Holidays & Events
Holidays
Banks and public offices are not open on these holidays, but, as in other countries, many shops and other commercial establishments stay open for business. Most businesses provide information about their days and hours of operation on their front doors or windows. Unfortunately, this information is generally only in Russian.
| January 1 | New Year's Day |
| January 7 | Christmas, Russian Orthodox |
| February 23 | Soldier's Day |
| March 8 | International Women's Day |
| April-May | Easter, Russian Orthodox |
| May 1-2 | Spring and Labor Holiday |
| May 9 | Victory Day (Over German Nazism in WW2) |
| June 12 | Independence Day |
| August 22 | Day of the Russian Federation State Flag |
| November 4 | People's Unity Day |
| December 12 | Constitution Day |
January 1 - The New Year
The New Year is first on the calendar and in popularity. Many celebrate it twice, on January 1 and 14 (which corresponds to January 1 in the Julian calendar which was used in Russia before 1918). The New Year holiday is especially popular with children. In every house there is a fir tree. Presents are supposed to be delivered by Father Frost and his lovely young Snow Maiden helper. People decorate their houses, prepare delicious dishes, and exchange presents and cards. People see the old year out and the new year in sitting around a festive table. They address New Year's greetings and good wishes to one another, sing songs, and often play games. "Happy New Year" is heard everywhere and toasts are made with sparkling wine.
January 7 - Christmas
Russian Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January. In remembrance of the gifts the Bible says were given to Jesus on his birth, people today try to please their friends and relatives by giving them Christmas presents. One may say that in fact this holiday is the continuation of New Year's Day, but at Christmas there is more of an emphasis on religion.
Back to topFebruary 23 - Soldier's Day
February 23 is Soldier's Day, known until recently as Soviet Army Day. Popularly viewed as a holiday for all men, it is closely followed by its female counterpart, Women's Day, March 8, when women receive flowers, presents and are toasted by the men.
March 8 - Women's Day
All of us have already gotten used to International Women's Day - the
holiday we celebrate in honor of our wives, mothers, daughters, brides,
grandmothers and sweethearts. But actually, not everyone remembers how this
day of women's international solidarity began. It was such a long time ago in
1910 in Copenhagen at the 2nd International Conference of Socialist Women
a proposal was passed to celebrate this day. It was celebrated for the first
time in 1911 in several European countries and two years later in Russia.
In 1966, March 8 was declared a major holiday in Russia. As this day comes
closer, men try find a way to compensate for their shortfall of attention,
concern and tenderness over the rest of the year.
In 1997 Russia added the celebration Mother's Day on the last Thursday of
November. But March 8 remains the primary holiday for the celebration of
"womanhood" in Russia.
April-May Easter
Russian Orthodox Easter is celebrated 35 days after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. This usually falls some time between April 4 and May 8. Orthodox Easter, as in the West, comes at the end of Lent. It's considered the Church's most important holiday.
May 1-2 - Spring and Labor Holiday
Through the end of the Soviet Union the celebration of the combination Spring and Labor Day holiday was officially termed International Workers' Solidarity Day. In some years falls on or close to Russian Orthodox Easter, so some people celebrate in church while some attend customary demonstrations.
May 9 - Victory Day
Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9 to commemorate the millions who fell in World War II. Flowers and wreaths are laid on wartime graves on this day, and veterans come out into the streets wearing their military orders and medals. Alas, there are fewer of them with every passing year. The Great Patriotic War ended on May 9, 1945. That spring day went down in the history of our country as Victory Day. But the victory was won at a very high price. The Soviet people had to fight against the fascists from the White Sea in the North to the Black Sea in the South. The heroic Soviet people not only defended their own country, they played a major role, quite possibly the leading role, saving the world from Nazi domination.
Back to topJune 12 - Independence Day
This is one of Russia's newest holidays. It commemorates the adoption in 1991 of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation. The Russian declarationwas followed by an abortive attempt by the Communist Party conservatives to "reestablish order" in August 1991, and after the coup attempt collapsed, the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991.
November 4 - People's Unity Day
The Russian legislature, at President Vladimir Putin's request, created a new holiday in 2004 and dropped an old one. The holiday that was dropped was November 7, the anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. This holiday had already been renamed the Day of Accord and Reconciliation by Boris Yeltsin. The new holiday, which was celebrated for the first time in 2005, is supposed to mark the day in 1612 when Russian forces liberated Moscow from Polish occupation. There is some controversy among historians as to whether anything meaningful actually happened on November 4 more than 400 years ago. And it remains to be seen how the Russian public will respond to this new holiday
Back to top