Maslenitsa falls at a different time each year because it is linked to the religious calendar - it always takes place in the week before Lent begins (the same timing as Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras in other countries). In Russia the festival dates back over a thousand years, with roots in ancient spring celebrations. The name comes from the word 'maslo', meaning butter, because rich buttery foods like blini are eaten throughout the week.
Each day of Maslenitsa week has a traditional name and purpose. The first couple of days are for preparation, the middle days are for visiting friends and relatives, and the last day - Forgiveness Sunday - is when people ask each other for forgiveness for any unkind things that happened during the year. On this day the straw effigy of Lady Maslenitsa (representing winter) is burned on a bonfire to the cheers of the crowd, and people throw the ashes onto the ground to bring good luck for spring crops.
Outdoor Maslenitsa celebrations are wonderful, lively events. People wear traditional embroidered costumes, groups of singers perform folk songs, and huge crowds gather for games: tug-of-war, pillow fights, climbing greased poles for prizes, and sledging down enormous wooden snow ramps. Hot blini are sold everywhere, and the smell of butter and pancakes fills the air. It is one of the most festive and joyful events in the Russian calendar.