What is Russia Day?
Russia Day, on 12 June, is the national day of the Russian Federation. It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on 12 June 1990, which asserted the priority of Russian laws on its territory, a step that came before the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. The holiday was linked to the end of the Soviet period. The holiday is celebrated nationwide, with local concerts, fairs and sporting events that bring many residents outdoors. It is a relatively young holiday.
The day is marked by official ceremonies, including the awarding of State Prizes by the president at the Kremlin, concerts, fireworks and public events in cities, especially in Moscow. Many people spend the day in parks and at festivals, and the national flag is displayed widely. It is also a day on which many Russians use a short break for trips to the countryside. The day also features concerts on Red Square. State flags and ribbons in the national colours are common sights, and many cities organise open-air programmes with music and fireworks in the evening, especially in the capital and other large cities.
Why it is observed
The date was first celebrated in 1992 as the Day of the Adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia, and it became a public holiday. In 2002 the holiday was formally renamed Russia Day by federal law, in part because the earlier name caused confusion over what Russia had become independent from. 12 June also marks the date in 1991 when Boris Yeltsin was elected the first president of Russia by popular vote. The holiday is therefore a relatively young one, and the date was a political choice by the post-Soviet authorities, who wanted a state day that was separate from the Soviet-era holidays. The Declaration itself was adopted by the Congress of People's Deputies of the RSFSR.
How the date is set
Russia Day is fixed on 12 June. When it falls close to a weekend, days off may be transferred by government decree to create a longer break.
How it is observed
Russia Day is a public holiday in Russia. Banks, public offices and schools are closed, and most shops, restaurants and attractions are open, with festivals and concerts in city centres. Transfers of working days mean that the holiday is sometimes combined with the nearest weekend into a longer break, so exact days off should be checked each year. Public transport usually runs a holiday schedule. Pay and time off depend on Russian labour law and the contract. Check the transfer of days off each year. Check the programme. Confirm the exact days off each year.
Russia