Editing Carnival (section)

====Russia====
{{Main|Maslenitsa}}
{{See also|Slavic carnival}}
[[File:Shrovetide. Kustodiev.jpg|thumb|[[Boris Kustodiev]]'s painting of [[Maslenitsa]], Russia]]

[[Maslenitsa]] ({{lang|ru|Масленица}}, also called "Pancake Week" or "Cheese Week") is a Russian folk holiday that incorporates some pagan traditions. It is celebrated during the last week before Lent. The essential element is [[bliny]], Russian pancakes, popularly taken to symbolize the sun. Round and golden, they are made from the rich foods allowed that week by the Orthodox traditions: butter, eggs, and milk. (In the tradition of Orthodox Lent, the consumption of meat ceases one week before that of milk and eggs.)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Origin of Russian Maslenitsa – Taste of Russia |url=https://blogs.uoregon.edu/tasteofrussia/sample-page/blinchiki-2/origin-of-russian-maslenitsa/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=blogs.uoregon.edu}}</ref>

Maslenitsa also includes [[Masquerade ball|masquerades]], snowball fights, sledding, swinging on swings, and sleigh rides. The mascot is a brightly dressed straw effigy of Lady Maslenitsa, formerly known as [[Kostroma (deity)|Kostroma]]. The celebration culminates on Sunday evening, when Lady Maslenitsa is stripped of her finery and put to the flames of a [[bonfire]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gmtlight.com/travel/678b87f7e05311e5bcd502004c4f4f50.html|title=Carnival-gmtlight|website=gmtlight.com|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011233403/http://www.gmtlight.com/travel/678b87f7e05311e5bcd502004c4f4f50.html|archive-date=11 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>