Russia

=== Holidays ===
{{main|Public holidays in Russia}}
[[File:Алые паруса.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Scarlet Sails (tradition)|Scarlet Sails]] being celebrated along the [[Neva]] in Saint Petersburg]]
Russia has eight—public, patriotic, and religious—official holidays.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.ru/eng/other/holidays/ |title=Public Holidays in Russia |publisher=[[Central Bank of Russia]] |access-date=9 January 2022}}</ref> The year starts with New Year's Day on 1 January, soon followed by [[Christmas in Russia|Russian Orthodox Christmas]] on 7 January; the two are the country's most popular holidays.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lagunina |first1=Irina |last2=O'Connor |first2=Coilin |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-christmas-new-near-traditions-food-customs/31010307.html |title=Russian New Year: At The Heart Of A Wide Tapestry Of Winter Traditions |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |date=30 December 2020 |access-date=9 January 2022}}</ref> [[Defender of the Fatherland Day]], dedicated to men, is celebrated on 23 February.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 2011 |script-title=ru:День защитника Отечества. История праздника |trans-title=Defender of the Fatherland Day. history of the holiday |url=https://ria.ru/20110223/336868820.html |access-date=19 December 2021 |script-website=ru:РИА Новости|agency=[[RIA Novosti]] |language=ru|newspaper=Риа Новости }}</ref> [[International Women's Day]] on 8 March, gained momentum in Russia during the Soviet era. The annual celebration of women has become so popular, especially among Russian men, that Moscow's flower vendors often see profits of "15 times" more than other holidays.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190307-russians-splurge-flowers-international-womens-day |title=Russians splurge on flowers for International Women's Day |publisher=[[France 24]] |date=7 March 2019| access-date=9 January 2022 }}</ref> [[May Day#Russia|Spring and Labour Day]], originally a Soviet era holiday dedicated to workers, is celebrated on 1 May.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/01/in-pictures-may-day-through-history |title=In pictures: May Day through history |work=[[Euronews]] |date=1 May 2020 |access-date=9 January 2022 }}</ref>

[[Victory Day (Russia)|Victory Day]], which honours Soviet victory over Nazi Germany and the [[End of World War II in Europe]], is celebrated on 9 May as an annual [[Moscow Victory Day Parade|large parade]] in Moscow's Red Square;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ilyushina |first1=Maria |last2=Hodge |first2=Nathan |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/24/europe/victory-day-moscow-parade-coronavirus-2020-intl/index.html |title=Russia kicks off lavish Victory Day parade following coronavirus delay |publisher=CNN |date=24 June 2020 |access-date=9 January 2022 }}</ref> and marks the famous [[Immortal Regiment]] civil event.<ref>{{cite web |last=Prokopyeva |first=Svetlana |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-immortal-regiment-grassroots-to-quasi-religious-cult/28482905.html |title=Russia's Immortal Regiment: From Grassroots To 'Quasi-Religious Cult' |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |date=12 May 2017 |access-date=9 January 2022 }}</ref> Other patriotic holidays include [[Russia Day]] on 12 June, celebrated to commemorate Russia's [[Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|declaration of sovereignty]] from the collapsing Soviet Union;<ref>{{cite web |last=Yegorov |first=Oleg |url=https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/330502-russia-day-holiday |title=What do Russians celebrate on June 12? |work=[[Russia Beyond]] |date=12 June 2019 |access-date=9 January 2022 }}</ref> and [[Unity Day (Russia)|Unity Day]] on 4 November, commemorating the [[Battle of Moscow (1612)|1612 uprising]] which marked the end of the [[Polish–Muscovite War (1609–1618)|Polish occupation of Moscow]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tass.com/society/1357591 |title=Russia celebrates National Unity Day |agency=[[TASS]] |date=3 November 2021 |access-date=9 January 2022}}</ref>

There are many popular non-public holidays. [[Old New Year]] is celebrated on 14 January.<ref>{{cite web |last=Guzeva |first=Alexandra |url=https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/333267-old-new-year-russia |title=Why Russians celebrate New Year TWICE |work=[[Russia Beyond]] |date=13 January 2021 |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> [[Maslenitsa]] is an ancient and popular East Slavic folk holiday.<ref>{{cite web |last=Godoy |first=Maria |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/03/14/174097702/its-russian-mardi-gras-bring-on-the-pancakes-and-butter |date=14 March 2013 |access-date=10 January 2022 |title=It's Russian Mardi Gras: Time For Pancakes, Butter And Fistfights |publisher=[[NPR]] }}</ref> [[Cosmonautics Day]] on 12 April, in tribute to the first human trip into space.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dambach |first=Kai |url=https://www.dw.com/en/russia-marks-cosmonautics-day-in-pictures/g-57175251 |title=Russia marks Cosmonautics Day – in pictures |work=[[DW News]] |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=12 April 2020 |access-date=10 January 2022 }}</ref> Two major Christian holidays are Easter and [[Trinity Sunday]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Leonov |first=Tatyana |title=Celebrate: Russian Orthodox Easter |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2013/04/04/celebrate-russian-orthodox-easter |work=[[Special Broadcasting Service]] |date=5 April 2018 |access-date=12 January 2022 }}</ref>