MASLIANITSA

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2144, 9 May 1914, Page 7

MASLIANITSA

BUTTER-WEEK IN MOSCOW IN CONTRAST TO LENT In addition to meat, the Orthodox Lenten fast in Russia precludes the tise of butter, milk, eggs, fish, and oil, and among the peasants it is no exaggeration to say that the fast is observed with a strictness that causes serious effects to their health. To balance this trying abstinenco, the Russian people have devised tho orgy of "Maslianitsa," or butter-wock. And the contrast between tho almost savage gluttony of Maslianitsa and tho self-denial and solemnity of Lent is striking. Maslianitsa is quite different from tho carnival of_ tho Roman Catholics. The figuro of King Carnival is not represented, and tho buffoonery and masquerading common to the carnival at Rome or Nice are quite absent. Maslianitsa is an , affair of the stomach, a feast that finds its origin perhaps in tho great wassails of tho ancient Noiscmeu. To see it in its truo colours 0110 must go to Moscow. During the week before Lent the ancient city of churches—now, alasl rapidly becoming a dumping-ground for tasteless, modern buildings— puts away its office-books and'its counting-machines (every Russian 'office still, uses an abacus), and gives itself over to the eating of a certain kind of pancake called "bl'ny," and to tho drinking of sweet champagne and vodka. No citizen in the world,, not even tho Berliner in his desire to. rob IJaris of its reputation as the gayest city in the worlcl, goes to bed so late as tho Muscovite. I should not liko to say how many cafes-chantants and music-hall restaurants Moscow possesses. but the all-night entertainment that is provided covers an unbroken period from eight o'clock at night till eight tho next morning. And, that variety may never be lacking, there are restaurants that do not open until 6 and 6 a.m. During Maslianitsa these are full. No charge is made for admission, but the Russian appetito and tho exorbitant prices charged for cham pagne ensure-for the proprietors 4 substantial profit. Tho performers, mostly women, ; aro nearly all foreigners, and their somewhat feeblo accomplishments range from tango-dancing to playing in Indian orchestras. • Ger< mans and Hungarians predominate, but now and then ono meets an English girl from tho North Country whoso elogdancing is generally a favourite number. Theso performances, however, are rarely allowed to interfere with tlie more _ serious business of eating and drinking, and it is only when a Tsigane choir_ is singing its quaint and strangely plaintive romances that a Russian cafe-chantant audience can be subdued to silonco. The Muscovite has fixed rules for Mas- . liamtsa. During the seven days of hio carnival he has to cat sufficient butter aim eggs to sate his appetite and to banish all temptation of breaking his fast during the long., seven weeks till Easter. He, therefore, -rises late and begins the day at about twelve with a lunch .of "bliny," washed down with jvine and vodka. Theso "bliny" make insidious eating. They look light and dainty, and, in truth, spread with caviare or smoked fish and smietana (sour cream) they aro extremely appetising. The foreigner, however, soon finds that two or. three of these Russian pancakes aro mors than'enough. After lunch, which is a long-drawn-out meal and often taken in a series of courses, at three or h<)Us,e,s, .-.yewi Russian lies-'do.ii'n'to 'sleep' off'.the"''ef-' fects.' Then 1 in the evening he awsfkes fully refreshed for tho' serious pleasures of the night. The ballet, or. perhaps a masouerade at the Grand Opera Houso, has first claim. Perhaps even the serious drama may attract him. Certainly all tho theatres do a very good business during Butter Week, and such plays as "Hamlet" aro played to crowded houses._ Tho one gootl thing that may bo _ said in favour of the all-night license is that the music-halls do not interfere with the theatre. And 1 so after the theatre or the ballet the Moscow merchant takes a "troika" or an autonlobilo and drives out to one of the great cafes-chantants in the Petrovsky Park. Refreshediby tho drive in the clear, frozen air, he passes from place to place, making friends with everybody, throwing confetti, singing snatches of songs, and, of course, eating "bliny" and drinking champagne, until he has visited every cafe-chantant in the Park, and only when tho electric light is turned off and the daylight is already breaking does he think of going to l/ed. For seven days this orgy continues, almost without any variety, until on "Forgiveness Sunday" night (Lent in Russia begins on a Monday) tho clocks strike twelve and drivo the worn-out revellers ti> their fast. Lent has begun a"nd a solemn silence, intensified doubly .by the snow, falls 011 the whole city. Hero is a population of close on two million souls giving itself up to a wholehearted attack on a small and "harmless pancake. Ono does not wish to be accused of exaggeration for quoting tho number of "bliny" in millions and the bottles of champagne in many thousands. The feast, however, is observed by rich and poor alike, and I have known students who have maintained an average of thirty "bliny" a day for the whole week of the festival. Sometimes tho pancake triumphs, for every year after Maslianitsa a list of its victims is published in the local Press, and no attempt is made to excuse or qualify the doctor's certificate of "death from over-eating." After "Forgiveness Sunday" not only are all the theatres, safes-chantants, and places of amusement closcd, but in tho. restaurants and hotels even the orchestras are forbidden to play. To understand the real significance of Lent in Russia ono must bear 'in mind that Easter is by far the greatest festival of tho Russian year. No ono who has ever seen the light in the eyes of the great throng that gathers on tho Kremlin Squaro on Easter Eve or who has heard tho low, heart-felt murmur of "Cristos voskrese" (Christ is risen) will fail to. realise what tho Great Fast means to tbo Russian people. ■ —Jean d'Auvergne, in the Manchester "Guardian."