Pancakes And Pugilism: Russia's Fiery Maslenitsa Marks Winter's End
An artist performs during Maslenitsa holiday celebrations at the Izmailovsky Kremlin in Moscow
A family cooks a holiday dinner at their apartment in Moscow as a pancake woman stands on a table.
Russians dance during the Maslenitsa festival in Suzdal.
A Russian clown helps a girl to climb up a wooden pole to get a prize during Maslenitsa celebrations at the Izmailovsky Kremlin in Moscow.
A performer bakes pancakes for guests during Maslenitsa in Moscow.
Russians in traditional dress celebrate Maslenitsa close to the village of Gzhel, about 60 kilometers from Moscow.
A man drops a skillet, which he received as a prize, after he climbed up a wooden pole in Russia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok.
People compete in a tug-of-war during Maslenitsa celebrations at the Izmailovsky Kremlin in Moscow.
Traditionaly dressed Russian women celebrate Maslenitsa in the village of Gzhel.
Russians watch a burning effigy of Lady Maslenitsa in Suzdal.
Friendly sparring between groups of men is part of the Maslenitsa festivities, such as these Russian men at the Izmailovsky Kremlin in Moscow.
Russian men participate in a mass fight competition close to village of Gzhel, not far from Moscow.
A man celebrates Maslenitsa close to the village of Gzhel, near Moscow.
Men toss a young woman at the Izmailovsky Kremlin in Moscow.
People watch a castle-shape wooden construction called Corona Tower -- created by Russian artist Nikolai Polissky -- burn as part of celebrations in the village of Nikola-Lenivets, about 200 kilometers southwest of Moscow.
Children play ball with brooms during Maslenitsa at the Izmailovsky Kremlin.
A man climbs up a wooden pole to get a prize during celebrations in the Moscow region.
Participants try pancakes in Nizhny Novgorod.
People try to negotiate a stone maze outside St. Petersburg.
Russians jump over the charred remains of an effigy of Lady Maslenitsa outside St. Petersburg.
People watch a burning installation called Vaccination Tower during celebrations of Maslenitsa in Russia's Kaluga region.