FEATURES
Victory Day in Russia
This Victory Day
is scented with gunpowder,
this is a holiday
with grey hair on the temples.
This is happiness
with tears in your eyes
Victory Day
Victory Day
Victory Day
For the Soviet Union, the war started on the
22nd of June 1941. A day before, on the 21st of
June, in all schools of the country there was a
party - the last school ball. Girls and boys had just
finished school. They were dancing, dreaming of
the future and did not know that the following
day, they would go to war and never come home
again.
For the Soviet Union the war lasted for 4 years. It
was a very hard time for everyone. In many cities
and villages there was starvation. Millions of Soviet
soldiers died in this war. But they won and became
heroes to every Russian person.
Russian people celebrate Victory Day on May 9.
Victory Day is a national holiday in Russia. On this
day, TV networks broadcast a military parade at
Moscow’s Red Square, World War II-inspired films.
Younger generations honor veterans,
A lot of people attend a local military parade
and watch the fireworks at night on Victory Day.
The biggest parade is in Moscow’s Red Square,
showcasing Russia’s military forces. Most veterans
wear their medals as they head to the parade or an
event organized by a local veteran organization.
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missLINGVA / May, 2015
Another tradition is to give flowers, usually red
carnations, to veterans in the street and to lay
wreaths at the war memorial sites. Neighborhood
schools may host a program prepared by the
students, featuring wartime songs and poetry.
At home, families gather around a festive table
to honor surviving witnesses of World War II and
remember those who passed away. They may also
watch a favorite Soviet film based on the events
of World War II, which is also known as the Great
Patriotic War. These films are repeated each year
but the audience seems to never grow tired of
them.
Common symbols of Victory Day in Russia are:
• St. George ribbon – people wear this blackand-yellow ribbon on their clothes or tie it to car
antennas as a sign of respect and remembrance.
• Red carnations – blood red is the color of
the Soviet flag under which the veterans had
fought. Laying an even number of red carnations
at war memorial sites signifies mourning and
remembrance.
• Red Star medal – a military distinction for
bravery.