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Russians mark the end of winter with giant bonfire in Moscow

Click to play video: 'Russians celebrate the end of winter'
Russians celebrate the end of winter
WATCH ABOVE: Residents in Moscow residents celebrated the pagan Maslenitsa festival on Sunday, marking the end of winter – Mar 14, 2016

Residents in Moscow residents celebrated the pagan Maslenitsa festival on Sunday, marking the end of winter.

Usually, as part of the celebrations, Russians burn a scarecrow made from straw and eat pancakes on the weekend prior to the Orthodox Lent.

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Moscow Gorky Park organizers surprised visitors this year by burning a mock bear’s lair which, when the fire had taken down the wooden walls, revealed a giant bear.

The process was meant to symbolize the awakening of a bear, commonly used as a symbol of Russia, after its winter sleep.

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