Today is the last day of Maslenitsa — an old Slavic festival that precedes the period of Great Lent in the Orthodox Church’s traditions. Also known as Pancake Week, Maslenitsa lasts an entire week and gets its name from ‘maslo’ the Russian word for butter which literally signifies that only dairy products are eaten. A cheerful [...]
Every year, right around the Holiday Season, we start making our list … and checking it twice. Holidays are always a combination of amazing times with family and friends, and just a tad too much stress about what to get all your loved ones. And let’s not forget all the small gifts we give to our [...]
Halloween is a fun time for adults and children alike. Dressing up and (lots!) of candy collection are the name of the game, and this year we’re also seeing a resurgence of cultural costumes. In Los Angeles, there was certainly a number of Russian-themed parties to attend. From Matreshka’s to Pioneers, Russian costumes were prevalent. In [...]
Turkey is one of the traditional holiday dishes. It is believed that wild turkeys have been turned into home-state residents of Mexico, and in Europe they were first brought Christopher Columbus at the beginning of the XVI century. Traveler thought that turkey - peacock bird family, and named it tuka, that one of the Indian languages means [...]
The Great Lent is a 40 day spiritual preparation for Pascha (Easter) marked by reflection, personal improvement, repentance and fasting. Much like the Greeks and other Eastern European cultures, Russian Orthodox Christians begin observing Great Lent on “clean Monday”, a time to cleanse and purify everything from the clothes we wear, the pots and pans we [...]
Cupid’s arrow is about to strike the hearts of lovers once again. Yet as every woman knows, cupid is secondary if you can keep your honey’s stomach satisfied. This year, skip the Valentine’s Day dinner date and go straight for a romantic breakfast with your amour. Treat your partner to a luxuriously tasty creation of Russian [...]
Sochelnik: Russian Orthodox Christmas. On January 6th, many Orthodox countries including Russia will celebrate Christmas Eve — also known as “Sochelnik”. While the date of Russian Christmas has always been on January 7 many traditions have changed over the past 200 years. In this post, we explore a number of folkloric rituals, and illuminate the differences [...]
New Year is the most beloved and celebrated holiday among Russians. Full of rich history, fascinating traditions and amusing customs, New Year celebrations trace back to Pagan Rus’. Back in those days, the year’s beginning was celebrated with the beginning of nature’s revival — usually in mid-March. Sometime in the late 14th or early 15th century, [...]
Around the world children are familiar with a "gift giver" that arrives magically on Christmas or New Year's Eve to bring them presents. In America, Santa Clause has been a prominent figure since mid-19th century. The iconic symbol of Christmas, Santa's modern image as a jolly old man in red clothing was popularized by none other [...]
Year after year we follow traditions of gifting, tree decorating and family togetherness, but where did these rituals come from? Concerning Christmas, here are THREE things you probably DON’T KNOW about the festivities surrounding the Holiday. Christmas Trees Were Once Illegal Until the late 1800s, Christmas tree were considered pagan symbols and [...]
In just about three weeks Christians will celebrate Easter, or Pascha as it is known in many Eastern European parts of the world. So what’s the difference? And why is Easter always celebrated on Sunday? This week, we explore Easter as a symbolic Salute to Spring. Pascha or Easter: East meets West [...]
You’ve probably heard that March 8th is International Women’s Day, but did you know that long before the chocolates and mimosas, the holiday actually evolved as a movement for women’s rights? Honoring International Women's Day (March 8th) As we get ready to honor our mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and girl-friends, consider the struggles and effort it took [...]
