Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

Maslenitsa folk festival has been celebrated in Baku.

Slavic festival was held in the Old City on March 9, Trend Life reported.

Various games, competitions, master classes, face art, delicious pancakes and colorful show were presented to the guests of the event.

The festive program featured a bright concert program with the participation of more than 30 artists, five dance groups.

Of particular interest was the animation program based on Shrovetide rituals and traditions, a fantastic interactive production. The festival continued with round dances and songs.

Chairman of the Russian community of Azerbaijan, MP Mikhail Zabelin noted the great importance of holding the festival in Baku.

"This event is a symbol of the tolerance of the Azerbaijani people, that we can freely celebrate our native Russian holidays in Azerbaijan. This is a symbol of the fact that Azerbaijan is a truly democratic state. I have always said that multiculturalism has existed in the souls of the Azerbaijani people for centuries," he said.

The head of the Russian Youth Association Roman Boriskin also addressed the event.

"In Azerbaijan, Maslenitsa has never been celebrated as a large-scale mass event until 2018.At the same time, interest in the holiday has always been quite high both from the side of Azerbaijani culture and from the side of Russian culture. This is largely due to the similarity of the traditions of celebrating Novruz holiday," said Boriskin.

The head of the Russian Youth Association stressed that the first Maslenitsa folk festival was held last year. In 2019, the festival was organized more professionally.

Considering the interest of the population, the Russian Youth Association plans to hold Maslenitsa folk festival annually in Baku.

A series of events were held in Azerbaijan's capital city as part of the festival.

Meanwhile, Archbishop of Baku and Azerbaijan Eparchy Alexander attended the exhibition entitled "Moscow - Baku. Female look" as part of the celebration.

The exhibition tells about women who have reached heights in art, creativity, economics and other areas in Azerbaijan and Russia.

The project was co-organized by the representative office of Rossotrudnichestvo in Baku and Russian Business Guide magazine.

The holiday continued at the Research Laboratory of the Center for Russian Studies at the Azerbaijan University of Languages.

The event participants were welcomed by the Rector of Azerbaijan University of Languages Kamal Abdullayev.

The representatives of the Russian Federation diplomatic corps took the floor to congratulate the guests.

Wonderful concert with participation of students and teachers was also held as part of the event.

In addition, Slavic folk festival was marked at Modern Educational Complex.

The event was attended by employees of diplomatic missions accredited in Azerbaijan.

The director of the complex Mina Aliyeva welcomed the guests.

The event featured a colorful musical performance based on the traditions of the Shrovetide festivities.

The celebration ended with the burning of straw-stuffed figure.

Maslenitsa, also known as Pancake Week, is the last week before Lent. It celebrates the end of winter, symbolized by the burning of effigies.

In Slavic mythology, Maslenitsa is a sun-festival, personified by the ancient god Volos, and a celebration of the imminent end of the winter. In the Christian tradition, Maslenitsa is the last week before the onset of Great Lent.

Everyday there is a special activity. For example, on Tuesday, different games are held in the open air. Everyone can take part in them. On Wednesday, you have to visit your mother-in-law and eat pancakes at her place. On Thursday, you can go sled-riding. On Sunday, a straw effigy symbolizing winter is burnt.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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