St. Petersburg's Lady Maslenitsa festival blends tradition with modern health tips

St. Petersburg is preparing for the Lady Maslenitsa festival on February 21 and 22. The event celebrates the traditional Russian holiday with food, music, and cultural activities. Meanwhile, health experts have shared advice on enjoying blini—the festival's signature dish—without overindulging.

Maslenitsa has grown from small local gatherings in Soviet times into a major public celebration. In recent years, events in Moscow and St. Petersburg have drawn hundreds of thousands, with over a million attending in Moscow in 2023. The festival now blends Orthodox traditions—like burning effigies and eating blini—with modern concerts, food markets, and family activities.

Alexey Nikonov, editor-in-chief of Statsionar-Press, offered tips for healthier blini. Using a well-heated pan cuts down on oil, while whole-grain or buckwheat flour adds fibre. For fillings, he recommended boiled chicken, hard boiled eggs, and fresh herbs to keep the glycemic index low. Sweet versions can swap jam for frozen berries.

Portion control was also advised. Healthy adults can safely eat 2-3 blini, while athletes may have 3-4. Children should be limited to 1-2 small ones, and those on weight-loss diets can have up to two, but not daily. Nikonov suggested making batter with one egg per batch and milk with 1% to 2.5% fat. Eating blini for breakfast or lunch was recommended to avoid a heavy stomach later in the day.

The Lady Maslenitsa festival will bring traditional and modern festivities to St. Petersburg this weekend. With health-conscious preparation, blini can be enjoyed as part of the celebrations. Organisers expect large crowds, continuing the holiday's revival as a major cultural event.