Compliments of the
Mendeleyev Journal.
As is often the case, Roman Catholic Easter and Easter in the non-Roman world will be celebrated on different dates this year. Those in the Western world are preparing for Easter on April 8 while in the Eastern we will celebrate Easter on 15 April. In some years there is a two week difference, just like the difference of celebrating Christmas on 7 January each year in the East.
Each Easter (as they do in the Nativity Fast before Christmas), you'll find that many individuals and families observe a 40 day fast. The Russian word for a fast is "post" (
пост) so if your friend asks you about the "post" during this time of year, you can be sure that she isn't referring to the mail service.
Except in the Muslim Republics, school systems adjusted their menus across Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, etc, at the start of 40 days before Easter. Restaurants cut many items from the menu and added "fasting" dishes to their menus to give diners a choice. Supermarkets cut back on meat stocks and bulked up on non-meat items. Unlike the West where establishments are almost oblivious to those who fast, you can see the difference in the Eastern world.
Government offices and military cafeterias generally adapt for the fast at Easter and Christmas. Since some of my meals are taken at the Kremlin, as a Russian Orthodox Christian I'm always interested in the menu during this time of year. Presidential Affairs Minister Viktor Khrekov coordinates meals served at Kremlin, the government house, the Federation Council, State Duma, the Accounting Chamber of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts, and the Central Executive Committee.
The Russian government Lenten menu this year includes: salads, vegetables, various soups, including vegetable soup, soup of cabbage and mushroom soup, steamed vegetables, meatless casseroles, including potatoes with mushrooms and vegetables. Drinks - Preserves and jelly, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries. In total, 40 entree dishes (one for each day of the 40 day fast).
The government creates menus recommended by a committee consisting of Kremlin dieticians and chefs and a council of Orthodox priests. Apparently this is good for the state budget as meatless dishes are inexpensive to produce versus the normal meat menus. Non-fasting dishes are available for those who do not fast.
Last year, the dining rooms of the Kremlin, the government and other government agencies baked approximately 20,000 Easter cakes, more than 3 thousand Passover cakes, and boiled/coloured 24,000 Easter eggs.
Does everyone fast? Of course not. But often those who rarely practice faith become the most strict during the Easter fasting period. Some simply do it for the health advantages.
What makes up a fast? No meat, no eggs, no dairy, no alcohol and on certain days no oil. Fish is sometimes acceptable on certain days. Diabetics typically follow a less strict diet and are allowed fish and eggs for protein. Shellfish such as shrimp are most always okay.
At the Easter weekend on Holy Saturday there is a complete fast--no food eaten at all (diabetics, the elderly and small children exempted).
Recipes for use during the fast:
Салат «Офисный Клерк»/Salad "Office Clerk"
Salad "Office Clerk" uses beets, potatoes, onions and egg (optional)
Note: for those on a strict fast, the egg is optional. For Diabetics, the egg helps replace protein from the lack of meat but first speak to your priest about which practice is best for your situation.
Состав/Ingredients:300 г картофеля (potatoes)
150 г моркови (carrots)
200 г свеклы (beets)
150 г лука (Onions)
3-5 маринованных огурцов (pickles)
200 г яблок (apples)
3 яйца (eggs)
соль (salt)
Натуральный майонез (Mayonnaise)
Отварить картофель, морковь, свеклу и яйца до готовности. Остудить, почистить. (Boil the potatoes, carrots, beets and eggs until done. Cool, then peel.)
Свеклу, яйца, морковь и картофель натереть на мелкой терке. Огурцы мелко нарезать. Лук мелко нашинковать, залить его кипятком на 10 минут, чтобы он не горчил, затем воду слить. Яблоко почистить, натереть на мелкой терке. (Grate the beets, eggs, carrots and potatoes. Finely chop the pickles. Chop onions, after boiling it for 10 minutes, then drain the water. Grate the apple last.)
На дно тарелки выложить картофель, немного посолить и смазать майонезом. На картофель выложить морковь, немного смазать майонезом. На морковь выложить лук. На лук выложить огурцы, немного смазать майонезом. На огурцы выложить яйца, смазать майонезом. На яйца выложить яблоки, смазать майонезом. (Put the potatoes at the bottom and then add some salt and mayonnaise. Next, layer carrots and a little mayonnaise. Layer carrots with onion. The next layer will be the pickles and mayonnaise. Afterward, layer eggs with some mayonnaise. Next to last, top with apples and mayonnaise.)
На яблоки выложить свеклу. Украсить салат по вкусу. Можно сделать сеточку из майонеза. Желательно дать салату пропитаться. (The final layer is of beets. Create a mesh/lattice by using mayonnaise.)
Fun trivia:Question: Some FSU Easter eggs are reddish/brown or almost golden. How do they create this unique colouring?
Answer: First a brown onion is placed in boiling water, then eggs are added. The residue from the boiling onion gives the eggs this unique colour.
Question: Tea is the primary beverage in the FSU. However is coffee served in the Kremlin, Government House and Presidential palace cafeterias?
Answer: Yes, but PM Putin does not drink coffee ever. Both President Medvedev and PM Putin are served beverages and meals from special thermo sealed containers under constant supervision by the FSB and/or Presidential Protective Service. Tea for both men is poured from sealed containers separate from tea served to any other guests present at a meal or function or meeting.
Question: What is the Russian word for Easter?
Answer: There isn't one. Russian uses the Greek term for Easter,
Пасха which sounds like "Pahsh-ka."
Question: Do Russia's top two leaders observe the Orthodox 40 day Easter fast?
Answer: Yes, both observe strict fasts at both Easter and Christmas except for meals with other heads of state. The Orthodox faith allows for temporary deviation from a fasting regimen during times of travel or when entertaining guests.
Question: How many service workers prepare meals inside the Дворцовая кухня Кремля (Kremlin Palace Kitchen)?
Answer: The ultimate number depends on who is on the Kremlin grounds. Normally neither President Medvedev or Prime Minister Putin work inside the Kremlin except for special events and meetings of State. There are 30 chefs under Executive Mikhail Zhukov and over 400 cafeteria workers, depending on the number needed any given day.
Kremlin Palace recipe for salad Дальневосточный ("Far East"):Cook potatoes, onions and green peas. Chop potatoes into small cubes.
Add radishes and sauerkraut, cutting the radishes into round slices. Add chopped cabbage.
Slice the onions into thin strips. (During non-fasting periods the chef adds eggs, finely chopped). Mix the peas and add salt with a dash of sugar for taste. Lightly season with vegetable oil.
