Starting February 16, Russians celebrate the Eastern Slavic holiday week of Maslenitsa. Learn more about traditions of the holiday in this photo gallery by TASS
Traditions of celebrating Maslenitsa in Russia
Starting February 16, Russians celebrate Maslenitsa
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Maslenitsa is an Eastern Slavic religious and folk holiday
© ITAR-TASS/Vladimir Smirnov During the week of Maslenitsa, meat is already forbidden to Orthodox Christians, but milk, cheese and other dairy products are still permitted
© ITAR-TASS/Anatoly Strunin For Maslenitsa Russians usually have crepes (or blinis), which are made of the ingredients still permitted by the Orthodox tradition: milk, eggs and butter
© ITAR-TASS/Alexander Ryumin Maslenitsa also includes lots of entertaining activities
© ITAR-TASS/Anatoly Strunin Pillow fights
© ITAR-TASS/Valery Matytsin Capturing a snow fortress is also a common activity
© ITAR-TASS/Anatoly Strunin The mascot of the celebration is usually a brightly dressed straw effigy of Maslenitsa
© ITAR-TASS/Valery Matytsin At the culmination of the holiday, on Sunday, the straw figure is burnt to symbolize the end of winter
© ITAR-TASS/Alexander Ryumin