Maslenitsa Week: Russians Bid Farewell to Winter 2026

Maslenitsa (the Pancake Week, aka the Butter Week) stands among the most cheerful and eagerly awaited events of the year, symbolizing the farewell to winter. The celebration traditionally takes place on the eve of Great Lent. The Pancake Week, as it is known in the Orthodox calendar, preserves numerous customs and rituals. Many people believe that observing each day properly brings prosperity and happiness into the home. Origins and Historical Meaning of Maslenitsa Although Maslenitsa appears in the church calendar, its origins date back to pre-Christian times. Ancient Slavs celebrated the arrival of spring with a long festival filled with festivities, rituals, and symbolic acts. The holiday survived the Christianization of Rus, while many of its customs remained intact, including public celebrations, baking pancakes as a symbol of the sun, and burning an effigy representing winter. Historical sources mention similar festivities as early as the fourth century. By the ninth to twelfth centuries, people celebrated the week with exceptional scale. The holiday also carried social significance, as it often became a time for matchmaking and weddings.