Category: Russian Holidays

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Teacher’s Day – October 5
Teacher’s DayOctober 5 is the professional holiday for teachers. On this day all students congratulate their teachers, give them flowers and cards, and express their gratitude towards their favorite teachers. Flowers, flowers, flowers, lots of flowers in every school… everywhere.
Normally teachers get together after their work hours and have fun.
It’s customary to congratulate your former teachers too. It’s very touching when you see a grey-headed person with a bouquet of autumn flowers who comes to see his old teacher and says ‘Happy Teacher’s Day”.
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Day of Knowledge – September 1
September 1 - Day of KnowledgeSeptember the 1st is the first day of school throughout Russia. On this day school children come back to school after the summer break and bring flowers to their teachers.
Education has been always of a big priority for Russians, so this holiday is really loved by kids: they are back to school and back to their friends – normally children stay in the same group of classmates throughout their whole school life.
Day of knowledge is especially emotional for the first graders and their parents. They all come to school fancy dressed with big bouquets of flowers. All students gather in the schoolyard, divided class by class for the solemn meeting, called “First Bell”. After welcoming speeches comes the ritual of ringing the first bell. A senior boy parades in front of the lineup students with the tiny girl (first grader), sitting on his shoulder. The girl rings the bell and the crowd cheers.
There is no actual lessons but rather textbook seeing on that day.
Day of Knowledge
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Russia Day – June 12

Russia Day

Russia Day is one of the youngest holidays. People are gradually getting used to it.
This holiday was officially established in 1994 and it commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation. (The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.)
Food is sold, music is playing, kids carry balloons, concerts are going on everywhere, people are wandering around, enjoying a jubilant atmosphere.
Russia Day is a holiday of national unity.
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Victory Day – May 9
Victor DayVictory Day commemorates the victory of the Soviet Army over Nazi Germany in the World War 2, in which more than 20 thousand Soviet people were killed.
Russians say that there is no family that wasn’t touched by that war. Therefore it is a significant and very emotional holiday that is celebrated with parades in big and small cities.
The veterans wear their medals and the young generation honors them with flowers. People lay wreaths on the wartime graves, deliver speeches and veterans tell about their war adventures. And, of course, there is a huge Victory Day parade on the Red Square in Moscow that is broadcasted on TV.
The beautiful night salute – the biggest of the year – concludes this sacred holiday.
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Spring and Labor Day – May 1

May 1 Labor Day

Spring and Labor Day is a public holiday, and most of the public buildings, banks, and educational centers are closed on this day.
It was a very important holiday in the former Soviet Union with huge parades and solemn meetings. Everybody was a part of the celebration. The streets were decorated with red flags, and people marched on the streets with boards, flags, and placards. The most popular 1st May slogan was: “Piece, Labor, May!” Those who did not participate in marching watched the parade on the sidewalks or from their windows.
Nowadays many organizations still participate in parades. People enjoy the holiday atmosphere.
Often people use this holiday to go to their country houses (dachas) as this 2 day holiday is the perfect time for planting crops.
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Russian Easter

easter eggsChristians all over the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Russians celebrate Easter according to the Orthodox calendar, usually a week or two later than in the West. it comes after the strict 40 days of Lent (All products that come from animals: meat, milk, eggs, cheese, etc. – are forbidden). This is the most important holiday in the Orthodox church.
On the Thursday before Easter (known as Clean Thursday) women thoroughly clean their houses preparing them for the Easter celebration. On Saturday the service starts at midnight and lasts until 3 or 4 in the morning. People come to church with Easter baskets to be blessed.
The tradition of Easter food is Easter bun (Kulich), painted eggs and a special cheesecake with raisins and nuts (Paskha).$CUT$
On Sunday morning a family gathering at the table, everybody greets each other with words ‘Jesus resurrected’ (One person says: Христос Воскресе!  and the other one replies: Воистину Воскресе!), kisses 3 times on the cheek and the Easter breakfast begins.
For non-religious people, Easter is just a joyful occasion with a lot of delicious food and beautiful traditions.

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Fool’s Day or Day of Laughter – April 1
April 1 - Fool's DayThe motto of this day: 1st of April – Don’t trust anybody!
On this day everybody tries to play a trick on others. It’s pretty popular to send a friend or a family member on a false errand. It works perfectly if somebody forgot about the date.
TV broadcasts humorous programs and Yumorina – the annual festival in Odessa. The city of Odessa (locat ed on the Black sea) is considered to be the capital of humor in the former Soviet Union. In spite of the fact that this day is not an official holiday, the mayor of Odessa traditionally declares it a day off, so the residents and tourists can enjoy the celebration that includes a carnival, shows, concerts, and fireworks.
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International Women’s Day – March 8

On March 8 Russia celebrates International Women’s day.
A tradition of Russian men giving flowers to women on many occasions is very widespread, but on this day every woman is expecting a flower from men. March 8 is a Big Deal for Russian women, bigger than Valentine’s Day.
Men give flowers to their female colleagues, as well as to their loved ones, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters. At school, boys give flowers, cards, or small gifts to their female classmates.
On Women’s Day, men are supposed to do all the housework, while women relaxing on the couch with a magazine. You see well-dressed women on the streets and they get a lot of attention from men.
Often, people, have parties and men express their feelings towards women and tell them how special they are.

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Maslenitsa (Buttery week)
MaslenitsaThe last winter holiday is called Maslenitsa (Literally: Buttery week.) People are saying ‘Goodbye’ to the long Russian winter and look forward welcoming the spring.
During this week the main food is bliny – Russian pancakes – eaten with caviar, honey or sour cream. Pancakes symbolize the sun – warm and golden and they are sold everywhere.
If the city has a river, the last day of Maslenitsa will be celebrated on the icy surface of the river with the troika (harnessed horses) riding, sledding, puppet theatres, competitions, building fortresses out of the snow and other fun activities.
The culmination of the celebration is burning Lady Maslenitsa (scarecrow of winter) on the last day of Maslenitsa.