Shrovetide («Maslenitsa»)- farewell to the winter and preparation for the meeting with spring, Lent and Easter. This week begins from Sunday, called "meat on fire". This is the last meat day until Easter. All week pancakes are baked as a symbol of the solar disk. These days people go to visit their friends with their pancakes and meet with pancakes. Except a pancakes, baked gingerbread, boiled a hot Russian winter drink-honey sbiten and beer, and liter drink tea. The samovar should always be hot.
Sledding and sledging are a gifts to the fallen snow and winter. Maslenitsa is a doll of a straw effigy, it is burned in rural and urban areas. This week is marked by stormy festivities, songs, theatrical performances of merry buffoons, amusing battles. Petrushka, a favorite folk doll, laughs and entertains the audience. Young people are trying to show themselves in all its glory and decor. These days, when all the people are on the streets, couples are being looked for.
