DATE= 03/17/01

TYPE= CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= Russia: MASLENITSA

NUMBER=2-287667

BYLINE= BILL GASPERINI

DATELINE= MOSCOW

INTRO: Sunday marks the end of a week of festivities in Russia known as Maslenitsa, or "Butter Week", an ancient holiday to mark the end of winter. The name of the event itself sums up a lot about the holiday's origin, as Bill Gasperini reports from Moscow.

TEXT: Everywhere in Russia this week people have been consuming large amounts of what are called "bleeny", which look much like pancakes or French crepes.

The large round doughy cakes are smeared with copious amounts of butter, cream, and often topped off with eggs or even caviar.

This ancient custom is celebrated by people in Russia and in a few neighboring countries to mark the end of winter and the onset of spring. The cakes are a symbol of the sun, which at this time of year is making its comeback after the long, dark winter in northern latitudes.

Large straw dolls are carried in processions and, in the end, set on fire to symbolically end the difficulties of the cold winter season.

///Folk music Act … establish and fade///

Folk dancing and outdoor games are also part of the action.

Although Maslenitsa dates from pre-Christian times, the holiday now marks the beginning of Lent on the Orthodox Church calendar.

People can only eat all of that butter and cream up until Sunday night, when the 40 days of Lent begin and the pious give up all dairy products as well as meat until Easter arrives.

Some call Maslenitsa Russia's answer to Mardi Gras or Carnival as celebrated in the days just prior to the beginning of Lent in many Western countries.

The difference is in the details, with most Russians preferring to eat their way to the beginning of Lent instead of partying in the streets, as in the Western tradition.

(Signed)

NEB/MEM