January 19 2009

Russians celebrate Epiphany

The Epiphany – one of the twelve main Orthodox holidays – is celebrated by Russian Orthodox Church and believers throughout the country. Churches bless the waters and the more valiant take a dive into holes in the ice. Russia Today reports on the Epiphany celebrations.

YouTube – Russians celebrate Epiphany.

May 12 2008

May 9, 2008: St. Petersburg Victory Day Photos

Here are some photos from Victory Day 2008 in St. Petersburg.  These are photos of the parade on Nevsky Prospect.  Thanks to Jarod Zartman for sharing these photos.

May 10 2008

May 9, 2008: Victory Day Photos

Photos of Victory Day 2008 in Moscow. These are just a few of the many great photos of Victory Day available on Flickr.

Victory Day
Originally posted by: Maraflex

V-Day Moscow 5
Originally posted by: ucouldguess

9 may - Day of Great Victory
Originally posted by: yuffie777

9D9G1587
Originally posted by: cjustinhall

The Victory Day in Moscow, Friday, May 9, 2008!
Originally posted by: OmegaRus Holdings

V-Day Moscow 2
Originally posted by: ucouldguess

V-Day Moscow 3

Originally posted by: ucouldguess

May 9 2008

May 9, 2008 Victory Day Coverage

Victory Day 2008 coverage from Red SquareToday marks the 63rd anniversary of the victory over Germany in World War II. In Russia, the war is known as the Great Patriotic War, and May 9th is still one of the biggest holidays of the year. Russia today has English language coverage of this morning’s Victory Day parade on Red Square. Watch the full video with English commentary and read about the event on the Russia Today website.


Military parade on Red Square – full version (68 min)

Update: Russia Today has posted a lot of great video covering this year’s Victory Day and the history of the Great Patriotic War. Here are some highlights.
History of Great Patriotic War

Russia celebrates WW2 victory

U.S. uncertain about WW2 history
A Victory Day report from America with a Russian perspective.

April 23 2008

Soviet May Day Postcards

With May Day approaching, we bring you a collection of Soviet May Day postcards. These are great examples of soviet art and we hope you will enjoy them. These were originally posed to Flickr by iwasayeyeman.

Soviet May Day Postcard with girl, flowers and Soviet flag

Soviet May Day Postcard with soviet family

Soviet May Day Postcard with girl, flowers and Soviet flag

Soviet May Day Postcard with soviet family

May 10 2007

Victory Day 2007 – Videos and Photos

Here’s a small collection of videos and photos posted by internet users on Victory Day 2007.


Russian National Anthem sung by soldiers during the official Victory Day celebrations on Red Square. You can follow along with the lyrics.


Video from inside the cockpits of the jets that flew over the Red Square ceremony.

Veteran
Veteran. Originally posted by Encinar.

Veteran
Veteran. Originally posted by Leonid V. Kroujkov.

Veterans marching in Victory Day parade
Veterans marching in Victory Day parade. Originally posted by Leonid V. Kroujkov.

Victory Day parade, Moscow, 9 May 2007
Victory Day parade, Moscow, 9 May 2007. Originally posted by urbanpostings.

Stalin poster
Stalin poster in Victory Day parade. Originally posted by Leonid V. Kroujkov.

marchers in Russian Victory Day parade
Marchers in Victory Day parade. Originally posted by Leonid V. Kroujkov.

Russian Victory Day
Fire in the Sky. Originally posted by stranger in moskva.

May 1 2007

Found Footage: May Day 1961

Here is a short American news clip from 1961 covering the May 1st celebrations in both the Soviet Union and Cuba. While the clip shows little about the actual May Day events, it does provide examples of both American and Soviet Cold War propaganda.


April 9 2007

Russian Easter 2007

Putin EasterAccording to the Itar-Tass news agency, more than 6 million Russians took part in Easter celebrations this year. President Putin and other government officials marked the holiday by attending ceremonies in Moscow. Putin also used the occasion to return the long-lost icon “Our Lady of Vladimir” to the Russian Patriarch. Putin declared that the state is determined to return as many stolen relics to the Russian Orthodox Church as possible as well as help rebuild churches and monasteries.

Link: Easter in a Russian Town (Photos)
Link: Putin hands long-lost icon to Orthodox patriarch, pledges to return more
Link: Orthodox and western faiths mark Easter
Link: More than 6 mln Russians taken part in Easter celebrations

March 2 2007

Found Photos: Maslenitsa Festival 2007

A few weeks ago, Russians celebrated Maslenitsa or “Pancake week�. Yuri Timofeyev has published a wonderful series of photos from a Maslenitsa party in the forest near Moscow. Here are a few examples of the photos he took at the event. Make sure to view the entire series at Flickr.


Pancake carnival in a Moscow’s forest. Toboggan


Kitchen


Wall to wall fight


Winter incineration


Winter incineration

Link: Pancake carnival photos