Maslenitsa 2025 Hosted by Cleveland Russian Cultural Garden Sherwin-Gilmour Party Center Mayfield Heights, Ohio March 2, 2025
The Russian Cultural Gardens is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to promoting the Russian Heritage and Russian cultural influence in America. The Russian Cultural Gardens has a prominent goal of building the Russian Cultural Garden at 730 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Cleveland as a part of the Cultural Gardens of Cleveland in Rockefeller Park. The Cleveland Russian Cultural Garden began in 2011 when Svetlana Stolyarova, Dr. Boris Vinogradsky and Sergio Lebid formed a committee to create a Russian garden in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens chain of gardens.
On March 2, 2025 they continued the tradition and hundreds of people showed up. Maslenitsa has its origins in both pagan and Christian traditions. In Slavic mythology, Maslenitsa is a celebration of the imminent end of the winter. It has been compared to Mardi Gras or Carnival.
Inside there was traditional food such as shashlik (grilled cubes of meat). The most characteristic food of Maslenitsa is bliny (pancakes or crepes). Round and golden, they are made from the rich foods still allowed by the Orthodox tradition that week: butter, eggs and milk. During pagan times, the round and golden shape and color signified praise to the Sun because of pancakes' resemblance to it.
Maslenitsa volunteers serving food
There were games and crafts for children, vendors and a variety of entertainment. There were awards ceremonies for the winners of the Children's Summer Drawing Contest and the Best Bliny chefs.
Olga Druzhinina announcing winners
It was also announced that Svetlana Stolyarova would be inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame on April 22, 2025. It is a great and well-deserved honor for Svetlana and the entire Russian community.
Svetlana Stolyarova and son
Despite the temperature, there was also an outside area. Maslenitsa is celebrated outside in Russia so outdoor activities are expected and part of the fun. There were photo opps such as Matryoshka cutouts and an opportunity to try on traditional costumes. Games, music, singing, dancing and more were all part of the fun. Watch a video (in Russian) of some of the outside fun.
Matryoshka cutouts
Here are some of the performances from inside the Maslenitsa event.
Olga Randolph sang popular Russian Folk Songs.
Olga Randolph
This is a Russian Dance by ladies from the Cleveland Ballet Theater led by Algerim Alibek.
Cleveland Ballet Theater Dance Group at Maslenitsa
This is a demonstration by two young girls from Cleveland Fencing Academy.
Here are the Cuyahoga Cossacks singing some traditional Russian songs.
Cuyahoga Cossacks
Enjoy these other images from the 2025 Maslenitsa hosted by the Russian Cultural Garden.
Russian Cultural Garden leaders
Awarding a contest prize
Kids doing crafts
Caviar Vendor
Classic Soviet Cakes
Siberian Essence
Having fun outside at Maslenitsa
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