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The issue of May Day was of course resolved by the Revolution and the Bolshevik seizure of power. May Day during Soviet times was among the most important holidays as it was after World War II in the Soviet satellite Communist countries. It was also celebrated in Western countries with important labor movements. May Day parades were major events, especially the parade in Moscow. There was a huge parade in Moscow, Lenningrad ans other cities. It was originally celebrated as the the Day of International Solidarity of Workers. As a result, there were often peace conntations to May Day celebrations in Western countries. This was of course fitting is it working people that are drafted into armies to fight wars. The Moscow May Day parade was unlike that in the West a celebration of peace. The Soviets used May Day, however, to show off their latest military hardware and to demostrare Soviet military power. May Day parades also included endless ranks od soldiers marching past. We also noticed Young Pioneer groups marching.
As the Socialist movement grew in importance in the West, workers began demanding a May Day holiday honoring labor. The Tsarist Government activeky supressed Socialist parties as well as organized labor. Thus tere was no May Dy holidy in Russia. The issue of May Day was of course resolved by the Revolution and the Bolshevik seizure of power. May Day during Soviet times was among the most important holidays as it was after World War II in the Soviet satellite Communist countries. It was also celebrated in Western countries with important labor movements.
May Day parades were major events, especially the parade in Moscow. There was a huge parade in Moscow which was widely covered by the Soviet media and observed by the West. There were also parades in Lenningrad and other cities. May Day was originally celebrated as the the Day of International Solidarity of Workers. As a result, there were often peace conntations to May Day celebrations in Western countries. This was of course fitting is it working people that are drafted into armies to fight wars. The Moscow May Day parade was unlike that in the West a celebration of peace. The Soviets used May Day, however, to show off their latest military hardware and to demostrare Soviet military power. May Day parades also included endless ranks od soldiers marching past. We also noticed Young Pioneer groups marching.
May Day was an official holiday and this made it a school holiday for the students. As a maor Sovit holiday, however, it was also celebrated at school. There were special programs before the actual day. We have only limited informatin about these celebrations at school. Classes and individuals made presenttions. Many schools had auditorium or multi-purpose rooms in which programs could be presented. Classes might present choral pieces. Individuals might give recitations. Poems were popular. There also might be speakers. I'm not sure if parents attended.
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