Public holidays in the Soviet Union
Encyclopedia
There were eight major Public holidays in the Soviet Union. There were over 30 holidays total.
| Date | English Name | Russian Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day New Year's Day New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome... |
Новый год | Arguably the largest celebration of the year. Most of the traditions that were originally associated with Christmas in Russia (Father Frost, a decorated fir-tree) moved to New Year's Eve after the Revolution and are associated with New Year's Eve to this day. |
| February 23 | Red Army Day | День Советской Армии и Военно-морского флота ("Day of the Soviet Army and Navy") | Formation of the Red Army Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to... in February 1918. It wasn't official holiday unlike others. Is currently called День защитника отечества ("Day of the Defender of the Fatherland") in Russia |
| March 8 | International Women's Day International Women's Day International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and... |
Международный женский день | An official holiday marking women's liberation movement, popularly celebrated as a cross between American Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. |
| April 12 | Cosmonautics Day Cosmonautics Day Cosmonautics Day is a holiday celebrated in Russia and some other former USSR countries on April 12. This holiday celebrates the first manned space flight made on April 12, 1961 by the 27-year old Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Gagarin circled the Earth for 1 hour and 48 minutes aboard the Vostok... |
День космонавтики ("Day of Cosmonautics") | The Day Yuri Gagarin became the first man in Space, in 1961. |
| May 1 | International Labor Day (May Day) May Day May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures.... |
Первое Мая - День международной солидарности трудящихся ("International Day of Worker's Solidarity") | Celebrated on May 1 and May 2. Now called Праздник весны и труда ("Celebration of Spring and Labor"). |
| May 9 | Victory Day Victory Day (Eastern Europe) Victory Day or 9 May marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War... |
День Победы | End of Great Patriotic War, marked by capitulation Capitulation (surrender) Capitulation , an agreement in time of war for the surrender to a hostile armed force of a particular body of troops, a town or a territory.... of Nazi Germany Nazi Germany Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by... , 1945 |
| October 7 | USSR Constitution Day | День Конституции СССР | 1977 Constitution of the USSR accepted - December 5 previously from 1936 to 1977 |
| November 7 | Great October Socialist Revolution | Годовщина Великой Октябрьской социалистической революции or Седьмое ноября | Celebrating October Revolution October Revolution The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917... of 1917. It has now been replaced with День примирения и согласия ("Day of Reconciliation and Agreement"), celebrated on a Nov. 7 (at least officially) before amendments in Labour Codex (adopted in December 2004, new holiday, which celebrates at November 4 is the People Unity Day ("День народного единства)" in Russia. |