Maslenitsa, Russian Shrovetide, is a traditional holiday marking the end of winter that dates back to pagan times. Maslenitsa is celebrated during the last week before Great Lent, preceding Orthodox Easter. See how Russians celebrate the Eastern Slavic holiday week of Maslenitsa
Shrovetide festivities and pancakes: Russia’s way of bidding farewell to winter
Maslenitsa, Russian Shrovetide, is a traditional holiday marking the end of winter that dates back to pagan times
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Making pancakes as part of Maslenitsa festival celebration marking the end of winter and welcoming the arrival of spring in Moscow
© Sergei Savostyanov/TASS A man dressed as a bear is seen in central Moscow during Maslenitsa festival
© Sergei Savostyanov/TASS Maslenitsa is an Eastern Slavic folk holiday celebrated the seventh week before Russian Orthodox Easter
© Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS A celebration of Maslenitsa festival in central Vladimir
© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS Maslenitsa is the last week before the onset of Great Lent. During this week, meat is already forbidden to Orthodox Christians, but milk, cheese and other dairy products are still permitted
© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS A celebration of Maslenitsa festival in central Vladimir
© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS For Maslenitsa Russians usually have pancakes, which are made of the ingredients still permitted by the Orthodox tradition
© Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS A celebration of Maslenitsa festival in central Vladimir
© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS A celebration of Maslenitsa festival in central Vladimir
© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS Making Russian pancakes during a celebration of Maslenitsa festival in central Vladimir
© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS A Moscow street decorated as part of Maslenitsa festival
© Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS A monument to Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov and Maslenitsa Festival decorations in Moscow
© Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS