Online Lecture: "To Slide on the Hills – To Roll in the Pancakes: Vastlapäev-Shrovetide"

On Saturday, March 13th at 11:00 AM, Narva Museum begins a series of virtual lectures on the history of Narva and its surroundings. The first lecture in this series will be "To Slide on the Hills – To Roll in the Pancakes: Vastlapäev-Shrovetide," presented by Marina Kuvaitseva, a folklorist and research associate at Narva Museum, and the leader of the folklore ensemble "Supryadki." Contrary to the common misconception, holidays in the lives of ancestors, both Estonians and Russians, were never a time of carefree idleness. All ritual actions were full of deep meaning and had common features – ancestor remembrance, incantation songs, ritual food, and ritualized behavior. This lecture will discuss how our agricultural ancestors actively influenced nature through magical rituals. Learn why memorial dishes were prepared for the festive table during Vastlapäev and Maslenitsa, why straw dolls were made and then disposed of, and why visits to distant relatives were mandatory.

Marina Kuvaitseva specializes in collecting, studying, and preserving the traditional culture of the peoples of the Estonian-Russian border area.

This lecture will be of interest both to specialists and general audiences curious about the history of folk traditions.

Cost of one lecture: €5.

Cost of the spring series, 13 lectures from 13.03 to 21.04.2021: €35 (available as a separate subscription)

A link to the Narva Museum Lecture Series Zoom event will be sent to the email address you provided when purchasing tickets, one hour before the lecture starts.