The information about Russian National Holidays shall help planning a trip to Russia.
- According to Russian law, a substitute day is to be appointed for all national holidays which fall on a Saturday or Sunday.
- Also if a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, the Russians don’t have to take an extra day-off. The government officially prolongs the weekend giving all Russians the opportunity to enjoy the holiday. Since years weekends are being prolonged by moving the workdays. So the Russians can party longer, but often have to work six days during the week before or after the holiday.
- Most stores and companies remain closed from December 31 through January 7.
January 1-5 | New Year |
January 6-7 | Orthodox Christmas |
February 23 | Defenders of the Motherland Day |
March 8 | International Women's Day |
May 1 | Spring and Labour Day |
May 9 | Victory Day |
June 12 | Day of Russia |
November 4 | Day of the National Unity |
These holidays are not national holidays and are therefore workdays.
End of February – Beginning of March | Maslenitsa (Russian carneval) |
April / May | Easter (Russian-Orthodox) |
August, 22 | National Flag Day |
December, 12 | Constitution Day |
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 January, 1st and 2nd 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.
