Масленица is a traditional Slavic festival that marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It usually takes place in the week before Lent, celebrating the arrival of warmer weather. The festival is characterized by the preparation and consumption of blini, thin pancakes that symbolize the sun. During Масленица, people engage in various activities such as sledding, snowball fights, and folk games. The festival also includes the burning of a straw effigy called Maslenitsa, representing winter, to symbolize the farewell to the cold season and the welcoming of spring.