Maslenitsa 2025: Russia celebrates arriving spring with bonfire and pancakes

Maslenitsa, an ancient Slavic festival, marks the transition from winter to spring with a fiery effigy burning. The celebration, blending pagan traditions with Orthodox customs, includes music, games, and feasting. A large symbolic structure is set ablaze, representing renewal and the arrival of spring. Pancakes, symbolising the sun, are a staple of the week-long festivities before Great Lent. While rooted in religion, many see it as a cultural event. People gather to enjoy traditions, warmth, and communal spirit. Millions across Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan take part in the celebrations.

Al Jazeera’s Dmitry Medvedenko reports.

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Post from Al Jazeera on March 02, 2025

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