration!!!
Maslenitsa is essentially a Mardi Gras type holiday, that takes place before the Orthodox Lenten season; but it is also a very old holiday that originally celebrated the passing of Winter, and the welcoming of Spring! It's very much a celebration of that today, as well. Everyone has Blini (Russian "pancakes" -- they are like Crêpes!), and tons of other sweets! The Blini, as circles, represent the Sun! (More springtime connections for you.)
Technically, Maslenitsa is Tomorrow (Sunday), but Vika told us at our Tuesday meeting that her daughter's after-school place was putting on a Celebration/Pageant sort of thing on Saturday. Seeing as how I knew I was going to be at the dance competition at some point, I figured I would go to the Saturday party.
As we walked out of the Metro, I saw some of the famous Moscow Metro Dogs -- which was actually kind of sad for me, to see them laying around with no home…
Things cheered up a little bit on the walk to the school as I saw some kind of store that had the Batman logo on it, as well as a Crosswalk sign that had a sticker placed just-so, so that it looked like it was a censor bar. Ha ha ha -- it's terrible humor, I know -- but didn't Oscar Wilde say, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us looking at the stars?" I also saw a store front that had a window sticker of those huge, 80s type, "funny" sunglasses. I made up my mind to get pictures on the way back home!!!
At the celebration, we witnessed the wonder of kids running around like crazy; hearing the same song over and over again until everyone was ready (which started to grow on you after the first 2-3 times of hearing it…), and I was being distracted by two little girls (sisters, I'm assuming) in the row in front of us, who were alternating between being nice, and loving to each other; and then fighting, and walloping each other full on in the face! (We could hear the slaps quite well. They landed some good ones! XD )
I must admit, I tried to get some pictures of the action; and wound up watching more of them than of the show. Ha ha ha. A few of the other girls from my school group came with, and we were all rather surprised that their fighting didn't get any kind of reprimand from their mother at all! (2-21-2010 Note: That led to an interesting class conversation on Monday, let me tell you…)
The show was essentially made up of a Granddaddy Frost (who looks like Santa) character, his Wife (I assume?), and Baba Yaga (An old, Witch character from Russian/Slavic fairy tales) having some kind of interaction, and some of the kids from the after-school place singing songs, playing some music; and there was some dancing from some older people -- I don't know if they were related to the school or not.
I didn't understand much from the spoken parts, but it was *so* funny -- at one point, it seemed like Grandfather Frost was part of the Militsia, because when the Baba Yaga character came out, he stopped her and asked for her papers!!! I heard her say, " I have my passport!" and everyone was laughing -- so I know that was the joke. Unfortunately, I couldn't get my camera out in time to get a picture of it. But it was hilarious.
We went outside for a bit, where we got to watch some people dressed up as knights -- complete with shields and swords -- have a rather intense, fake battle, and then there was a girl who did a bit of a dance, with fire (I have video, I will try to get it online…) -- which is always fun. I had to laugh though, because part of the song she was doing it to, well it seemed vaguely Scottish/reminded me of Rod Stewart's "Rhythm of My Heart". After that, they set the Maslenitsa Doll on fire -- this is done because the doll is a representation of both Winter, and the sins of the previous year, which we obviously don't want around!!
Once it had about finished burning, we all went inside, to eat more sweets than you can imagine!!!!!! (There is a picture of *one* of the tables full of goodies.) We had all sorts of cookies, and blini; I even tried one that was stuffed with Meat (Olga's are better); and did try a little bit of Red caviar… … It's decidedly not for me… = @_@ =
The little kids were playing all sorts of games outside, and at one point, I heard the song, "Kailinka" -- which is about the only thing that appears to make me homesick! I know that sounds weird -- Why would a Russian song make me homesick? -- so let me explain.
One of my nearest and dearest dance coaches would sing this song to me every time he saw me, after I told him that I was going to Moscow; so the song reminds me of him, and of dancing -- and it's been almost 2 months since I've really danced!!!! Needless to say, they are good memories, but it did make me sad to think I won't have lessons with that coach for a long time, especially while I still don't have a coach here yet.
I left not too long after that -- a. because it was getting late (we'd been there a few hours already), and b. because the Russians would have kept trying to feed me sweets if I'd stayed (Aren't they amazing?) -- but I was just so full!!! That, and we were supposed to make Blini at home, too!!
Once I got back, Olga asked me if I wanted to help make the blini -- and of course I did! I was tired though, and at Olga's urging, I went to go take a nap. I thought she was going to wake me up -- but apparently not… So I didn't get to make any blini! =ToT= … I did eat some though -- and they're sooooo yummy!!!
Irina Fyodorovna finally SMS-ed (Texted) me later, and told me a little bit about how the dance competition would work, and a little bit about when she'd be able to go the next day, where it was, etc.. I really hope things go well… I am so nervous about finding a coach! I know I keep saying that, but think about it: I've been really spoiled with the coaches I've had back at home, so naturally, I want to make sure that whatever coach I wind up with here, matches the level of instruction I've been fortunate enough to have.
As much as Russia/Moscow stereotypically has *incredible* dancers -- every city is always going to have people who are *not* so great. I don't want to wind up going somewhere because so-and-so says, "This place is great!" and it turns out that they are not… I don't want to waste my money; but I also will not want to step on anyone's toes, who are kind enough to help me find a place… I should remember to Breathe… It will be fine, I am sure.
On top of all that, I *really* need to catch up on journal stuff -- I'm so behind on getting it online, thanks to all of the internet struggles, and being too tired to write everything out all at once! And there is still homework, too, oh my goodness!!!!!
I also need to do something to celebrate Chinese New Year - at least myself. Valentine's Day, too... -- Both of which are right now, as the day has already turned… So, Happy Metal Tiger year to me… And Happy Valentine's Day, too. I wish I had been home to celebrate these with friends. It's kinda lonely to feel like you're the only one celebrating a holiday. (Yes, the Russians have Valentine's Day -- I'm referring more to CNY at this point.)
The New Year has started out well, however! I had letters from two of my Purdue professors, Natalia and Zinaida, and from my aunt Linda today -- which is always nice!! I really enjoyed reading them so much!
I am sleepy, sleepy now; so it's bedtime.
Moscow Kitty; 12:57 AM
=^__^=
2-21-2010 PS -
Tomorrow (Sunday) will be the Real Maslenitsa, as I said before, but Maslenitsa Sunday is also called Forgiveness Sunday -- where you go up to the people that you know, and say, "Prosti menya," which means, "Forgive me;" and they answer, "Bog prostit," which means, "God forgives."
I like this holiday, actually. It gives people a chance to apologize for the things that they may have done to hurt their loved ones in the last year, and to recognize mistakes that they have made.
Just thought I'd share that cultural tidbit.
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