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January
1-2 New Year
Most
important non-religious holiday in Russia. Celebrations may feature
the Yolka, or New Year’s Tree, Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden,
and gift-giving and a feast. Revelers crowd Red Square.
January 7 Russian Orthodox Christmas
Christmas
based on the Julian calendar, used in Russia prior to the 1917 Soviet
revolution when the Soviet government switched to the Gregorian
calendar in general use. The Russian Orthodox Church marks religious
holidays based on the old Julian calendar. Some other eastern orthodox
dioceses in the world – including the Russian Orthodox Diocese in
Alaska – also celebrate Christmas on January 7. This recent post-Soviet
addition to Russian holidays is a work holiday.
March 8 International Women’s Day
Giving
flowers to women – in personal and professional relations – is mandatory.
May 1-2 May Day / International Labor Day / Spring Holiday
May
Day, May 1, is traditionally celebrated as Labor Day around the
world, a day of workers’ solidarity. Under the Soviets, this was
an important political holiday. After the demise of the Soviet Union,
the holiday was de-politicized and became a two-day Labor Day and
Spring Holiday.
May 9 Victory Day
Celebrates
victory over Germany in 1945 in World War II or, as it is commonly
referred to in Russia, The Great Patriotic War. Equivalent to American
Veterans’ Day
June 12
Independence
Day or Sovereignty Day
Marks
the 1991 declaration of Russian sovereignty. Date of Russian presidential
elections every four years. Next presidential election: 2004
November 7 Day of Accord & Reconciliation
The
Soviet Union marked the anniversary of the 1917 "Great October
Socialist Revolution" (October because of the discrepancy in
calendars which changed post-1917). After the Soviet collapse, the
post-Soviet Russian government – in an effort to forge political
peace through compromise – kept the date an official state holiday,
adhering to seven decades of tradition, but designated the holiday
as a day of accord and reconciliation in an effort to bridge the
political divide. The Communist Party still marks the date as the
anniversary of the revolution, but for most of the country, it is
simply provides a non-political holiday.
December 12 Constitution Day
Marks
adoption of Russia’s post-Soviet constitution. Federal parliamentary
elections held on this date every three years.
Additional Russian Holiday Information
Russian Easter
Date
varies
May 5, 2002 / April 27, 2003 / April 11, 2004
Holiest
holiday in Russian Orthodoxy
Celebrated
based on the old Julian calendar
Recognition Days & Feast Days
(Not
official holidays)
Additional
holidays recognize: military branches, professions, anniversaries
&
Russian Orthodox
Church feast days and other holidays
Weekend Holidays
Holidays
that occur on weekends are traditionally celebrated on Friday or
Monday
Extended Holidays
Russia’s
holiday-to-holiday phenomenon:
Separate
holidays occurring close together tend to merge into extended holiday
periods Anticipate closed offices, absent officials, work slowdowns
during extended holidays
New Year’s Day-Christmas Season: Dec. 31-Jan. 7
Holiday
lull is increasingly extending from Western Christmas to Orthodox
Christmas
May
Day-Victory Day: May 1-9
Much
of Russia celebrates spring weather
August – Summer Vacation
August
is the traditional Russian vacation month, as in many parts of Europe
Fireworks
Fireworks
displays are traditional on Russian holidays
Election Days
National,
regional and local elections occur on Sundays; treated as holiday
Joint
U.S. & Russian Government Holidays
U.S. Government
offices in Russia recognize both American and Russian holidays
Russian
Government offices in the U.S. recognize both Russian and American
holidays
Alaska’s
Russian Holidays
Seward’s Day – March 30
Celebrated
last Monday in March
Named
after U.S. Secretary of State William Seward who negotiated the
Alaska Purchase
Holiday
marks the anniversary of the March 30, 1867 treat signing
Official
State of Alaska holiday – All Alaska state offices closed
Alaska Day – October 18
Anniversary
of the formal transfer in 1867 of Alaska from Russian to the United
States
Ceremonial
re-enactment every October 18 in the former Russian capital Sitka
Official
State of Alaska holiday – All Alaska state offices closed
Christmas – January 7
Alaska
Russian Orthodox diocese adheres to old Julian calendar
Celebrated
in many small Alaska communities where Russian Orthodoxy predominates
Russian
Orthodox Christmas traditions followed in many villages
Not
an official holiday, but schools, post offices, etc. may close
in small villages
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