VOICED: Russians celebrate official end to winter

In a Moscow suburb, Russians celebrate the end of winter with traditional rituals, including the awakening of bears and the reenactment of the snow fortress. The festival, embodying the spirit of unity, involves protecting and attacking the fortress, culminating in a communal gathering. Lady Maslenitsa is burned to welcome spring, a process symbolizing the transition from pagan to Orthodox Christian traditions akin to Mardi Gras. The festival is a time for pancakes, singing, and dressing up, attracting more participants each year as people seek to reconnect with their cultural roots, despite modern influences.

What traditional activity do Russians participate in to celebrate the end of winter?

• Skiing competitions

• Waking bears from hibernation

• Building snowmen

• Ice fishing

What is the symbolic act performed with Lady Maslenitsa during the festival?

• She is crowned as queen

• She is dressed in flowers

• She is buried in snow

• She is set on fire

What was Maslenitsa originally before it became similar to Mardi Gras?

• A national holiday

• A harvest festival

• A Pagan festival

• A Christian holiday

What is one of the main reasons young people are drawn to the Maslenitsa festival?

• To enjoy modern music

• To escape from technology

• To reconnect with cultural roots

• To participate in sports

What is a common activity during Maslenitsa that marks the start of Lent?

• Eating pancakes

• Fasting

• Lighting candles

• Planting trees