Maslenitsa at HSE University

On February 26, students and teachers of the HSE Faculty of Humanities said goodbye to the winter and celebrated Maslenitsa. They participated in folk games, sang ditties and accordion songs, and ate pancakes with sour cream, condensed milk, and jam. On February 28, a celebration also took place at the university building on 20 Myasnitskaya Ulitsa to coincide with the long-awaited opening of the building courtyard.

Waiting for Spring

‘Our mood depends on the mood of the students,’ says Felix Azhimov, Dean of the HSE Faculty of Humanities. ‘We should always find opportunities for celebration, especially in such cold weather, because everyone wants it to end as soon as possible and to feel the spring warmth.’ The dean also shared that pancakes are his favourite treat. ‘They were the first meal that I learned to cook myself as a child,’ said Felix Azhimov.

Evgeny Kazartsev, Professor and Head of the HSE School of Philological Studies, noted that Maslenitsa has now been held at the faculty for the second year in a row. ‘Students and teachers enjoy eating pancakes and having fun. Such events unite people. In my opinion, it is very important that students don’t just study, but also socialise in an informal setting,’ said the professor.

The Maslenitsa celebration at the Faculty of Humanities

For Anton Buzanov, Lecturer at the HSE School of Linguistics, this holiday is a great opportunity to relax a little and take a break from studies. ‘It's nice that we can have some pancakes here. I’m in a great mood, the festival makes me happy, I love this holiday,’ said Buzanov.

The students also shared their impressions of the holiday with the HSE News Service.

Ekaterina Bogdanova, 3rd-year student of the Bachelor’s in History

— I'm in a wonderful mood today; I’m smiling at everyone. I love Maslenitsa—it’s a week when we gather with our family and cook our favourite pancakes and sweet nut cookies with condensed milk. The pancakes are delicious here. I advise everyone to attend HSE events. You can chat with friends, get to know students from other programmes, and have fun together.

Yaroslava Demchenko, 2nd-year student of the Bachelor’s in History

— I came to the festival today because a year ago I decided that I would celebrate Maslenitsa in an interesting way. In addition, I am interested in the events held at the university. I love Maslenitsa, but I’ve never celebrated it regularly, just cooked pancakes with my family. Now I want to immerse myself in this holiday—to burn an effigy of winter and have fun.

Alisa Tarasova, 1st-year student of the Bachelor’s in Media Communications

— My friends invited me here. I think it’s really fun; the pancakes are amazing and the jam is delicious. It's sunny today—great weather for the holiday.

A New Hot Spot

After a large-scale renovation of the university building on 20 Myasnitskaya Ulitsa, the courtyard was opened. HSE students and teachers came to celebrate the event and say goodbye to the winter. Everyone chatted and had fun drinking hot tea and eating pancakes and gingerbread cookies. In addition to the treats, the guests also enjoyed a festive programme that included tug of war, pillow fights on tree stumps, wreath weaving, songs, round dances, and performances by musical ensembles.

‘I hope you will like this site and that it will become a new hot spot. You will definitely make new friends and be happy here,’ said Veronika Minina, HSE University Vice Rector, to the participants of the celebration. She also congratulated the students and staff of the university on Maslenitsa. ‘We are all longing for spring and the sun,’ she said.

‘On this sunny day, we are holding an event here for the first time, and this is a great celebration for us. May our festival bring us joy,’ said Dmitry Shminke, HSE University Deputy Vice Rector.

Emilia Khisamutdinova, a second-year Business Informatics student, came to the celebration to relax and eat pancakes. ‘I love Maslenitsa. I really like its atmosphere. I’m too shy to dance, but I like to watch others dancing. Pancakes with condensed milk are incredibly delicious, and the mood is good,’ she shared.

Four first-year students of the Bachelor’s Programme in Sociology also came to recharge their batteries before classes started. ‘You can have great time with friends here,’ said Ulyana Matveeva. ‘We feel good, the weather is sunny, and it’s good to celebrate with our classmates.’

For Dinara Ibragimova, Maslenitsa is a family holiday. ‘We always make pancakes and go to street celebrations together. Such events are essential for the HSE community, bringing students and teachers together. The students here can chat, get to know each other, and strengthen their friendships,’ she said.

‘There are a lot of people here, a lot of different things to do, and the pancakes are excellent,’ added Maria Gudz.

Anastasia Stepanyan also loves Maslenitsa and celebrates the holiday every year. ‘For me, it is another reason to get together and spend time with my family and friends,’ she said.

Maslenitsa celebrations at 20 Myasnitskaya Ulitsa

March 04