Maslenitsa - end of winter party

A Maslenitsa festival is for the end of winter, it is a great party. You may see dolls on a stick and heard wonderful Russian music.

The most characteristic food of Maslenitsa is bliny (pancakes), popularly taken to symbolize the sun. Round and golden, Blinis are made from butter, eggs and milk.

As the culmination of the celebration, 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").

More info about the city: Nizhny Novgorod is the third largest city in Russia (with a population of 1.5 million), after Moscow and Saint Petersburg. It is located at the confluence of the Oka and Volga rivers and sits about 400 kilometers away from Moscow. Russian chronicles tell that Nizhny Novgorod was founded in 1221. At the start of the 14th century, the construction of the stone Kremlin was finished.
The city and its citizens have played a significant role in the fate and history of Russia. Nizhny Novgorod gave birth to the patriotic movement in "The Times of Troubles" (1603-1613). Kuzma Minin and Dmitri Pozharski, citizens of Nizhni Novgorod, along with their people's army, triumphed over invaders and saved Russia. In memory of that event, the Archangel Cathedral and granite obelisk were built in the Kremlin.
For centuries, Nizhny Novgorod was a commercial hub of Russia. Since the 18th century, Nizhny Novgorod has evolved into a cultural center of Russia. Now it features six professional theatres, numerous museums and concert halls for visitors. The city's Kremlin, with its museums and beautiful views of the two great rivers, is just one attraction for Nizhny Novgorod's guests and citizens. Nizhni Novgorod offers insights into life in Russia's heartland.