Русские куклы / Russian dolls / Girl with a snowman, author Maslennikova G.

Maslenitsa is a holiday that is celebrated in Russia seven weeks before Easter. It lasts 7 days. The main difference of the holiday is the abundance of pancakes and riotous fun. It is believed that Maslenitsa was born in the North. She is the daughter of Santa Claus. The legislator called on her to help a person in the most severe and sad time of the year. She appeared, laughing, with fat and ruddy cheeks, an insidious eye. Shrovetide made the man forget about winter, grabbed his hands and started dancing with him. Each of the seven days of Maslenitsa had its own name and was celebrated separately. So, on the first day, children went out into the street in the morning and, building snowy mountains, called Maslenitsa. The richer people started baking pancakes as early as Monday - the main dish of the holiday. But the real Shrovetide revelry began on Thursday and was accompanied by various rituals and joys, one of which was skiing and sledging. Everywhere in the villages for Maslenitsa, large artificial slides were built, and skating rinks were arranged. The peasant children rode down the mountains throughout the winter, while the village youth used the Pancake Weeks down the mountains for a fun time together. Driving from the mountains was accompanied by jokes, mischief, laughter. But the main pastime was horseback riding. Those who had good horses and beautiful harness, dressed up, sat down in a few people in a sleigh and rode around the village. Sometimes up to 100 sledges gathered in one of the villages from all over the parish. Others danced around with songs to the accompaniment of an accordion. On the last seventh day, farewell to Shrovetide and the burning of his effigy took place. On Sunday evening, at the signal of the first ringing of the bell, the festivities suddenly ended: the horses were driven out of the village as if on fire, and after 5-10 minutes there was silence. Everyone began to prepare for Lent. Doll height 22cm The doll is made of natural materials by hand