This week (February 20-26, 2012) Russians celebrate the traditional festival of масленица. The word масленица comes from the noun масло (butter). Масленичная неделя (Maslenitsa week) is a Russian festival celebrated right before Великий пост (Great Lent). This is the week to be spent eating lots and lots of fattening foods and participating in all kinds of merriment. Once the week is up, Lent begins, with its stringent diet and time…