 The 1st of May in Russia is traditionally the Labor Day/ May Day holiday. Labor Day emerged as a public holiday in the Soviet era. It retained its status even after the collapse of the communist regime, but lost much of its ideological meaning, of course.
In Soviet times this day was celebrated very grandly throughout the whole country. Demonstrations were held in every city of the Soviet Union starting from Moscow to even the smallest towns. Everyone wanted to be a part of the big celebration. The streets were decorated with red flags and balloons.
Overtime, the general public has lost interest in May 1 rallies and parades. Today this holiday is mostly just a good opportunity to go outside, celebrate the onset of spring, and simply to meet friends or even take a short vacation, because the next holiday occurs in the next few days, and previously mentioned, sometimes it is possible to combine two holidays into one vacation. The best thing about this holiday nowadays, is that it provides for a great excuse to go outside and enjoy a picnic!
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Tourism 