Start of Maslenitsa
Monday, 20 February 2023
This is a big festival in Russia that lasts for a whole week. Translating as 'Butter Week' the event has religious roots and has been celebrated since the pagan times, as the festival prepares faith believers for the season of Lent and the coming of Spring.
Maslenitsa corresponds to the Western Christian Carnival, except that Orthodox Lent begins on a Monday instead of a Wednesday, and the Orthodox date of Easter can differ greatly from the Western Christian date.
In the classroom: Learn more about Russia and the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
