Happy Maslenitsa: Russia Sees Off Winter With Pancake Week

The traditional attributes of the folk celebration of Maslenitsa are the effigy of Shrovetide, sleigh rides and pancakes.

Historians believe that the celebration of Maslenitsa was scheduled to the spring equinox in the pre-Christian period, which was considered as the beginning of New Year and a symbolic way to bid farewell to winter. After the introduction of Great Lent, the festivities were moved to earlier dates since during Lent fun and gluttony were unacceptable.

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Participants of the Maslenitsa festivities in Gorky Park, Moscow.

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Visitors during the Maslenitsa celebration at the Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery during the Meat-Fast Week. The event was organized with the blessing of the Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan. Meat-Fast Week is the penultimate Sunday before Lent.

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Cooking pancakes in the oven during Maslenitsa at the Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery.

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Participants in the tug-of-war game during the Maslenitsa festivities in Gorky Park in Moscow

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Children are treated with warm drinks and pancakes at the Maslenitsa celebration at the Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery.