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In theSoviet Union,public holidays were set at a state level by theSupreme Soviet of the Soviet Union.[1] More than 30 holidays were recognized in the Soviet Union.[2]
| Date | English name | Russian name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | Russian:Новый год | Most of the traditions that were originally associated withChristmas in Russia, such asFather Frost and decorated fir-trees,have been moved to New Year's Day since theOctober Revolution, arguably making New Year's Day the largest celebration in the Soviet Union and modernRussia. |
| February 23 | Soviet Army and Navy Day | Russian:День Советской Армии и Военно-морского флота ("Day of the Soviet Army and Navy") | First celebrated in 1919, Soviet Army and Navy Day, originally known as Red Army Day (Russian:День Красной Армии), marked 17 February 1918, the date during theRussian Civil War when the first mass draft into theRed Army occurred inPetrograd andMoscow. In January 1919, a decision was made to combine it with the celebration of the following day, on which the decree on the establishment of theRed Army was published. In 1919, 17 February fell on a Monday, so a decision was also made to move the combined holiday to the following Sunday, 23 February. That choice of day has been retained ever since. In 1923, the holiday was officially named Day of the Red Army andthe Navy. In 1949, it was renamed to Soviet Army and Navy Day (Russian:День Советской армии и Военно-морского флота,romanized: Dyen' Sovyetskoy armii i Voyenno-morskogo flota).[3] Under its current name,Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russian:День защитника отечества), the holiday was decreed a Russian state holiday in 2002 and is observed in severalpost-Soviet states.[4] |
| 8 March | International Women's Day | Russian:Международный женский день, (Восьмое марта Vosmoe marta) | International Women’s Day was a holiday marking thewomen's liberation movement, popularly celebrated as a cross betweenMother's Day andValentine's Day. It also marks the anniversary of the start of theFebruary Revolution. |
| April 12 | Cosmonautics Day | Russian:День космонавтики ("Day of Cosmonautics") | Cosmonautics Day marked the anniversary of the dayYuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961. |
| 1 May | International Labor Day (May Day) | Russian:День международной солидарности трудящихся (Первое Мая) ("International Day of Worker's Solidarity (May Day)") | In modern Russia, International Labor Day is called the Celebration of Spring and Labor (Russian:Праздник весны и труда). |
| 9 May | Victory Day | Russian:День Победы | Victory Day marked the anniversary of the 1945capitulation of Nazi Germany, which ended theGreat Patriotic War. |
| Third Sunday of June | Medical Worker Day | Russian:День медицинского работника | A professional holiday honoring medical staff, Medical Worker Day was a recognized holiday in the Soviet Union from 1988, when thePresidium of the Supreme Soviet modified its 1980 decree "About commemorative dates and observances".[1] |
| 7 October | Constitution Day | Russian:День Конституции | Constitution Day of the Soviet Union marked the anniversary of the date that the1977 Constitution of the Soviet Union went into effect. Between 1936 and 1977, it was celebrated on December 5, after the1936 Constitution of the Soviet Union. |
| 7 November | October Revolution Day | Russian:Годовщина Великой Октябрьской социалистической революции or Седьмое ноября | From 1927 to 1990, October Revolution Day commemorated the anniversary of the 1917October Revolution.[5] Following thedissolution of the Soviet Union, it was replaced in Russia with the Day of Reconciliation and Agreement (Russian:День примирения и согласия) before amendments to the Labor Codex were adopted in December 2004, creating a new holiday, People Unity Day (Russian:День народного единства), which was moved to 4 November. |
Some holidays, particularlyreligious holidays, were celebrated but not officially recognized in the Soviet Union.
| Date | English name | Local name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January | Orthodox Christmas | ||
| 25 January | Tatiana Day | Татьянин день | |
| 25 December | Catholic Christmas | ||
| 21 March | Nowruz | Новруз | Primarily celebrated inSoviet Central Asia andSoviet Transcaucasia |
| Date varies | Eid al-Fitr | Eid-i-Ramazon | Commemorates end ofRamadan |
| Date varies | Eid al-Adha | Eid-i-Kurbon | Occurs 70 days after the end of Ramadan |
