Hump Day Hunk: That Melts My Butter

Mardi Gras in the United States is fast approaching, but I say we trade the tradition of bead throwing in this year for a different type of debauchery - the kind that involves fist-fighting, pancakes, and butter - lots and lots of butter.

That's right, I said butter. For those of us who can't let the word slip past our lips without thinking of the penitential five mile run on our treadmills we will have to deal with later, butter still sounds like a divine way to sin, I mean gear up for Lent. Apparently, I'm not alone in this thought process. Some of my Slavic heritage must be surfacing because March 2, 2014 is the beginning of Maslenitsa, or butter week in Slavic countries. Russia is where it seems to be where it is most elaborate. According to an article on NPR's site the background of the festivities involve:

Maslenitsa, an Eastern Slavic folk holiday that takes place the week before the start of Russian Orthodox Lent (this year, it starts March 2). Though now tied to the Christian calendar, Maslenitsa has roots in ancient Slavic sun worshippers — it originally marked the end of winter and advent of spring. And, like Mardi Gras, it involves a whole lot of feasting before the Lenten fast — with blinis, a Russian pancake, as the food of choice.Topped with sour cream, caviar, berries or jam, blinis are everywhere, anyway you like 'em. Why blinis? Their round shape and warmth were meant to symbolize the sun. And they're usually drenched in butter (the festival, whose name derives from "maslo," the Russian word for butter, is also known as "Butter Week"). 

It also involves, organized fist fighting.  Devouring decadent thin pancakes slathered in butter while grown men fight each other? Count me in! So ladies, rather freeze your ta-ta's off for some plastic beads or have a man whip up some pancakes and rub them in butter? I know my choice...