Manezhnaya Square,

Maslenitsa festival: a week of pancakes and joy

Maslenitsa is a traditional Russian holiday marking the end of winter that dates back to pagan times Performers entertain people while they celebrate Maslenitsa, or Pancake week at Manezhnaya Square, near Red Square in Moscow © AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko Maslenitsa is an Eastern Slavic religious and folk holiday. It’s celebrated the seventh week before Russian…

Official holidays in Russia

New Year’s Holiday – 1-5 Jan Orthodox Christmas Day – 7 Jan Fatherland Defender’s Day – 23 Feb International Women’s Day – 8 Mar Spring & Work Day – 1 May Victory Day – 9 May Independence Day – 12 Jun Public Unity Day – 4 Nov