Russian Holidays

Guide Russia will help you to enjoy these holidays during your tour of Russia.

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Maslenitsa
	Maslenitsa is also known as Cheesefare Week, Butter Week, or Pancake week. It is a Russian religious and folk holiday. It is celebrated during the last week before Great Lent—that is, the seventh week before Pascha (Easter). People cook pancakes and eat them with various fillings. The mascot of the celebration is usually a brightly dressed straw woman, which represent Lady Maslenitsa. As the culmination of the celebration, on Sunday evening, Lady Maslenitsa is stripped of her bright clothes and put to the flames of a bonfire. Any remaining pancakes are also thrown on the fire, and Lady Maslenitsa's ashes are buried in the snow.
The Army Day - Men's Day (February 23)
	The Army Day - Men's Day (February 23). On this day Russian people show their respect to all the generations of Russian soldiers, especially to those, who defeated courageously our motherland from foreign invaders. Traditionally Russian women give presents and signs of attention to all the representatives of the masculine gender, military man congratulate each other.
St. Valentine's Day (February 14)
	St. Valentine's Day (February 14). This holiday is very popular in many countries in the world as well as in Russia. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine’s cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after the Early Christian martyr, named Valentine. Christian martyr Valentine, being condemned to the cruel punishment, couldn’t stop thinking of his lover and sent her a message, where he expressed his love and fidelity.
Orthodox Christmas (January 7)
	Orthodox Christmas (January 7). On the Eve of this day young girls like to tell fortunes to each other, using various techniques, and try find out something about their future husband; besides people have fun, ware fancy-dresses and walk from one home to another, dance and sing, asking for food, drink or some other favor. All this traditions are kept up mostly in provincial cities, like the city of Tver, where people still preserve their national coloure.