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Every country has its own customs, traditions and holidays and Russia is no exception. It is almost impossible to list all the holidays of the country, but I would like to tell you about the most important and traditional ones.

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At the beginning of each year Russian people celebrate New Year and Christmas. Both children and adults love these public holidays. People don’t work or study for several days. They relax at home, visit relatives and exchange presents. Russian people decorate fir-trees, cook delicious meals, make fireworks. All children wait for Father Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka to get presents from them. New Year starts at midnight on the 31st of December and Russian Christmas is on the 7th of January. It is a religious holiday and many people go to church services on that day.

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Defender of the Motherland Day is also known as Men’s Day because all Russian men and boys, active servicemen and war veterans get warm greetings and special presents from their families, friends and colleagues.

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International Women’s Day has been celebrated in Russia since 1913 and it is the day for all mothers, sisters, wives, daughters and girlfriends. On “Women’s Day” men do everything around the house and cook all the meals. In such way all women of the country can take a rest from household duties.

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Since long ago there is a tradition in Russia to say “goodbye” to winter and “hello” to spring. The holiday of seeing off of the winter is called Maslenitsa. The pancakes are the main attribute of this festival because a pancake is a symbol of the sun. The festival always ends in burning of a big man of straw. The Lenten fast begins after Maslenitsa for orthodox believers.

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Easter is one of the widely celebrated holidays in Russia. Its date changes from year to year but usually falls on April. Children exchange coloured eggs and women bake traditional cakes.

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The 1st of May is the Day of Labour in Russia. It is an official public holiday when people don’t work but go on demonstration instead. Spring and Labour Day appeared in Russia on the 1st of May in 1890 after the strike of Chicago workers who demanded an 8-hour working day.

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One of the greatest national holidays is Victory Day on May the 9th, which commemorates the victory of Russia at the Second World War. On this day the veterans take part in military parades. 1418 days of the war, when the huge peoples of the Soviet Union stood together to the end to defend their country, they could not escape or refuse, they understood that behind – their families, loved ones. Behind their homeland. This war was not for them a struggle for power or influence in the world. It was to protect from invaders, Patriotic war. And they, our ancestors were able to win. They all may 9 is a sacred day. What must not be forgotten.

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One of the newest holidays in Russia is the Independence Day, which is celebrated on the 12th of June. Russia Day became a national holiday after the Declaration of Sovereignty was adopted in 1991. It was the day when the first Russian President was elected in 1992.

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All pupils and students of the country start their school-year on the 1st of September. This holiday is considered to be the Day of Knowledge. Students usually present their teachers with flowers.

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National Unity Day commemorates the liberation of Moscow from Polish occupation in 1612 and it is celebrated with parades.

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Next national holiday is celebrated on the 12th of December. Constitution Day is a celebration of the adoption of the Russian Federation Constitution in 1993.