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Maslenitsa, often called ‘Butter Week,’ is a traditional Russian festival celebrated during the last week before Lent, the period of fasting in the Orthodox Christian calendar. The festival marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring. One of the most famous Maslenitsa customs is eating bliny (thin pancakes), symbolising the sun with their round, golden shape. Traditionally, bliny are served with a variety of toppings, from sour cream and jam to caviar.

With the weather getting particularly cold, indoor leisure activities become increasingly appealing. This February, we suggest four exhibitions to visit in Moscow at the height of winter.

Moscow’s celebration of Students’ Day on January 25 will span the whole week and encompass both educational events and lighthearted leisure activities. Students are invited to an entrepreneurship festival, a winter fair, biology exhibitions, and various ice rinks.

The diversity of visual arts never ceases to amaze—and three new Moscow exhibitions focusing on different time periods and genres let visitors appreciate it. From 1900s avant-garde paintings to contemporary gravure rooted in folk traditions, these exhibition concepts are sure to appeal to art lovers.

Moscow continues to host various holiday-related activities and events to ignite your festive mood. Read on to learn more about upcoming street performances, fairs, and a large-scale celebration at a famous tourist location.

Below, students of the HSE School of Foreign Languages who worked as interns for the HSE English-language website team share their favourite places in Moscow. Elizaveta invites everyone to discover the Library for Foreign Literature, an iconic place for language lovers and learners from different countries, and Venera suggests taking a stroll in the historic Tsaritsyno Park.