Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video, Nastya explains the May holidays in Russia — May 1st (Spring and Labor Day) and May 9th (Victory Day) — why Russians seem to “not work” for half of May, and how these traditions came from the Soviet period.
Two Magical Russian Summer Holidays: Ivan Kupala & Honey Spas Traditions - patreon.com/posts/136489020
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Try our all-in-one Russian immersion platform with a comprehensive video library, a built-in progress tracker, and powerful learning tools
👉 comprehensiblerussian.com
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Comprehensible Russian is a place for uninterrupted Russian immersion and meaningful listening practice — whether you learn through comprehensible input or follow a more traditional approach. Our videos make Russian understandable without translation, subtitles, or heavy grammar study, helping you build listening comprehension and an intuitive feel for the language.
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Chapters:
00:00:00 Why Russians Don’t Work Half of May
00:00:17 Introduction to May Holidays in Russia
00:00:54 May 1 and May 9 as Official Holidays
00:01:59 History of May 1 and Workers’ Rights
00:03:26 May Day Celebrations in the Soviet Union
00:04:50 Victory Day and Why May 9 Is Important
00:06:15 Victory Parade and the Immortal Regiment
00:06:56 Why May Feels Like One Long Vacation
00:07:35 Dacha Life During the May Holidays
00:08:19 Barbecue Season and Family Picnics
00:08:46 How Russians Celebrate Victory Day
00:10:06 Jokes About May Holidays and Travel Plans
00:10:38 Asking About Holidays in Your Country
00:11:00 Other Russian Summer Holidays
In this video, Nastya explains the May holidays in Russia — May 1st (Spring and Labor Day) and May 9th (Victory Day) — why Russians seem to “not work” for half of May, and how these traditions came from the Soviet period.
Two Magical Russian Summer Holidays: Ivan Kupala & Honey Spas Traditions - patreon.com/posts/136489020
────────────────────
Try our all-in-one Russian immersion platform with a comprehensive video library, a built-in progress tracker, and powerful learning tools
👉 comprehensiblerussian.com
────────────────────
Comprehensible Russian is a place for uninterrupted Russian immersion and meaningful listening practice — whether you learn through comprehensible input or follow a more traditional approach. Our videos make Russian understandable without translation, subtitles, or heavy grammar study, helping you build listening comprehension and an intuitive feel for the language.
────────────────────
Chapters:
00:00:00 Why Russians Don’t Work Half of May
00:00:17 Introduction to May Holidays in Russia
00:00:54 May 1 and May 9 as Official Holidays
00:01:59 History of May 1 and Workers’ Rights
00:03:26 May Day Celebrations in the Soviet Union
00:04:50 Victory Day and Why May 9 Is Important
00:06:15 Victory Parade and the Immortal Regiment
00:06:56 Why May Feels Like One Long Vacation
00:07:35 Dacha Life During the May Holidays
00:08:19 Barbecue Season and Family Picnics
00:08:46 How Russians Celebrate Victory Day
00:10:06 Jokes About May Holidays and Travel Plans
00:10:38 Asking About Holidays in Your Country
00:11:00 Other Russian Summer Holidays










