I feel like every time I turn around in this country, there's a holiday. And not just some day that a few people celebrate at home, we're talking day-off-from-work, no-school, federal holidays. While this can be an inconvenience for people (like me) who need to get government paperwork filed within certain time frames, it's mostly a lot of fun for everyone, and a chance to relax.
In the first ten days of May, there were three federal holiday: May Day (1st), Easter (5th), and Victory Day (9th). On top of that I went to a 12-hour wedding yesterday, so it's been a busy season!
May Day is Labor Day in Russia. All workers get the day off to relax and, if they live in the beautiful South, enjoy the fine spring weather. I spent the day with friends volunteering at a rehab center high in the hills. There actually wasn't much work for the ladies to do, so we had a nice day relaxing. And when I say "rehab center", don't think some walled-in stone institution: this is a charming farm overlooking green valleys and the sea.
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| Photos by Anya Pyankova |
Easter was on May 5th. If you find yourself saying, "Jane's lost it, Easter was in early April!" never fear, I'm still with it. In the Western world, the Catholic Church determines on which Sunday Easter falls. In the Eastern world, the Orthodox Church decides. It has something to do with phases of the moon, and is a very complex process, and even though the two churches use the same process they almost always have different dates, usually two weeks apart. This year, Western Easter was especially early, hence the month-long gap.
Easter in Russia is a major holiday, and often one of the two times a year Russians attend church (Christmas is the other time). There is a lot of overlap in Easter traditions; church services, dying eggs, and even a Russian version of a hot-crossed bun. I spent the day with family and close friends. Grandma Vera brought us a duck from the countryside. As good as it was, it was no replacement for my mother's Easter ham dinner. Mom always asks me for a list of the food I want to have when I'm home, and Easter dinner is always near the top of the list.
May 9th is Victory Day. Russia's involvement in WWII began in June of 1941 when the Nazis attacked the Soviet Union's western boarder. Their involvement lasted until the Nazis surrendered. They lost approximately 20 million citizens, half of which were civilians involved in guerrilla warfare or victims of attacks. Victory Day is especially important in Novorossyisk, which is one of Russia's few designated "Hero Cities".
Novorossyisk earned the status of Hero City for turning back the Nazi front from the Caucuses region and further south. In the cold winter of 1943, Soviet marines landed in the icy waters outside of Nazi-occupied Novorossyisk, and in a battle that lasted nearly 50 days were able to defeat the enemy and regain the territory along the sea. 95% of the city was leveled during the occupation and ensuing battle; that means that the entire city of Novorossyisk has been built, essentially, since the 50's.
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| The massive memorial Malaya Zemlya (Малая земля) on the battle site |
I spend V-Day at camp, not working but relaxing with friends. We played volleyball, had a barbeque, and enjoyed the day. That evening friends and I climbed up on the roof our the church and watched the firework salute.
And last but not least, I went to a 12-hour wedding yesterday. I'll spare you the details (and see if I can dig up some photos later!) but suffice to say, it was simultaneously the loveliest and most tedious wedding I've ever been to.
So, busy times this May! And that's not even work!
Пока ребята, Russian Jane
