English: Maslenitsa is an East Slavic traditional holiday celebrated during the week before Lent.

The date of Maslenitsa changes every year depending on the date of Easter celebration. The traditional attribute of the holiday is an effigy of Maslenitsa. Forgiveness Sunday is widely celebrated - the last day of Shrovetide Week.

The culmination of the whole Carnival is considered to be the burning of an effigy on Sunday. This action symbolizes the departure of winter and the onset of spring. On this day, people organize fairs, tea parties with bagels, rolls and pancakes, play folk games, lead round dances, sing folk songs and finally burned an effigy, dreaming that everything bad that happened in life would burn down with it.