Maslenitsa celebrations started in Russia on February 20, 2017, and will last until February 26. Colorful traditional garments, folklore songs and dances, ice slides, burning straw effigies and piles of pancakes — take a look at main highlights of Maslenitsa festivals in Sputnik's photo gallery.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
Participants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
Participants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes play musical instruments during the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
Participants dressed in folk costumes play musical instruments during the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Anton Vergun / Go to the mediabankA dancer dressed in a traditional costume at the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
A dancer dressed in a traditional costume at the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in traditional costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Tverskaya Square.
Participants dressed in traditional costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Tverskaya Square.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankThe opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
The opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes play musical instruments during the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
Participants dressed in folk costumes play musical instruments during the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Tverskaya Square, in front of the office building of Moscow's mayor.
Participants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Tverskaya Square, in front of the office building of Moscow's mayor.
© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes march at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
Participants dressed in folk costumes march at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Tverskaya Square.
Participants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Tverskaya Square.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
Participants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Anton Vergun / Go to the mediabankDancers perform at the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
Dancers perform at the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
Participants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
Participants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankThe monument of Yuri Dolgorukiy, the founder of Moscow, on Tverskaya Square where the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival takes place.
The monument of Yuri Dolgorukiy, the founder of Moscow, on Tverskaya Square where the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival takes place.
© Sputnik / Kirill Kallinikov / Go to the mediabankThe Haute Couture fire show by the Theatre Ex performers at the Moscow Maslenitsa festival in Novopushkinsky park.
The Haute Couture fire show by the Theatre Ex performers at the Moscow Maslenitsa festival in Novopushkinsky park.
© Sputnik / Kirill Kallinikov / Go to the mediabankThe Haute Couture fire show by the Theatre Ex performers at the Moscow Maslenitsa festival in Novopushkinsky park.
The Haute Couture fire show by the Theatre Ex performers at the Moscow Maslenitsa festival in Novopushkinsky park.
© Sputnik / Anton Vergun / Go to the mediabankVisitors take part in a circle dance at the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
Visitors take part in a circle dance at the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
© Sputnik / Anton Vergun / Go to the mediabankOrganizers offer pancakes to participants at the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
Organizers offer pancakes to participants at the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
© Sputnik / Anton Vergun / Go to the mediabankVisitors take part in contests at the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
Visitors take part in contests at the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankParticipants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
Participants dressed in folk costumes at the opening of the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Kirill Kallinikov / Go to the mediabankA participant slides down the ice slope at the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
A participant slides down the ice slope at the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Kirill Kallinikov / Go to the mediabankParticipants at the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
Participants at the Moscow Maslenitsa festival on Manezhnaya Square.
© Sputnik / Anton Vergun / Go to the mediabankAn effigy is burnt during the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.
An effigy is burnt during the Pancake & Cheese Fun festivities in Belgorod.