Week 69, Lesson 138, Friday
Масленица and name days
Масленица is the loudest goodbye to winter: a whole week of blini, games and visits, ending with a straw figure of winter in flames and a day of asking forgiveness.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Monday, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can describe Масленица and name days, and say how a holiday is celebrated.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- Масленица
- Name days
Масленица
Масленица, from the first day to the last.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Всю неделю пекут блины. | All week people bake blini. |
| В конце сжигают чучело зимы. | At the end they burn a straw figure of winter. |
| Прощёное воскресенье: «Прости меня!» | Forgiveness Sunday: «Forgive me!» |
Масленица moves each year: it is the week before Lent, in late February or March.
Name days
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| именины | a name day |
| Сегодня у Татьяны именины. | Today is Tatiana's name day. |
| Его поздравляют, как в день рождения. | People congratulate him as on a birthday. |

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: Ма́сленица
Ма́сленица: MAS-li-ni-tsa, stress on the first syllable.
- Ма́сленица [MAS-li-ni-tsa] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- имени́ны [i-mi-NI-ny] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Прости́ меня́!Forgive me!
- проща́ние с зимо́йgoodbye to winter
- Поздравля́ю с имени́нами!Happy name day!
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
Ма́сленица
Maslenitsa, Butter Week
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)блины́
blini, pancakes
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)проща́ние с зимо́й
goodbye to winter
чу́чело
straw figure
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)имени́ны
Поздравля́ю вас с …!
Congratulations on …!
пра́здновать
to celebrate
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Congratulate a friend on their name day, and ask how they celebrate.
Ника
- Play the friend, and invite you for blini.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Describe Масленица in two sentences.
See a model answer
Всю неделю пекут блины. В конце сжигают чучело зимы.
Saved as you type. It goes to Ника together with Homework 138.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can describe Масленица and name days, and say how a holiday is celebrated.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 138 on Monday: Масленица.
I can describe Масленица and name days, and say how a holiday is celebrated.