Sunday, 02 March 2025

When does spring begin? Of course, with bidding farewell to winter!

So, on the 2nd of March, we all came together to celebrate Maslenitsa. And not just any Maslenitsa, but a Grand Maslenitsa! After all, we spent an entire week enjoying all sorts of entertainment!

Our Maslenitsa!

First, we reminisced about the traditions of Maslenitsa, listening with great interest to how this festival was once celebrated in old Rus'. We discovered its meaning, its origins, and why the sun and pancakes are its main symbols. And, naturally, we crafted marvellous Maslenitsa dolls.

Then it was time to celebrate in an enchanted forest, where the woodland creatures had prepared a host of exciting games, lively competitions, and all manner of jolly activities for the children.

The first day, Monday, was "Meeting Day" with a cunning Fox on the Sunny Glade. Together, we baked the very first pancake, fed the hungry birds, danced in a circle, and even played a game of catching the fox’s "tail"—and then a thrilling game of hide-and-seek!

On Tuesday, we moved on to "Games and Laughter" with the bouncy Squirrel—an acorn-gathering relay race turned into a true mini-Olympics! And for the grand spoon-playing concert, everyone from the surrounding area gathered. Thank you, Squirrel, for such a jolly time!

Wednesday was all about the "Pancake Feast," hosted by the Hedgehog, who organised a contest to roll the largest pancake. And the "Guess the Filling" game had us laughing so hard our stomachs ached! Fancy a pancake stuffed with socks and hooks? Or perhaps one with icicles and giggles? Ha-ha-ha!

On Thursday, we had the "Forest Frolics" with the Mole. The children enthusiastically took part in agility contests, navigating a tricky underground maze. Then, they had to carefully follow the exact tracks—both front and back paws—to tiptoe across the mole’s sleeping quarters. And they succeeded!

Friday brought the "Evening of Kindness" with the wise Owl, who challenged us with riddles. Like true wizards, we unravelled them all, accompanied by gentle melodies. And, of course, there was a game with a pancake—but this time, it was scorching hot! Whoever held onto it for too long had to break into a dance. Oh, how we danced!

Saturday’s "Rowdy Get-Together" with the Beaver added a spirit of construction and creativity to the festivities. Using whatever materials were at hand, we built mighty snow fortresses for defence against flying snowballs. The battle raged until nightfall, as we showcased our expert snowball-throwing skills. What a delight it was!

Then came Sunday, the "Farewell Day," when we spent time with the awakening Bear. He kept trying to catch someone, but we decided to cheer him up with traditional folk dances and songs instead. That did the trick! He was about to join in, but, alas, he was too weary from his long hibernation. So, we invited him to the festive table, and in return, he handed out gifts to the children. What a splendid fellow!

To round off the celebrations, our cheerful, lively group sat down for a grand feast. What is Maslenitsa without delicious pancakes, crêpes, and blinis? And with all sorts of fillings, too! Under the merry tunes, the pancakes vanished in a flash, especially when washed down with homemade forest berry compote. Pure bliss!

How marvellous it was to live through an entire week of joy, games, and laughter in just one day, alongside our dear woodland friends!

Bidding farewell to Maslenitsa and the forest creatures until next year, the happy, well-fed children made their way home. Now, we know for certain—spring is knocking at our door! Until our next jolly gathering and bright, festive celebrations!

All photos and videos of the day are available on Bukovka's Google Drive via this link.

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