It is almost the time to say goodbye to such a wonderful place like Belokuriha. But before coming back, I am going to attend a russian traditional flok festival called Shrovetide or Maslenitca. I have known this holiday since I was a child and I have many heartwarming memories about this event. And now I have no excuse to miss this celebration.
So, in the afternoon we headed to 'Siberian farmstead', where the famous festival is held these days. It is only 20 kilometres from Belokuriha, and there is a special bus to this location.
The holiday was a real success. Everywhere we met people dressed up the traditional costumes who danced and sang. There were many competitions and people participated in it actively. Samovars with hot tea, photos with wild birds, stilts and other kinds of fun. With all this atmosphere of the real Russian holiday everyone was cheerful and relaxed.
One of the most gripping amusement is watching people trying to climb up the top of the high wooden post. The reward of such a courageous action could be a valuable gift. Despite the fact, that it is extremely difficult, I became an eyewitness of one successful attempt.
There was also presented a Russian traditional fun as driving on the stove, which was extremely popular among kids.
We had opportunity to taste some delicious food as pancakes, jerked meat, salted pork and other traditional dishes. There was also a great variety of drinks. However, the favourite drinks were mulled wine and mead. But there were also such unusual for me drinks as rowan berry vodka or cherry vodka. Everything is tasty and natural.
Another tradition at this place is the races with many nominations, including traditional Russian carriage troika (a three-horse combination) .
Probably this horse is among the winners of that day.
The culmination of the festival was the burning of the big straw doll, which meant the end of winter and arrival of spring. Actually, most people came today specifically because they wanted to see this process.
And at the end of my narration I have placed some photos of such beautiful creatures as horses with very amusing names.
