James Clemens to host Maslenitsa Spring Festival on Feb. 21

Singers and dancers perform in native dress at a previous Maslenitsa Spring Festival. This year’s Maslenitsa will be held at James Clemens High School on Feb. 21. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – The Maslenitsa Spring Festival on Feb. 21 will introduce or reacquaint residents to far regions of the world.

James Clemens High School is hosting this family-friendly festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsors for the event are the International Services Council (ISC) of Alabama, City of Madison and the local Eastern European and Central Asian community.

‘Maslenitsa’ is an Eastern Slavic religious and folk holiday, according to Wikipedia. In much of Eastern Europe, Maslenitsa marks the welcoming of spring and “embracing the awakening of nature and the bounty of sunny warmth,” ISC Executive Director Jacqui Shipe said.

Olga Osadcii of Madison is one of the event organizers.

The festival also serves to promote peace and understanding between people and nations by “dissemination of knowledge of the cultures and traditions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia,” Shipe said. Maslenitsa also promotes tolerance and building friendships.

Displays and video presentations will portray these countries’ cultures. Craft and food vendors will offer ethnic specialties, such as blini (crepes), Russian salads and entrees, desserts and hot tea.

Eastern European and Central Asian musicians and dancers will perform. Children will be entertained with craft activities, games and quizzes.

“We consider that today, when world peace is so fragile, every effort to talk about and promote peace can have a positive impact in every community and family,” Shipe said.

The idea for a local Maslenitsa festival resulted after numerous discussions among local residents “familiar with Russia and Ukraine but who didn’t know much about the other 13 former Soviet Union countries,” Shipe said.

The Maslenitsa Spring Festival was first held in 2012. In 2014, Madison Mayor Troy Trulock and the Hogan YMCA added their support. Attendance has grown from about 200 in 2012 to 600-plus in 2014.

Admission is $5 by cash or check at the event. Children younger than 12 years old and University of Alabama in Huntsville students (with ID) will be admitted free.