These Maslenitsa dolls represent sunshine and spring, and are supposed to help drive the winter away! The holiday of Maslenitsa just finished, and at it's end we were supposed to have Spring! We do have some sunshine, but no Spring temperatures yet.
Maslenitsa is also known as Pancake Week, and it takes place eight weeks before Easter. It's also a last chance to eat butter, milk, and meat before the 7 weeks of a strict Lenten diet. The last day of Maslenitsa represents the end of Winter... but here in Russia it's always a bit premature :)
posted by Ashira
