Birthday
HydrangeasMaslyana — Shrovetide, or Cheesefare Week — is the last week before Lent and a joyful farewell to winter. Its date changes every year along with the date of Easter. Here is how Maslyana has been celebrated in Ukraine, what goes on the festive table and how to welcome spring with flowers.
Spring flowers: tulips and potted plants.
The holiday at a glance
- Maslyana lasts the week before Lent: meat is no longer eaten, but dairy dishes still are.
- In Ukrainian tradition the main dish is varenyky with curd cheese, along with pancakes (mlyntsi) and syrnyky.
- The holiday marks the end of winter and the welcome of spring.
Kolodiy — a Ukrainian custom
A distinctive Ukrainian Maslyana tradition is Kolodiy: in jest, unmarried young men and women had a small wooden block tied to their leg and could “buy their way out” with treats. Today it is remembered as a merry folk game.
The festive table
- Varenyky with curd cheese and sour cream.
- Pancakes with honey, jam or curd cheese.
- Syrnyky and bakes.
Welcoming spring with flowers
- The first potted tulips, hyacinths and daffodils — a living symbol of spring on the table.
- Willow or forsythia branches in a vase — they burst into bloom quickly in the warmth.
- Yellow and sunny shades to match the festive mood.
For spring decor ideas see Decorating your home for spring, and for tulips see Tulip varieties and colour meanings.
FAQ
When is Maslyana?
The week before Lent begins; since Easter is a movable feast, Maslyana falls on different dates each year, usually in February or March.
How is Ukrainian Maslyana different?
The main dish is varenyky with cheese, and its customs include Kolodiy.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
