The word “Russia” is usually associated with a few standard things like vodka, snow, bears, matryoshka and if you are into culture – ballet… Those are a few things that spring to mind but there are so much more to Russia! If you really are interested in Russian culture and life, you should look beyond the stereotypes.

Take for example Russian holidays. Most of them have connections with western holidays. In Russia we also celebrate the New Year’s Night, Christmas, Easter. And every year Russian people celebrate Maslenitsa (Pancake Week) which is similar to Pancake (Shrove) Tuesday in the English-speaking countries.

Maslenitsa is a great holiday to mark the end of winter; the time to eat heartily and have fun! The holiday week is a wonderful chance to get to know ancient Russian traditions and try delicious food, so if you have a chance, visit Russia during the Pancake Week.

For the whole week people enjoy funfairs, shows, snowball fights, sleigh rides, sledding and tasty pancakes with dips and fillings like sour cream, honey, fruit jams, cottage cheese, salmon, caviar and minced meat.

The mascot of the festival is a bright straw doll called Maslenitsa which is burnt on Sunday evening as the culmination of the celebration. The last day of the Pancake Week is the Forgiveness Sunday which is followed by the Great Lent beginning on Monday. On that Sunday people ask each other for forgiveness and it does not matter whether you know the person you are addressing to; you are supposed to say “Please forgive me” and the answer is always “God will forgive you”.

In the Soviet times, religious celebrations, including Maslenitsa, were officially not observed. Yet, this festival was widely observed in households without its religious meaning, just as an occasion to make pancakes with various fillings and to eat them with friends. After Perestroika, wider celebrations resumed, as many Russians started practicing Christianity openly again.

You have to go to a specific city or town to see its attractions but one can enjoy Maslenitsa anywhere across Russia as it is celebrated in most places. But before you set off to Russia, make sure that you have a Russian visa if you are supposed to have one. One cannot obtain a Russian visa on arrival, you need to get one in the country of your residency. Russian visas are issued either in the Russian Consulate or through a visa application centre (this depends on the country you live in).

The Russian visa application process can seem complicated and time-consuming but you can always rely on Russia visa specialists who can help you get a visa stress-free and save loads of time and efforts.