This year Maslenitsa (Shrovetide) - the week before the beginning of Lent in the Orthodox Church - ran from 20 to 26 February.
As it stands, Maslenitsa serves many purposes. Maslenitsa signals the exit of winter and heralds the coming of spring.
Maslenitsa is becoming a mainstay of Vologda's holiday calendar. All festivals in Vologda Region are celebrated as lavishly as possible.
Maslenitsa in Semenkovo gathered more than 7,500 guests. A gigantic pancake was cooked at the Museum of Architecture and Ethnography in the village of Semenkovo on February 26th.
On Maslenitsa week, a lot of events were designed especially for tourists. Visitors had a chance to try Russian pancakes (blini) and participate in different contests, such as fisticuffs and burning a dummy symbolizing winter.
Теги: maslenitca