Traditionally, Maslenitsa was a celebration of living through the winter with enough food, and burning an effigy was seen as a sacrifice to encourage spring to come as soon as possible. Today, Maslenitsa is an excuse to celebrate being Russian and eat incredible food. Maslenitsa is celebrated throughout Russia, with the biggest celebrations being in Moscow. It is very uncommon for tourists to be visiting Russia in March, so Maslenitsa is heavily dedicated to the Russian people.
This tradition is heavily connected to the environment, physically and socially. It is rooted in Russian paganism but has been transformed by the church to focus on Russian culture more than its traditional pagan sacrifices. Maslenitsa is an opportunity for friends and family to gather together or go out and celebrate the beginning of a new spring season. Being an outsider partaking in such a traditional event opened my eyes to the commitment of Russians to honoring their heritage and culture. This tradition has persisted through the Soviet period, the rise of Christianity and an ever-modernizing Russian society.
