Events

23/02 - 01/03 2009

MASLENITZA

This week, here in Russia we celebrate Maslenitza! Do you know the holiday?

Maslenitza is one of a few ancient pagan holidays which were saved in Russia after it was Christianized in the 10th century. Maslenitsa is a week which comes before the Lent.

According to the folk calendar, this week divides the year into two seasons - winter and spring. In the old times Maslenitsa was in fact admitted by Church as a religious holiday and got the name of Syrnaya Week (The Caseous Week) which did not change its deep sense. At the time of Maslenitsa a man gets relaxed before an exhausting and hard Lent.

Maslenitsa is above all rich and nutritious food. For that reason there is nothing shameful in tasting various dishes, pancakes, or bliny, first and formost. In the old time  a person who spent his Maslenitza Week poorly will not have any luck within the following year.

Crapulence and joy  you should dive into are considered to be some kind of magical omen of forthcoming prosperity, success in your job and happiness in your family. However, it is woth saying that you should not eat meat on Maslenitza. It is better to prefer milk and fish which are still allowed.

 As mentioned above, pancakes or bliny, a national Russian dish, are the main course of Maslenitza. Blyny are served with caviar, jam, sour-cream and other fillings. They are churned every day within the whole week, especially from Thursday to Sunday. This period is called Shirokaya (Broad) Maslenitza. The second rule is that meals become the main subject. That's why in the old time they used to say: you should eat as many times as a dog wags.

Unlike some other holidays, on Maslenitza people do not only gorge at home but also go to their friends and relatives or invite someone to their place. 'Guesting' becomes the end in itself. However, not only eating makes the sense of the holiday.

Maslenitsa is also dancing, singing, mountain-riding and funny battles.

As the culmination of the celebration, on Sunday evening, Lady Maslenitsa is stripped of her finery and put to the flames of a bonfire. Any remaining blintzes are also thrown on the fire, and Lady Maslenitsa's ashes are buried in the snow (to "fertilize the crops").

 The last day of Cheesefare Week is called "Forgiveness Sunday", indicating the desire for God's forgiveness that lies at the heart of Great Lent. At Vespers on Sunday evening, all the people ask forgiveness of one another, and thus Great Lent begins. Another name for Forgiveness Sunday is "Cheesefare Sunday," because for devout Orthodox Christians, it is the last day on which dairy products may be consumed until Pascha. Fish, wine, and olive oil will also be forbidden on most days of Great Lent. The day following Cheesefare Sunday is called Clean Monday, because everyone has confessed their sins, asked forgiveness, and begun Great Lent with a clean slate.

TILL 15/03 2009

RUSSIAN HOLLYWOOD

State centre of photography

A famous collector and hisorician of fashion Alexander Vasilyev presents a unique exhibition devoted to 'Russian Hollywood'.

'The topic of 'Russian Hollywood' has been being attracting me for more than 20 years, - says Vasilyev. - Due to new opportunities I have managed to make a large (of about 1000 photos) and rich collection of works in the past few years. I am showing the best part of it to the audience of St.Petersburg. My previous exhibition in RosPhoto called 'The exiled beuaty' has already been devoted to Russian beauty and the work of Russian immigrants in the world of fashion - and attracted a great attention of the audience and the press.

28/02 2009

SCOOTER

SKK Peterburgsky

Scooter band became famous after they released their album '...And The Beat Goes On!' in 1996. They have obtained thousands of fans all over thr world. The musicians were starting from re-mixes of other singers' music. In the end of 1993 the band was offered to make their own version of a dutch song Vallee Des Larmes. It was this project thatgave a birth to a new band called Scooter.
It was extremely popular in the 1990s among Russian youngsters who are now getting the chance to see their beloved stars again!

9/03 2009

GLENN MILLER'S ORCHESTRA

BKZ Oktyabrsky

The world's famous orchestra was named after its founder - trombonist, composer and excellent arrangement-maker Glenn Miller. He was one of the most famous jazz-musicians of the U.S. who symbolized jazz itself for several generations of listeners. The band, coming to us, is a German version of Miller's orchestra since there are several memorial versions of it having their own benefits.