At the end of 2005 members of Parliament in Moscow decided by large majority to prolong the new year holiday till January, 5. Until then only 1stand 2d January  as well January,7 (Russian Christmas) were days off in Russia. Since 2006 the Russians don’t have to work from December,31 till January,7, without taking extra leave.   May, 2nd, however, that used to be a day off after the Spring and Labour Day on May, 1st, is not a holiday any more.
  Also the most important communist holiday, the Revolution Day on November, 7 (later Day of Accord and Reconciliation), was dropped instead the Russian parliament introduced the Day of the national unity on November,4, as this day marks Moscow’s liberation from Polish occupation 1612.

Official public holidays are considered to be the days off from work. Government offices and many businesses are closed on these dates. In addition to national holidays, there are several popular holidays which are not official public holidays.Unless the date of such holidays falls on a weekend, it is considered a workday. Please, call the official national holidays in Russia!!!

RUSSIAN NATIONAL HOLIDAYS:

1/ . NEW YEAR (Новый Год)

2/ . ORTHODOX CRISTMAS(Православное Рождество)

3/.  DEFENDERS OF THE MOTHERLAND DAY(День Защитника Отечества)

4/ . INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY(Международный Женский День)

5/. SPRING AND LABOUR DAY(День весны и труда)

6/. VICTORY DAY(День Победы)

7/. DAY OF RUSSIA(День России)

8/. DAY OF THE NATIONAL HOLIDAY  (День Народного Единства)

Some more information about Russian National Holidays

1.New Year is the 1ston the calendar and in popularity. New Year holidays in Russia last for 10 calendar days from the 1stof January until the 10th. Russians  usually celebrate NEW YEAR together with their families and friends. They usually decorate trees at their homes and in the centers of the major cities. At 12 o’clock people drink champagne and make wishes for the coming year.

2.Orthodox Christmas– the church in Russia still uses the Old Julian calendar, therefore their Christmas celebration is 13 days behind  the Gregorian calendar that we use. The period from 7 till 19thJanuary is called “Sviatki” (Saint Days). It is a holy week leading up to the celebration of Christ’s christening.

3.Defenders’ Day-this holiday is known until recently as Soviet Army Day, popularly viewed as holiday for all men (celebrating the day of the first mass draft of the Red Army in Petrograd and Moscow or of the first combat action against the invading German forces).

4.International Women’s Day - became the first spring holiday. It’s one of the most important holidays in Russia. All men try something pleasant for their daughters, wives, mothers and beloved ones on this day.

5.Spring and Labour Day -nowadays several groups march on that day to discuss the grievances the workers have. In the former SU, 1 May was International Workers’  Day and was celebrated with huge parades in cities like Moscow.

6.Victory Day - this is the most important holiday in Russia and celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany, while remembering those who died in order to achieve it. A military parade is held  in Moscow to celebrate  the day. This holiday honors the people who took part in World War II.

7.Russian Independence Day  -on this day  in 1990, Russian parliament formally declared its sovereignty. 2003 was the first year that it was celebrated in a major way. There was a big parade in Moscow, and President V.Putin gave a speech.

8.Day of the National Unity -is the newest Russian holiday, the first it was celebrated in 2005. This day marks Moscow’s liberation from Polish occupation 1612.

Russian people really like to celebrate!  They adopted the western holidays!