20.12.2007
Russian Holidays
with descriptions and histories
2007-2008 New Year (Новый Год) (days off)
Dec 30th, 2007 - January 6th, 2008
The New Year is, without doubt, the most important holiday on the Russian calendar, equating if not outstripping the importance of Christmas in America, if to compare the two holidays in the two cultures. New Year in Russia is a time to be together with family and friends, for gift giving, major consumer spending, decorating trees, and even watching and setting off fireworks. Midnight is, by tradition, marked by listening to the Kremlin bells chime (either by turning on the television and hearing them on as broadcast by the major channels or by actually standing on Red Square). Russian folk belief, still seen as tradition by many, holds that one must toast when the bells begin to chime and that those with whom you toast will be near you for the rest of the next year.
The Russian New Year has a long and interesting history. In 1925, Christmas was effectively banned under the officially atheist Soviets, and was not to return to Russian lands until 1992. The New Year celebration usurped the traditions of a Christmas Tree (Ёлка), Santa (known in Russian as "Дед Mopoз" or "Grampa Frost"), and presents. In the Russian tradition, Grampa Frost's granddaughter, the Snow Maiden (Снегурочка), always accompanies him to help distribute the gifts. Elves are not associated with the holiday. Often, the days marking this important holiday are stretched to what most Westerners would consider a near impossible vacation (see the dates indicated above), and it often runs concurrently with days off for Christmas (see below). However, Russians will work on Saturday, December 29, 2007 for the pleasure of taking such a long holiday. Moving work days to either Saturday or Sunday to create more days off around holidays is common in Russia. More about New Year and Christmas in Russia  Christmas / Рождество (days off)
January 7-8, 2008
The Russian Orthodox Church recognizes January 7 as the day Jesus was born. This is actually not so strange; the Romans celebrated Christmas on January 6th up until the year 354, when the bishop of Rome changed it. Some say this change was made according to scholarship available at the time, others say that the day was moved to appease northern pagans who celebrated the birth of a sun god on this day. In the Soviet Union, Christmas was effectively banned under the officially atheist Soviets in 1925. The holiday has not gained much in popularity since its official re-institution in 1992. Some Russians do not celebrate the day at all, while some have a small family dinner, and a very few exchange gifts. Russians with Western friends will often think to congratulate or call these friends on Dec. 25th. The Russian government often gives an additional day or two off around the seventh, creating a very long holiday (consecutive with New Year's) to start off the New Year. More about New Year and Christmas in Russia
Old New Year / Старый Новый Год (work day)
January 14, 2008
In one of history's quirkier notes, the Soviets changed the Russian calendar four times. In 1918, at the bequest of Lenin, Russia adopted the Gregorian calendar (the one that Western Europe and the US use). The Russian Orthodox Church, however, clung to the old Julian calendar and, in fact, is still debating whether to officially accept the change. The two calendars disagree by about two weeks, which led many to wonder when they should celebrate the important holiday. Russians, ever the resourceful creatures, started celebrating both dates, creating a new holiday known as the "Old New Year." Although it is not an official holiday recognized by the state, it is still celebrated with food and drink and sometimes small gifts. Incidentally, the other calendar changes occurred as follows: In 1929, the Soviets adopted the "Eternal Calendar," which featured 12 months, each with six 5-day weeks. There were five national holidays, which were days off, but other days off were staggered. The system was implemented to increase factory production, but was so confusing and disruptive that it was changed again in 1932 to a new calendar with 12 months of five six-day weeks, which gave regular days off. This system was still a source of confusion and complaint, however, and in 1940 the seven-day week and the Georgian calendar were brought back in full. St. Valentine's Day / День Святого Валентина (work day)
February 14, 2008
In its modern form, St. Valentine's Day was actually invented by the Americans. The Russians, who take love and friendship quite seriously, also recently adopted the holiday. It is celebrated much as in America, with cards, candy, and small favors. Defenders of the Fatherland Day / День Защитника Отечества (day off)
February 23, 2008
 Imagine Father's Day in military uniform and you have a rough approximation of this holiday. Since all Russian men are supposed to serve in the army (although it is possible not to serve), this day is technically the day of all men. It's history is briefly as follows: in 1918, just after the German invasion of the USSR and capture of Minsk, the Soviets declared a state of emergency and called for a draft in St. Petersburg. Ten thousand people signed up on February 23rd, 1918. It is interesting to note that most Russian histories still record these people as "volunteers" (добровольцев) while Western histories prefer the harder term "draftees" (призывник). The day was first celebrated in Moscow as "Day of the Birth of the Red Army" in 1922. It was made an official holiday in 1923 under the name "Day of the Red Army." The name changed again in 1946 to "Day of the Soviet Army and Navy." As the Soviet Union ceased to exist in 1991, the holiday's name was also changed to its current "Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland." Men are congratulated, given cards, flowers, and gifts on this day. This year, the 23rd falls on a Saturday and so, as required by Russian legislation, the 25th will also be a day off. Maslenitsa / Масленица (work days)
March 3-9, 2008
This full week of celebration is Orthodox Christianity's version of Mardi Gras. Technically, the name means "butter week," as it is the week in which Russians feast on eggs, butter, cheese, and milk (and abstain from meat). The week is also steeped in pagan tradition. Maslenitsa is still seen as the beginning of spring and the end of the long Russian winter, known for its severity and duration. This was a time when the ancient ancestors of the Russians worshiped a sun god, in the hopes that he would stay long and bring bountiful harvests. Bliny (блины - a kind of buttery crepe) was and is baked and eaten as symbol of the sun. The modern Orthodox have resolved this pagan connection by claiming that the sun is a symbol of Christ, or at least his holy spirit (which is also depicted by the golden circle that always occurs behind his head in Russian Orthodox icons). Whatever their meaning, blini are tasty and are baked and eaten in large quantities. In addition, the holiday is also traditionally celebrated with music, bonfires, a stuffed "Lady Maslenitsa" (who is burned in the bonfire), and sledding and snowball fights, if there is still sufficient snow. More on Maslenitsa  International Women's Day / Восьмое марта (day off)
March 8, 2008
Again, this day is similar to mother's day in America, except that all women are celebrated. Be prepared with flowers and possibly candy, a card, etc. for the important women in your life. AS the date falls on a Saturday in 2008, March 10 will also be a day off. Historically, March 8 has long been internationally associated with women's rights, beginning with a famous mass protest in New York on March 8, 1857, when women from sewing and shoe factories demonstrated for rights equal to those of men. Men had recently won a 10-hour workday. Women, however, were forgotten in the legislation and kept to a 16-hour workday. The strike was well-publicised and gained public support and became a day for regular demonstrations in the US and Europe. In 1910, during a meeting of women in the Socialist International, a proposal was made to adopt March 8th as an international socialist holiday marking the struggle for women's rights. The International did adopt the idea, proclaiming just such a holiday, but did not assign to it any particular date, leaving that decision up to the party members from each country. The day was first celebrated in St. Petersburg in 1913, but it would not become an official state holiday and day off until 1965. Most likely, however, the greatest historical significance of the date for Russians is as the date that Russian women first gained the right to vote: on March 8, 1917 (according to the Julian Calendar), under the newly installed Provisional Government. Russian women had campaigned for more rights as the war effort during WWI had necessitated that they take on a greater role in the workforce and society. As an interesting note to end on, American women would gain the right to vote only three years later.
Orthodox Easter / Православная Пасха (always on Sunday)
April 27, 2008
According to the Orthodox Church, Easter is held on the first Sunday after the date of the first full moon that occurs on or after March 21. This holiday is traditionally celebrated with church attendance, incense, and simple, traditional foods such as сырники (a kind of cheese fritter) and блины (a sort of crepe - click for more info). People great each other with "Христос воскрес" (Christ is risen), to which the reply is "Воистине воскрес" (Truly risen). Church services led by the Patriarch are broadcast on national TV and public transport runs til the wee hours to accommodate a late mass. The Day of Spring and Labor / Праздник Весны и Труда (day off)
May 1, 2008
Formerly International Worker's Solidarity Day under the old Communist system, it seems that everyone calls this one something different now. "Labor Day," "The May Holiday," and "Worker's Day" all seem to be used, but everyone at least uses the same date. It is celebrated with parades, concerts, food, and drink and traditionally kicks off the dacha season. The holiday will be officially observed from the first to the third of May, with official days off. The fourth of May will be a work day. Victory Day / День Победы (day off)
May 9, 2008
This day celebrates the end of WWII (The Great Patriotic War, as Russians know it), in which Russia lost some 20 million people. Understandably, the Russians take this day quite seriously; imagine Memorial Day and the Fourth of July in America combined to get some indication of its scope. It is celebrated by parades, concerts, fireworks, recognition of veterans (who usually dress up for the occasion) and, of course, food and drink. As it is quite close to the May 1-2 holidays, many Russians take some extra time off to escape to their dachas for nearly two weeks so as to "open" it for the summer season.  Russia Day / День России (day off)
June 12, 2008
This holiday commemorates the adoption of the 1991 Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation which declared Russia's "independence" from the USSR. However, many Russians are still unaware that this was ever done viewing Russia, instead, as a successor state to the USSR. In accordance with this view this holiday is generally celebrated simply as show of patriotism for Russia. It's celebrated similarly to Victory Day, with fireworks set off at 10 p.m. This year, the holiday will be marked from the twelfth to the fifteenth of June, although seventh will be a work day. More on Russia Day.
People's Unity Day / День народного единство (day off)
Nov 4, 2008
Russia's absolute newest holiday, created in 2004, celebrates the liberation of Moscow from Polish troops in 1612 and the subsequent end of the "time of troubles." This is the first time in nearly 400 years, however, that an official state holiday has marked the occasion, leading many Russians to ask why it was created. It's very possible that when the Duma abolished Nov 7th (formerly Revolution Day) from the national calendar, they felt a holiday was needed in November so that people would not have to go from June to January without one. Nov 4 was sufficiently important. Given it's proximity to the old holiday, many Russians haven't noticed the name change yet, particularly since this holiday is celebrated the same as the old holiday: with fireworks, food, and drink. This holiday will be observed in Russia from the second to the fourth of November; the first will be a work day. City Day / День города
Varies by city
Each city in Russia celebrates its official founding date with fireworks, concerts, speeches by local politicians and other figures, food, drink, and other city-specific festivities. City day for Moscow is the 31st of August and, for St. Petersburg, the 27th of May. Ex-Holidays: The Russian Duma passed a bill on Dec 24th, 2004 eliminating two Soviet Era holidays: November 7. Day of Accord and Reconciliation / День Согласия и Примирения (day off)
The 1917 Russian Revolution occurred in October according to the Julian calendar. Although the Russians quickly changed the calendar, the name "October Revolution" stuck, despite the fact that it occurred on Nov 7th according to the new, Gregorian calendar. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the name of the day was changed from "The Day of the Great Revolution of October 1917," and its official purpose changed to celebrate the unity of Russia. However, in a recent poll some 50% of Russians stated that they didn't know why they celebrate the day. Some said that they celebrate it to celebrate not having to celebrate the Revolution anymore! Given the fact that the "Day of Accord and Reconciliation" was so short-lived, perhaps that was it's actual purpose, in retrospect. December 12. Constitution Day / День Конституции (day off)
The date of this holiday changed several times over the course of history, with each new Russian constitution from Lenin to Stalin to Brezhnev to Yeltsin. Celebrated with fireworks, food, and drink. Find Out More!
History of Russian Holidays
History of the Russian Dacha
Internships in Russia
Heath and Safety in Russia
The SRAS Newsletter
Library: All About Russia
Eurasian Regions and Cities
Journal for Students
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