The cheerful crowd filled the hills and valleys of the Pyrohovo folk museum to celebrate Maslyana, or Pancake Week, an ancient pagan sun holiday remade by Christians into the last week before Lent.
The last day of Maslyana is the symbolic “farewell party” to winter.
Despite long lines to buy tickets, many people did come and had Ukrainian traditional fun.
Folk bands from all over Ukraine were singing ceremonial Maslyana songs and recreating ancient Ukrainian rituals, while those who froze were trying to warm themselves up with home-distilled vodka and fast Ukrainian traditional round dancing.
Young men got a chance to demonstrate their dexterity and strength climbing to the top of the high pillar to get a ribbon.
Those who succeeded were given presents from the museum’s administration.
In conclusion of the day there was a traditional burning of “Kostrubaty did” – a straw creature, symbolizing severe winter – the main Maslyana ritual of welcoming so desired spring and saying goodbye to cold.
Almost all the participants of the celebration gathered together on the main field to watch the symbolic winter 2011 dying in the fire and to welcome the spring sun, which finally came out at the end of the holiday.
Photos by Yaroslav Debelyi
