Maslyana sends you right back to your pagan roots. The bright colors of ethnic clothes, the songs and dances, the pillow fights – all those innocent pleasures of the pre-computer age designed to celebrate the arrival of spring. Christianity adopted the holiday for its own, making the Maslyana week the last one before The Great Fast, a lengthy period of asceticism and abstention that ends with Easter. Modern-day Ukrainians enjoy the pancake week and Maslyana, often skipping the less enjoyable fasting part. The peak of celebration was on Feb. 25-26 this year, ending with the day of forgiveness of sins.(Photos by Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
Photo
