May 9 marks the Victory Day over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. At the end of April 1945, fighting began for the Reichstag, on May 1, Russian soldiers raised the Victory Banner over the Reichstag, on May 8, an act of unconditional surrender of Germany was signed. The bloody war, also called the Second World War, is over.
The holiday began to be celebrated immediately after the war, in 1945, but for a long time the celebration on May 9 was modest. Twenty years later, at the jubilee in 1965, this day was made inoperative and celebrated became more extensive.
Traditions of celebration
In May, solemnly celebrate the winners - veterans of the war. Traditionally, in the memory of the Great Victory, parades are held in Russian cities. The main parade on May 9 takes place on Red Square in Moscow. It was first held on June 24, 1945, and since then it has invariably been conducted with the participation of various types of troops, with the use of military equipment.
Widely celebrated on May 9 in the hero city of Sevastopol. On this day in the city a double holiday - on May 9, 1944, he was heroically liberated from the fascists.
On Victory Day, veterans and war veterans meet, they again and again recall the war years, visit places of military glory, the graves of lost friends, lay flowers to monuments.
On the eve of May 9, the schools organize meetings between veterans and children. Veterans tell students about the fighting, about the events and life of those tragic years. Every year, the number of participants and eyewitnesses of the war is getting smaller, but the memory of them lives immortalized in literature, music, architecture, in people's memory.
Holiday in Russia and Germany
May 9 in Germany is not celebrated. In this country, as well as in other European countries, celebrations are held on May 8 - this is the day of liberation from fascism and the day of memory of prisoners of concentration camps.
In Russia it is truly a national, beloved, very beautiful and touching holiday, which, hopefully, will live forever, as well as the memory of the Great Victory. On May 9, 2013 we will celebrate the 68th anniversary.