Sa-ban-too-ee

Today was a Russian Holiday -- Independence Day. We also went to the park and celebrated with the city -- Sa-ban-TOO-ee. This is a Tatar celebration of friendship. There was lots of singing, dancing, competitions, traditional foods and lots of people!
This lady was the life of the party and got all the other older ladies dancing.

Old and Young enyoyed the festivities!

While we were tossing the baseball around, I noticed these men walking off to the edge of the forest. At first I thought they were going to the bathroom, but then realized that they were Muslim men taking time to pray during the midst of the festivities.