Public holidays in the Soviet Union

See also: Public holidays in Russia

There were eight major Public holidays in the Soviet Union. There were over 30 holidays total.

Major holidays

Date	English Name	Russian Name	Remarks
January 1	New Year's Day	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) were 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 in February 1918. It is currently called День защитника отечества ("Day of the Defender of the Fatherland") in Russia.
March 8	International Women's Day	Международный женский день, (Восьмое марта Vosmoe marta)	An official holiday marking women's liberation movement, popularly celebrated as a cross between American Mother's Day and St. Valentine's Day.
April 12	Cosmonautics Day	День космонавтики ("Day of Cosmonautics")	The day Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961.
May 1	International Labor Day (May Day)	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") in Russia.
May 9	Victory Day	День Победы	End of Great Patriotic War, marked by capitulation of Nazi Germany in 1945.
October 7	USSR Constitution Day	День Конституции СССР	1977 Constitution of the USSR accepted - from 1936 to 1977 celebrated on December 5, after the 1936 Soviet Constitution.
November 7	October Revolution Day	Годовщина Великой Октябрьской социалистической революции or Седьмое ноября	Celebration of October Revolution 1917. It has now been replaced with День примирения и согласия ("Day of Reconciliation and Agreement") in Russia, 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.

See also

• Public holidays in Russia