Baxfit Roll

Chocolate "baxfit" roll - won't make you fat! 

:)

For more signs please follow the link:

signs, signs

Maslenitsa

Pancake Festival

The holiday dates back to pagan times when folks would bade farewell to winter and welcome spring. Maslenitsa has both pagan and Christian ancestry. 

Pagan's was celebrated on the vernal equinox day.

Christian's on the week preceding the Lent.

Maslenitsa, derived from the word maslo which means butter or oil in Russian owes its existence to the tradition of making pancakes, blini in Russian.  The holiday therefore involves a great deal of pancakes. 

There are different sorts. From plain to those with toppings or stuffed with, cottage cheese, sour cream, cheese, jam, condensed milk, meat, fish, vegetables, mushroom and caviar. My favorites ones are those which are stuffed with ground meat and the ones stuffed with boiled condensed milk. I love them and believe me I won't  exchange them with caviar. 

The holiday also involves a lot of fun. Lots of eating, drinking and festivity games for both adults and children. 

Maslenitsa is however not only about merry-making. There is a schedule of activities celebrated during a week. Here's a quick peek on that: 

Monday: Welcoming.

- ice-hills, seesaws and other mess for the games are created

- assembling the Maslenitsa doll out of straw and old woman's clothing

- (traditionally) the rich starts baking pancakes on this day while the poor, only on Thursday or Friday

(you can read about that here)

Tuesday: Day of Games

- sleighrides, home to home surprise of on-the-spot performances, etc.

- fun & mischief falls on this day

Wednesday: Regalling, the Sweet Tooth day

- feast on houses with blini and other dishes

- son-in-laws would visit to enjoy their mother-in-laws pancakes

Thursday: Revelry 

- broad Maslenitsa begins, highlights & climax of the game

- (traditionally) fist-fights happen on this day- it said to commemmorate Russian military history 

"Never hit a man when he is down" is a Russian proverb which roots from the holiday of Maslenitsa. 

I asked my Russian friends if they still practise such "game" nowadays. They said no. Not all of them are happy about this specific "game" though they recognize its origins and the significance of it in their history. 

I've first come along with this when I watched the film "Barber of Siberia".  It was an old, good movie.  

Friday: Mother-in-laws Eve

- a mother-in-law, with all her kind is invited to a son-in-laws home for a treat

I find this fun :) please read here if you want to know how is it all done

Saturday: Sister-in-laws Gathering

- young wives would invite suster-in-laws 

Sunday: Forgiveness Day

The title itself is self-explanatory. This is one very  interesting part of the festival. You can read details of it here.

The festival commences with the burning of Lady Maslenitsa (the doll).

It then the first day of Lent. Clean Monday, which ws considered the day of purification and fast forbidden foods.

If you want to read more details about the festival, please click the link below: Maslenitsa, Russia

(with pictures from the internet and source of information from russiapedia)

I'm  linking this post to:

Our World Tuesday

and WATW

Watch Out for Anything that is Falling

The city center is the most taken cared of part of every city. If skyscrapers have window cleaners who are hanging in a rope, here we got snow on the roof removers. I don't  really know if there is a title for such a job. The guy below is a watcher. His job is to make sure pedestrians don't walk under where they're  de-snowing.

If you go outskirts or visit some smaller areas in the city, these guys are seldom seen. In general, they remove snow on the roofs of all blocks and buildings before spring. They just do it more often in the downtown.

That is why in those areas, signs like this are found. I saw it yesterday from a building close to the Metro station going to the market.

WARNING!

FALLING  SNOW 

AND FRAZIL 

FROM THE ROOF

Perhaps they forgot about ICICLES!

Or maybe they are too big not to be seen, therefore, a warning sign isn't  necessary.  :)

I honestly didn't  know what a frazil is (obviously, they are never produced in my tropical country) until I've  translated the word.  

See this thick snow just above the mini icicles? It's melted snow forming into ice. A frazil so to call. If cold temperature succeeds, it'll harden. That is why roof de-snowing is necessary. 

I've seen it falling on people's head. I was once hit too. Luckily it wasn't ice but a thick wet snow. It was painful though. Don't  worry, nothing bad happened to my brain, my skull was hard enough :) 

It's the busiest time for such workers. The big work has begun. Ice-cracking on the roads, de-snowing of roofs and mud cleaning. Yes mud, where do they come from? They use ground on icy pavements instead of salt for traction. So in spring when ice melts, it becomes muddy in some areas. That's probably one thing I don't  like about spring 'coz it can get really messy. But there are always puddles where you can wash the sole of your boots if you got muddy :) It's always fun to play.

Linking with: signs, signs

Blizzard after Thaw

The spring is on it's  way, yes, but yesterday there was once again a blizzard followed with a temperature below 10. Weekend was as warm as 0 degree. It jumps and drops that high or low. Older people suffer much at this point in time as pressure drops and rises, their blood pressure does too. I am suffering from either lack of sleep or so much sleepiness. It all ends up to a bad headache.

These pictures were from the Victory Park. It's one of my favorite places (when there're not too many people around). It's  quiet and it has a certain atmosphere. An atmosphere which leads you to Russian history. Sad, heartbreaking but very meaningful and thought-provoking.

These planes are some of those which were used during the WWII. "The Great Patriotic War" as it is called in the country.

They are just there lying on a wide square accessible to people. People can touch them, kids climb on them in summer.

There were many, I mean Many different kinds of tanks too. If you don't  pay much attention at them, you'll think a tank is a tank and that they all look the same. In fact no, there are several types and each has it's  special features-strength and peculiarity. There was one time when in the news, one of the tanks was found on the street outside the square at midnight. Some youngsters, hooligans or not, were having fun and decided to see whether they still could make them move. And they saw. They were also arrested after that. That is why now, there's  a cobstruction going on and I  couldn't  have any picture of them. I will in summer.

Once again, the once clearing view is blanketed with snow and snow continues today.

Other happenings around the world on the links below:

Our World Tuesday

WATW

Spring is Coming to Town

It's definitely thawing in our city. Icicles start melting and dripping. Sooner or later, they're  gonna fall in somebody's head so they better be removed before it happens.

Roofs have to be de-snowed too, or else, there'll be waterfalls everywhere.

Very soon there'll be puddles on the street, dirty snow and "small springs". 

The sun feels different now. It's warm. It's a "real" sun!!! not a visual illusion :)

Smells are more intensive, perfumes, food, coffee etc. I can notice them more now. The deafening silence of winter has come to an end. I already hear few birds chirping. People are more active, there is such radiance in ther faces.

The hibernating bear has awaken.

This post is linked with Scenic Weekends

HAPPY VALENTINE'S EVERYONE!

Frosty Morning

Look what we've got - INYEI. Frost in other words. We're having few signs of spring lately. The temperature fluctuates crazily like a plane having difficulty landing. It's always like that when the season's about to change. The same thing happens before fall.

After frigid freezing cold days, the temperature suddenly rose to only -5 to -8. The ice and snow then slowly melted last weekend. That's  the time when snow becomes a "porridge", that's  how people call it here. It's the time when I can hardly walk straight for the snow is that thick and there's ice under. I describe it as someone's  dragging my feet back. It's easy in the downtown because pavements are always cleared from snow and ice. But there are some areas where nobody really cares to clean. For example near some shops but the area is no longer within the territory of the shop. The area between the residence and the main roads. It's  funny to notice how they limit their work strictly within their "jurisdiction". So if you happen to pass through these gaps, then you'll happily walk like you're crushing grapes for wine. It's a good legs exercise :).

After thawing a bit, temperature dropped to -18 again which resulted to this beautiful wonderland. I love it when it happens. Everybody's feeling good. People are pleasant and kinder :) Who doesn't  feel good waking up to magical morning, right?

Click to see what's happening in the other parts of the world.
Our World Tuesday

Stop the Cold

STOP right there! Please don't  go any lower and we'll be just fine :)

That's my palm on the window. The yellow stain is from the street lamp...in case you're  wondering.

Sweeping Cold

Maybe in other parts of the world have already seen signs of spring. 

We are still definitely far from thawing. After a cold week of temperature not higher than -20 degrees celcius, we were recently swept with a strong blizzard sweeping snow into the air leaving parks with thick snow looking like a whipped cream or blown up powder.

Kremlovskaya street during the blizzard.

It was later then followed with ice rain that left icicles hanging on leaves.

  

It was a beautiful weather eventhough it was difficult. Maybe it is changing slowly by now. Maybe, but I 'm just fine even if it stays a bit more. 

I have a feeling that I 've learned to like the cold, or maybe I just just haven't  had enough of it this year. Also, it maybe that I know that the whole February is still winter so I  don't  expect it to thaw. 

I remember last year how I was begging for warmth and sun in March. I thought I couldn't  live longer in that cold but hey I survived it. I remember after my first winter, I  almost cried on the first day I felt the warmth of the sun on my head, on my face. I still remember the moment very well. I felt I went to a different world without a sun, without colors but white. I mean you could see it on the sky but you never felt it. I even had a feeling that people were just physically walking, talking, working but it all seemed to me that they weren't  totally there. Maybe they were hibernating on the inside and were just mechanically functioning. Everybody was quietly busy doing their things.

This is my 4th winter. First one was exciting and worrying. I was very worried that I'd get frozen like ice outside :) well, I was very naive of cold then. Second was enjoyable. That time I already learned to like it. Third time was full of complains. I think excitement faded. This year, I think, I naturally have accepted it as part of life. One thing I  have noticed, I haven't  complained (yet maybe) :)

Honestly speaking, if one day I have to leave Russia, I'll miss winter for sure.

To see what's  up in the other parts of the world, please click the links below.

Our World Tuesday

WATW

City Scenes

I wish I  could post scenery from the wild nature. But unfortunately, I do not usually take much trips to the countrysides in winter. Apart from the fact that it is very dangerous on the roads, it is also very cold. So I  prefer to snuggle in the convenience of the city. If I  want to inhale cold air, I can always go to the parks or the beach.

Here is a photo of the frozen river Kazanka.

Some could be spotted ski walking on it. 

On the other side of the city where this rives spans, a lot of ice fishing is happening. I still didn't  catch them while I  have the camera.

The beach which is usually crowded in summer is left on its own at this time of the year. It was difficult to walk as the snow was above my knees.

Our days continue to be frozen. 

Linking with:

Scenic Weekends

Cheers

Found on the beach. You may not be able to sunbathe but you can still turn red with champagne.

Winter Fun in the City

In wintertime, most people travel to warmer countries. But many stay and prefer to enjoy the winter fun. There are some skii resorts in the coutrysides and a number of skating rinks in the city. Some people prefer doing it somewhere in the backyard. 

There is a residential area near the river Kazanka close to the National Culture Center - that'd be the red (orangey) building. The spot without snow is a helipad and futher is the wide frozen river. Across, is the other part of the city.

The place is never empty, be it summer or winter. In summer, it's  a popular place for youth gatherings, lovers dating or simply individuals or families strolling near the river.

In winter it's  a great place for sledding. Young and not so young ones enjoy every ride. Pets take an active part too, especially in the not so fun part which is  dragging your own sled back to the top.

Amateur snowboarders practice here. And apparently they couldn't  decide whether snowboard is as cool as the new stylish sled.

Snowmobile rider is in fact a crasher here. He should be on Kazanka river which spans widely in the city. Through it he can proceed to the vast Volga. But I guess he has chosen to ride up and down the center then to the river. 

With such activities, I don't  find any reason not to enjoy winter. It's not about the cold as the quote says: "There is no bad weather, just bad clothes". 

Happy Winter! :) 

Please click the links below to see the other parts of the world.

Our World Tuesday

WATW

White Nature

White is beautiful. 

Winter is another showcase of nature's beauty. Most of the time I see beauty in colors. Very often I consider white as plain. Somehing that is associated with neatness but not with beauty. 

Nature has shown me the real beauty white color brings. It is something more than just indescribable. It is unfathomable. 

When I see the brilliance of white snow in a vast space, I feel humbled. This feeling is the same feeling when I sit by the shore and watch the vastness of the ocean.

Birch tree became my favorite since the first time I've  seen it. It looks gorgeous in snow. Very beautiful.

Christmas trees decorated with snow all throughout wintertine is another love for me.

The woods and the frozen river are two other sights which leaves me in awe whenever I stand before them.

I love witnessing the transformations brought about by seasons. It's  magical. It's where I recharge my energy.

Reconnect with Nature

Scenic Weekends

Love Locks

Finally after many days of cold and grey, the sun showed up, blue sky appeared and the temperature rised a bit. Minus ten is the norm of Russian winter (at least on our part). If it's  above that, they say it's  warm (warmer winter) If it's -20 or -30, they say it's  cold. So today's cold but sunny. One cold beautiful day.

One thing I really like seeing when it's crispy cold is the thick smoke coming out from the exhaust pipes of boiler houses. They are more visible and more like solid when it's  really cold.

Streetcleaners finally managed to crack the ice on the paths and made it easier for people to walk. Blocks of ice are seen dumped on the sides. 

So there is this popular bridge in Uritskii park where newly weds put a lock on. Usually they come on wedding dresses, pops champagne, put the lock then throw the keys to the water. Now there's  none of course. 

There are various kinds of locks, in different colors and sizes. Speaking about sizes, those two extra large locks are I guess some kind of a new trend. I haven't  seen them before. Well that's  pretty huge :)

But apparently, the locks aren't  just locks for marriages which supposed to symbolize their love locked for each other, there's  one lock which says... as you see in the photo.  

Now, I  wonder what their lock symbolizes. 

Linked with:

Wednesday Around the World

The day after a Snowy night

It's time for me to take you out on the streets. This is the frozen Kaban lake. Located at the heart of the city, near Kamal theatre. On the left bank is the Catholic church, a synagogue and two Orthodox churches. The Millennium park and Basket Hall are also on that side together with many commercial buildings.

On the opposite bank is the old Tatar settlement. Tatar is the nationality of people who are from the Republic of Tatarstan, which capital city is Kazan where I am residing now. The people have Russian passports but they are considered ethnical Tatars. Mosques can be found in the area and lots of old traditional houses from the 18th-19th centuries. I'll have to bring you there some other time. I've been there once in summer and I must say it has a very quaint atmosphere, very opposite to what the left bank has.

I am standing at the theatre area facing the lake. The lake has a huge fountain in summer.

Here, if front the theater is a small square with fountains of different sizes. In winter, this serves as one of the dumping sites for snow from the main streets. Across, is the Pedagogical university.

This is the Millennium park on the left bank. That kinda round building you can see is the basket hall (basketball stadium).

The park, however, doesn't  really serve as a park in winter. You can't  sit anywhere, besides, no one wanting to sit in the cold. :)

The dirty snow on the sidewalks. It is ice under the snow so the street cleaners have to put ground on them so at least people can walk with traction. In the end, it becomes brown or even black snow which you carry with you until you wash your shoes.

Next time we'll visit other parts of the city.

Linking with: 

http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.ru/2015/01/our-world-19th-january-2015.html