{"id":779,"date":"2010-05-05T10:00:50","date_gmt":"2010-05-05T10:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=779"},"modified":"2014-07-16T20:04:53","modified_gmt":"2014-07-16T20:04:53","slug":"victory-day-all-you-want-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/victory-day-all-you-want-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Victory Day – All You Want to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

In just a few days Russia will be celebrating one of its most significant days, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c <\/strong>\u041f\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [Victory Day]. How much do you know about this holiday? Well, I hope after reading this post you will know quite a bit more. So let\u2019s get going with the \u00ab<\/strong>\u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c <\/strong>\u041f\u043e\u0431\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u044b \u2013 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u044b <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [Victory Day Q&A.]<\/p>\n

Q: What\u2019s this Victory Day all about?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> If you don\u2019t know yet, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c <\/strong>\u041f\u043e\u0431\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> commemorates Soviet Union\u2019s victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.<\/p>\n

Q: How important is Victory Day celebration to average Russian people?<\/strong> Isn\u2019t it all state-driven propaganda similar to now-defunct \u00ab<\/strong>\u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c <\/strong>\u0412\u0435\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043a\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u041e\u043a\u0442\u044f<\/span>\u0431\u0440\u044c\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u0446\u0438\u0430\u043b\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043e\u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0446\u0438\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [the Great October Socialist Revolution Day]?<\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> Victory Day is an enormously important holiday for all people of Russia (and the former Soviet republics). It wouldn\u2019t be too much to say that it\u2019s one of the three \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0438\u0432\u0430\u0436\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u0448\u0438\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [most significant] annual holidays, the other two being the New Year and one\u2019s birthday.<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0418\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0447\u0435 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0431\u044b\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [how could it be otherwise] – \u00a0even the most conservative numbers estimate the losses at 26 million people, including civilian deaths. These numbers are awfully impersonal. But look through a family photo album and chances are there will be at least one old photo of someone \u2013 father, husband, mother, sister \u2013 who perished in the war.\u00a0 As Russians so often say, \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u0439 <\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0435<\/span> <\/strong>\u043d\u0438 <\/strong>\u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0439 <\/strong>\u0441\u0435\u043c\u044c\u0438<\/span><\/strong>, <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0442\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u0443\u0442\u043e\u0439<\/strong>\u044d<\/span><\/strong>\u0442\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0439\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [in our country, there is not a single family that was spared by this war.]<\/p>\n

Q: Why is Victory Day celebrated on May 9th<\/sup> in Russia when in Western Europe it\u2019s May 8th<\/sup>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> The German \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430\u043a\u0442 <\/strong>\u043e <\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0437\u0430\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0442\u0443\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u0446\u0438\u0438\u00bb <\/strong>[Act of Unconditional Surrender] was signed in Rheims, France on May 7, 1945. It was to be in full effect as of 11:01pm on May 8, 1945. However, the document had to be ratified the following day in Berlin since it had to be signed by the Soviet Supreme Commander, Marshal Georgy Zhukov. \u00a0\u00a0By the time the Act was signed, it was already \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u0432\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [May 9th]<\/sup> in Moscow.<\/p>\n

Q: How do Russians celebrate Victory Day?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> A few days before the Victory Day Russian leaders, including local leaders, lay wreaths at the war memorials. Then, of course, there\u2019s the Victory Day parade in Moscow\u2019s Red Square and, later in the evening, a concert, artillery salvo and fireworks. Smaller parades and fireworks are held in many cities across Russia.<\/p>\n

This year things are going to be very different. To start with, the number of cities that will hold Victory Parades will be huge. 72 cities in Russia and 1 in Ukraine will participate in what\u2019s become known as \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0431\u0449\u0435\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u043f\u0430\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0434 <\/strong>\u041f\u043e\u0431\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [the all-Russia Victory Parade]. Also, while traditionally Victory Day parades start at 10am local time, this year they are all synchronized to start at exactly 10am Moscow time \u2013 \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u044f\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0447\u0430\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0443\u0442\u0440\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043c\u0443 <\/strong>\u0432\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0438\u00bb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Q: Why 10am?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> Because that was the time the very first Victory Day Parade started. The first parade took place on June 24, 1945.<\/p>\n

Q: Are there any traditional Victory Day songs?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> There are quite a few, but here are the two most famous ones. The first one, written in the first days of the war, became the de-facto war anthem, calling the country to rise up for the sacred battle. The second one, written for the 30th<\/sup> anniversary of the Victory, is a bitter-sweet reminder of the costs of the Victory.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0421\u0432\u044f\u0449\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0432\u043e\u0439\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0[Sacred War]<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c \u041f\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/a><\/strong> [Victory Day]<\/p>\n

Q: Do regular Russians get to participate in Victory Day parades?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> Only as \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [spectators]. Victory Day parades are 100% military parades, conducted in pass-and-review style. Civilians get to join in only through watching, waving Russian flags and wearing \u00ab<\/strong>\u0413\u0435\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u0433\u0438\u0435\u0432\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [the ribbon of St. George] \u2013 an orange (fire) and black (smoke)- striped ribbon that recently became a symbol of remembrance of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u0435\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u041e\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0439\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [the Great Patriotic War] and of respect for the war veterans.<\/p>\n

Q: Speaking of veterans \u2013 are there many left? What\u2019s being done for them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> There are just over 300,000 veterans left. Keep in mind that even the youngest ones are in their 80ies. While there are lots of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u044b\u0441\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [highfalutin words] said about their heroic deeds and sacrifices and millions of ribbons handed out to schoolchildren, it is widely acknowledged that not enough is done to improve veterans\u2019 living conditions or provide the care they need. As some point out, the money that \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0438\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0445\u0443<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [high-placed government officials] spent on this year\u2019s lavish festivities would\u2019ve been put to better end use to improve veterans\u2019 lives in a direct way.<\/p>\n

Q: Where can I watch this year\u2019s parade if I don\u2019t have access to Russian TV channels?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> I\u2019ve been asking this question myself for a while now. Try the State\u2019s official \u00ab\u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0435\u0442-\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0430\u043b \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u044f\u00bb<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>[Internet-channel \u201cRussia\u201d]<\/p>\n

Some of our Facebook fans suggested the online real-time broadcast of Russia\u2019s First Channel <\/a>. It looks promising, but keep in mind that they broadcast on Moscow time plus not all of their sub-channels will be available from your country.<\/p>\n

Another suggestion was the English-language www.rt.com<\/a> (go to their On Air section on the day of the parade; they must have at least some of it in the News segments). Failing all of that, wait until someone uploads videos to YouTube.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

In just a few days Russia will be celebrating one of its most significant days, \u00ab\u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c \u041f\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0434\u044b\u00bb [Victory Day]. How much do you know about this holiday? Well, I hope after reading this post you will know quite a bit more. So let\u2019s get going with the \u00ab\u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c \u041f\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0434\u044b \u2013 \u0432\u043e\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u044b \u0438 \u043e\u0442\u0432\u0435\u0442\u044b\u00bb [Victory Day…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,178,995,913],"tags":[1027,8675,1385,3664],"class_list":["post-779","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-history","category-soviet-union","category-traditions","tag-celebrating-the-russian-way","tag-great-patriotic-war","tag-victory-day","tag-world-war-ii"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=779"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6157,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779\/revisions\/6157"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}