Масленица и блины
Maslenitsa and Blini
Russia's week-long farewell to winter: sun-shaped blini eaten with every topping imaginable, street festivities, and the burning of a straw effigy before the fast begins.
You will practice: The с + instrumental for toppings (со сметаной, с медом), reflexive and impersonal verbs (отмечают, заканчивается, начинается), and time clauses with когда.
Words to know
Skim these before you read — they carry the story. Tap the star to add one to your saved words.
- МасленицаMaslenitsa (Butter Week)
- праздникholiday, festival
- зимаwinter
- веснаspring
- блинblini, pancake
- солнцеsun
- печьto bake
- сметанаsour cream
- мёдhoney
- вареньеjam, preserves
- икраcaviar, roe
- гуляньеfestivities, public revelry
- чучелоeffigy, scarecrow
- соломаstraw
- сжигатьto burn (down)
- постfast, fasting period
Did you get it?
5 quick questions — no grades, just a comprehension check.
1. When is Maslenitsa celebrated?
2. Why does the blin resemble the sun?
3. What do people who prefer savoury blini eat them with?
4. What happens on the last day of Maslenitsa?
5. What begins after Maslenitsa?
Too hard? Pick an easier text in the reading library. Understanding most of a text without translations is the goal — struggling through is not.