One of the most ancient Russian holiday, Pancake Day was devoted to the spring solstice, a pagan times it was a week long. With the advent of Christianity, the celebration of Carnival has been shifted so that it does not coincide with Lent.
Basic Pancake celebrations in St. Petersburg will be held on the weekend - 13, Feb. 14. Compared with previous years, it's pretty early. Of course, a program of celebration will include songs, dances, sleigh rides, fun contests, quizzes and, of course, eating pancakes - the main symbol of the holiday. And finish with the traditional burning of effigies of winter.
First will be held festivities in the park of the state of "Palace of Congresses. There, on Feb. 14 St. Petersburg awaits extensive cultural program. Will involve more than 200 artists. Visitors await the holiday contests, traditional Russian competition, sledding and many other attractions. Entrance to the festival will be free.
At the same time at the stadium technical sports Vyborg district will Shrovetide celebration 2010. According to organizers at the entrance of the guests will be waiting for clowns, accordion, lotoshniki, gay parsley, national creative teams with funny songs and jokes. Main holiday decoration will be traditional pancakes.
And those who do not like noisy large-scale events, can celebrate the coming of spring in a cafe or restaurant: almost all of St. Petersburg schools these days offer special holiday menus .

Who will be celebrating Pancake Day?

This year in celebration of Pancake Day going to engage the vast majority of Russians - 88%, found in the course of the next survey, researchers All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM).
survey has shown that the most popular among the people of Russia a tradition - pancakes . Its going to keep families in 72% of respondents. However, seven years ago, fans of this tradition, there were more - 81%.
Go visiting and receiving guests at home plan to 38% of our fellow citizens, to attend festivities - 26%. Note that, in spite of ecclesiastical orders, 38% are not going to give up meat on Pancake week.

Program at 13, 14 February

13 February

12.00
theatrical festival "Broad carnival" in the Alexander Garden.
In Pargolovo (Vyborg sh., 377) will begin mass competition "Pargolovskaya trails - 2010 for the participants and guests of organized entertainment "Merry trails. Carnival fair ».
Y SC" Levashovsky "(street Volodarskogo 9) will be held outdoor festivities Shrovetide - 2010».

13.00
Holiday festivities at the Pancake (sp. Engels, 131 , building 1).

Shrovetide festivities on the square in front of the main entrance of the Cultural Center "Trinity" (pr Obukhovskoy Defense, 223).

14.00
Shrovetide celebrations in the Gagarin Park (Victory Park).

February 14

11.00
meets Carnival at the park Aviators.

12.00
street promenade "Pancake Day - 2010" on the ground in front of shopping center (Krasnogorodsk st., 17, Cor. 1).

13.00
festivities "Russian Carnival in Constantine "(Park of the state of" Palace of Congresses in Strelna).
festivities "merry people, Carnival is coming!" on the street floor DK "Suzdal" (Suzdal Pr 3, building 1).
Popular holiday "Pancake - 2010" (Maurice Ave Tores, 71, str. Jacques Duclos, 67)
festivities Hay yes Pancake! "in the City Garden Kolpino (Kolpino Lenina, 1).

14.00
Celebration "Merry Shrovetide Square folk festivals Pavlovsk Park (near the stadium).
Shrovetide celebrations in the territory of Gagarin Park (Victory Park).
street promenade" Carnival " Murinsky in the park (from Lunacharskogo etc.).
15.00 street mall "Hello Pancake!" at the site of the TC "Start" (Bucharest Str., 89).