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Maslenitsa on Staraya Basmannaya Street
© HSE UNIVERSITY
On February 20, 2026, the courtyard of the building on Staraya Basmannaya street became a space for a folk celebration for several hours—with blini and samovars, singing and round dancing, competitions and games. The Maslenitsa festivities, organised by the Faculty of Humanities and the Student Initiative Support Centre, brought together students, employees, and guests of HSE University.
Maslenitsa, held in the courtyard of the building in Staraya Basmannaya street, has become a cherished tradition at HSE University. This year, the festival once again brought hundreds of guests together: students, postgraduates, university staff, and even schoolchildren who came to visit the campus.
The courtyard was decorated in a rustic style: haystacks, nesting dolls, and tables laden with samovars adorned with garlands made of sushki. Guests were treated to delicious hot blini topped with sour cream, jam, and condensed milk, as well as gingerbread, pretzels, biscuits, and sweets. They could also warm themselves with tea and vitamin-rich drinks, especially welcome on a chilly February day.
‘This is our third year celebrating Maslenitsa, and as always, we saw how this holiday truly unites people. I am especially pleased that other departments of the university are joining our initiative, which means that the tradition lives and develops. This is an important way for the Faculty of Humanities to keep in touch with culture and create a vibrant university community,’ said Felix Azhimov, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.
Representatives of the Student Initiative Support Centre and the InGroup CtC student organisation expressed their gratitude to the organisers and participants of the event, emphasising the importance of preserving good folk traditions. They also expressed their hope that the upcoming spring would be warm, joyful, and filled with exciting new meetings.
True Folk Festivities
In addition to delicious treats, guests also enjoyed a diverse programme: folk songs, dances, games, and competitions. Attendees joined in round dances, participated in contests, divided into teams for quizzes, and engaged in chastushka battles. A significant part of the programme was dedicated to traditional folk games, which guests of all ages enjoyed with great enthusiasm. The ‘Golden Gate’ round dance was performed in the courtyard; the game of ‘Kneading Dough’ was played, where guests turned movements into a joyful collective dance as they passed a tambourine in a circle, and whoever held the tambourine started dancing. These simple yet entertaining formats quickly drew in new participants and created the atmosphere of a genuine folk festival.
The musical accompaniment set a special mood: traditional Maslenitsa songs and folk tunes were performed on stage by various folk bands, providing a perfect rhythm for the distribution of treats.
A special area dedicated to competitive folk games—such as tug-of-war, hat fights, and team challenges—invariably attracted the most energetic guests.
‘A Very Warm and Joyful Vibe’
School students were also among the participants of the festival. Arina Nefedova, a student at School 2107 (HSE Distributed Lyceum), went to Maslenitsa after her lecture and did not leave empty-handed.
‘I really like the event. There are a lot of activities here: round dances, quizzes, games, and, of course, lots of delicious blini. I won two sticker packs and a badge—my friends and education helped me, and I remembered one of the answers thanks to my grandmother,’ Arina shared.
For students and postgraduates, the holiday became an opportunity to take a break from their studies and simply communicate. Pavel Novruzov, a master’s graduate of the Faculty of Humanities and a student of the Doctoral School of Philology, noted the special atmosphere of the festivities. ‘The event is amazing. It has such a welcoming and joyful vibe. You can distract yourself, meet friends and acquaintances you haven't seen for a long time. Everything is made with feeling—games, music, and, of course, blini. It seems to me that our courtyard is perfect for this kind of celebration. It is as if it was created for this purpose,’ Pavel shared.
The Maslenitsa festivities on Staraya Basmannaya street once again showed that the university is not only lectures and seminars but also traditions that unite people and create a common space of joy and communication.
