Russia — Events
Kremlin Cup
October 15, 2011 - October 23, 2011
Russia’s answer to Wimbledon captures the city’s attention for nine days in October.
Russian Winter Festival
December 25, 2011 - January 9, 2012
Muscovites get into the Russian winter spirit with all sorts of special events and rides in troikas (sleighs drawn by three horses). Ice sculpture competitions, and even ice chess, also take place in the city.
Victory Day
May 9, 2012
Each year on 9 May Russia celebrates Victory Day which commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. The German army signed the surrender terms on 8 May 1945 with peace officially taking effect the following day on 9 May. But peace did not come without huge loss of life on both sides and the day is also a way of remembering the many people that lost their lives during the conflict. Known as VE Day in most of Europe, Victory Day is celebrated in a grand way in Moscow with lavish ceremonies and a military parade in Red Square.
Russian Independence Day
June 12, 2012
Russia declared its sovereignty on 12 June 1990 as a way of distancing itself from the crumbling Soviet Union. The following year when the Soviet Union was formerly broken up, Boris Yeltsin came to power and declared 12 June Russian Independence Day and a national holiday. But it was not until over a decade later in 2003 under the presidency of Vladimir Putin that the day became a grand parade. Now each year on 12 June there is a big celebration and parade at Moscow’s Red Square.
