Either way, the celebrations have undergone undeniable growth each year and now, when asked what they are most proud of in Russia’s history, an unbelievable 87% of Russians say the Great War. Some political commentators think that the current president is also exploiting the “hero of the people” persona to cement his moral authority. Victory day was made a public holiday and he initiated the pompous parades that can be seen in Russia today. That all changed twenty years later, however, when Leonid Brezhnev, a solider in WW2, became the top-dog, secretary of the party and began propagating the ‘Great, Patriotic War’ line as a way to drum-up support for his leadership. Hence, Victory day wasn’t even commemorated following 1945. Stalin’s paranoia included perhaps legitimate fears that the powerful and respected army generals might rise against him. It is the highlight of the Russian calendar and an integral part of Russian culture, yet surprisingly for such an important event it is younger than most of the population.įor Stalin and his wartime soviet comrades, the memory of WW2 was something to be swept under the carpet and certainly not actively remembered. The anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany is the second most widely celebrated holiday after New Year. If you plan your tour to Russia in spring, do not miss a chance to get acquainted with traditional Victory Parade. In Russia, however, it seems the opposite is true each year the budget for the celebrations grows by millions and the victory it seems is far more important to today’s Russians than it was to the very people who fought in the war. There are no public holidays, let alone showy parades and each year people tend to think less and less about this historic day. Indeed, for most of Europe it is a day of mourning and contemplation. There are few countries which celebrate the end of WW2 with such passion and flair as Russia. Most Russians, however, when reminiscing about their country think not of sleds and fireworks, but of the bright and cheery Victory Day celebrations and the dacha season which it heralds. When people think about Russia they think of New Year and snow. Poignancy: Many citizens feel that the government’s bombastic approach to the holiday is ill-suited and in opposition, they hold walks to commemorate the 28 million fallen soldiers of WW2.Parades: Huge shows of military might are used on this day to stoke public support for the army and government in general.Pride: Though Russians might not take pride in the horrendous blunders of Stalin during WW2, they do have huge respect for the ordinary civilians who protected their country gallantly.Power: Victory Day was only made a public holiday in the late 60’s and it was done so as to win public approval of the then party secretary. How and why do Russians celebrate Victory Day?
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