Russian National Holiday Of Maslenitsa. Editorial Photo

Russian national holiday of Maslenitsa. The holiday called Maslenitsa in Russia is considered the day of the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Maslenitsa is an East Slavic traditional holiday celebrated during the week before Lent, which has preserved a number of elements of pre-Christian Slavic mythology in its ritual basis. In the folk calendar of the Eastern Slavs, the holiday marks the border of winter and spring, as well as Meat-eating and Great Lent. Similar to the carnival in European countries. Shrovetide is akin to `fat Tuesday` and Meat Feast for Catholics. In the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church, this period is called Cheese Week. On this day, pancakes are traditionally baked and mass celebrations are held with various competitions and the traditional burning of an effigy of a woman made of straw, symbolizing the passing winter. This shot was taken during the celebration of Maslenitsa in the Kaluga region of Russia.