Pancakes in the air 

    Today is the start of the week of Maslenitsa, It is one of my favorite time in the year. Time when the Spring is right around the corner and when you eat pancakes (in Russia we call them ''Blinchiki'') everyday during the whole week.  

• Maslenitsa is one of the Orthodox Church favorite and merry festivals.
  During these weeks people avoid eating fat meals, meat and there are few entertainments.
• People must work hard, pray and clean their soul.
• The Russian word for butter is “maslo” hence it appears Maslenitsa. Maslenitsa is the time to say farewell to winter and hello to the coming of spring. We eat "blinchiki", because our ancestry believed, that hot yellow pancakes symbolized the sun. 

    Blinchiki we make every day especially much from Thursday up to Sunday during The Wide Maslenitsa. It is required to visit and receive guests when Maslenitsa. Each mistress of the house has her own particular blinchiki recipe. I still remember the taste of my granny's pancakes with fish, honey, jam, and lots of butter and of course  with red caviar. Also she made “zbiten” (a hot drink made of water, honey and spices).

Sunday is the last day of Maslenitsa, we call it "Forgiveness Subday". Everybody must forget all their offences and forgive all people. When I was a child , I went with my grandfather to frozen lake and watched how burned the Dummy of Maslenitsa. It was fun! Everybody is dancing, playing in old fashioned Russian games and eating pancakes.
 Welcome to Russia, welcome to Maslenitsa!)))