Maslenitsa in Almaty

Maslenitsa (also known as Pancake Week) is an Orthodox Christian holiday celebrated during the last week before the Great Easter Lent. Maslenitsa also includes snowball fights, sledding, riding on swings and plenty of sleigh rides. In some regions, each day of Maslenitsa had its traditional activity: one day for sleigh-riding, another for the sons-in-law to visit their parents-in-law, another day for visiting the godparents, etc.

The mascot of the celebration is usually a brightly dressed straw effigy of Lady Maslenitsa, formerly known as Kostroma. As the culmination of the celebration, on Sunday evening, Lady Maslenitsa is stripped of her finery and put to the flames of a bonfire. Any remaining blintzes are also thrown on the fire and Lady Maslenitsa's ashes are buried in the snow (to "fertilize the crops").

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Cossacks. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Cossacks. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Cossacks. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Cossacks. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Maslenitsa songs. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Maslenitsa songs. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Maslenitsa songs. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Maslenitsa songs. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Maslenitsa songs. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Maslenitsa songs. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Accordionist. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Maslenitsa songs. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Maslenitsa songs. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Maslenitsa songs. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Cossacks. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Cossacks. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Cossacks. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Performance of the folk bank. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Performance of the folk bank. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Making a snowman. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Making a snowman. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Making a snowman. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Making a snowman. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Dashing games. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

At the samovar. Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©