Maslenitsa

Yesterday marked the end of Maslenitsa or "Pancake Week" in Russia, a week-long annual festival similar to many celebrations worldwide that take place in the final days before the start of the Lenten season.

Photo: en.wikipedia.org

What was once a pagan custom marking the vernal equinox and casting off winter's chill has been adopted by the Eastern Orthodox religion and turned into a final feast before the requisite fasting begins. The strict Lenten diet forbids meat and dairy during the seven-week period leading up to Orthodox Easter.

Maslenitsa is derived from the Russian word for butter, "maslo," which is a popular topping for the pancakes. Other toppings and fillings include caviar, sour cream, jam, meat, cheese and so on. The pancakes are said to represent the sun, being warm, round and yellow. Here are a few recipes from foodperestroika.com.

Other events take place throughout the week, as well, including group fist fights to commemorate the country's military history, the building and "storming" of an ice fort, theater and puppet shows, music and dancing, performing bears. The celebration culminates with a bonfire, including the burning of a life-sized straw doll to bid winter a final farewell.

Here's a fun video by RT in Moscow, Russia's first 24/7 English-language news network, which features many scenes of the stalls, performances and - most importantly - the pancakes in Gorky Park.