On February 29 the GlavUpDK Cultural Center hosted the Great Shrovetide Festival celebrating the end of Russian Winter

The Great Shrovetide Festival in the GlavUpDK Cultural Center started with Russian folk songs and ring dances. The heads of diplomatic missions and their spouses got together to celebrate the end of winter and welcome the upcoming spring. They watched a performance by Talitsa folk ensemble and participated in the Russian ring dances.

As the host of this soiree Ivan I. Sergeyev, Director General of GlavUpDK welcomed the guests. He noted that Russian people had always brightly celebrated the Shrovetide keeping in mind that the merrier the Shrovetide week was the more successful the upcoming year would be. It’s a good tradition at GlavUpDK to celebrate the Great Shrovetide with friends and partners presenting an important Russian tradition to the Diplomatic Corps.

Performance by Terem Quartette, a folk instrument ensemble was a real gift to the diplomats. This singular folk instrument ensemble with more that 20 years’ history that perform world classic works in their own arrangement have toured 56 countries and become one of the Russian music highlights.

The soiree continued with a Shrovetide reception featuring traditional pancakes that symbolize the sun and upcoming spring warmth. Excellent Crimean wines and other drinks were kindly provided by the Ukrainian embassy.