Final answer:
Maslenitsa is the religious Russian festival which precedes the 40 days of Lent. It's also known as 'Butter Week', 'Pancake week', or 'Cheesefare Week', and it marks the transition from winter to spring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The religious Russian festival that precedes the 40 days of Lent is known as Maslenitsa. This unique festival, sometimes called 'Butter Week', 'Pancake week', or 'Cheesefare Week', is a folk holiday rooted in both pagan and Orthodox Christian traditions. It is dedicated to bidding farewell to winter and welcoming spring. The highlight of the festival is the making and eating of pancakes (bliny) which symbolize the sun.
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