Russians mark the end of winter with giant bonfire in Moscow

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.

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.