Unit VIII holidays and traditions

Conversational topic: Holidays and customs in Russia

There are 7 official holidays in Russia. These are New Year holiday and Christmas, Defender of the Motherland Day, International Women´s Day, Spring and Labour Day, Victory Day, Russia Day, Unity Day.

The New Year is the first in calendar and in popularity. The first holiday of the year is New Year's Day. People see the New Year in at midnight to the 31st of December. They greet the New Year with champagne and listen to the Kremlin chimes beating 12 o'clock. New Year's Day is one the most favorite holidays in Russia. Both grown-ups and children are happy on this day. On the Eve of this holiday or just on this very day everybody give presents to each other, have fun, make fireworks, decorate pine and fir-trees, cook delicious things and lay the holiday table. Children always wait for Father Frost to come and give them a present. Many people consider New Year's Day to be a family holiday. But the young prefer to have New Year parties of their own. The holiday lasts till next morning. Everyone who believes in good think of an intimate wish and thanks for everything good that had happened this year. For the first time this holiday was announced in Russia by the order of Peter the Great dated by January 20, 1700. This order gave the detailed instructions how to celebrate New Year's Day. And the tradition of telling fortunes at this night is very popular among Russian people.

A renewed holiday in our country is Orthodox Christmas. It is celebrated on the 7th of January. It's a religious holiday and a lot of people go to church services on that day.

Day of the Defender of Motherland is celebrated on the 23rd of February. It is our tribute of respect to all the generations of Russian soldiers from the ancient times till nowadays to those who defeated courageously our motherland from invaders. On this day all boys and men receive congratulations and presents and the military men greet each other. Women have an opportunity to say the warmest words to their lovers and to please them with sings of attention.

The 8^th of March it´s International Women's Day (the United Nations declared it as the International Women's Day to celebrate women and the accomplishments they have made to society). March 8 became the first spring holiday in Russia. Up to this day, it is an official day off and both men and women of Russia are looking forward to this holiday. It has long lost its political meaning and is looked upon as a day to celebrate the unconditional love, sacrifice, patience, wisdom, and beauty of the Russian women. It is traditional on this holiday to present women with gifts and flowers.

The 1st of May is the traditional Spring and Labour Holiday. In the former Soviet Union, 1 May was International Workers´ Day and was celebrated with parades in cities like Moscow. Though the celebrations are low-key nowadays, several groups march on that day to protest grievances the workers have.

The greatest national holiday in our country is Victory Day. On the 9^th of May, 1945, the Soviet Army and its allies completely defeated the German fascists and the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War ended. The Victory Day is the greatest national holiday in our country. It commemorates those who died in World War II and pays tribute to survivors and veterans. A huge military parade is held in Moscow and other cities to celebrate this day. Many veterans take part in the military parade and laid flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and wartime graves. Radio and television broadcast popular war songs all day long. A lot of guest from different countries of the world came to Moscow to participate in the celebrations. Eternal memory to heroes will last forever.

Independence Day is a new holiday in our country. On this day, in 1990, Russian parliament formally declared Russian sovereignty over Russia (RSFSR). The holiday was officially established in 1992. On the 12th of June, 1992, the first President of Russia was elected.

Unity Day was first celebrated on November 4, 2005, commemorates the popular uprising led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky which ejected the Polish invaders from Moscow in November of 1612, and more generally the end of the Time of Troubles and foreign intervention in Russia. National Unity Day is also known as Consolidation Day (as an alternative translation), which people in Russia celebrate on November 3 - November 4.

There are some holidays which are not public holidays. We celebrate Cosmonautics Day on April 12, Day of Knowledge on September 1, Tatyana's Day on January 25, a lot of professional holidays and many others.

The Student Day (Tatyana's Day) - January 25: in Russia it is a merry holiday of the students as on this very day January, 25th 1775 Emperor Elizabeth signed the decree (prepared by count Shuvalov) of the establishment of the Moscow University.

Holiday of lovers - St. Valentine's Day - February 14: Christian martyr Valentine was condemned to the capital punishment by Roman pagans but even in such cruel conditions he didn't stop thinking of his lover-the jailer's daughter. He sent her a message full of love and tenderness. This holiday, borrowing from the Western culture, is now very popular in Russia.