Maslenitsa is one of the brightest and most fun holidays in Russia. This holiday is celebrated every winter before Great Lent. The ancient Slavic custom symbolises bidding farewell to the winter and greeting the spring. Maslenitsa lasts for a week with each day having its own name and traditions.

Activists of the Institute of international Copperation attended folk festivals and got acquainted with the traditions of the Russian holiday.

Ketul Patel, a fourth-year student at the Medical Institute of PSU, tried his first Russian blini (‘pancakes’) and shared his impressions: “Russian blini are a real find! Thin, light and incredibly delicious. The diversity of fillings will leave you amazed: from classic smetana (‘sour cream’) to honey. Everyone will find a filling to their taste. Now I get why blini have such a special place in Russian cuisine: they are just perfect for any occasion!”