🌺Happy May Day! University is not only about lectures and deadlines, but also about immersing yourself in the culture of the country you study in. 🇷🇺On May 1, Russia celebrates the Holiday of Spring and Labor. 👆It has its roots in the history of the communist movement. In 1889, the Second International proclaimed May 1 as the Day of International Solidarity of Workers. 🇷🇺May Day came to our country in the late 19th century: it was first observed in the Russian Empire in 1890, in Warsaw, with a strike of 10,000 workers. After the founding of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party in 1898, the holiday took on a political character. But May Day reached its greatest scale during the Soviet era. 🇷🇺Parades and demonstrations: the official face of May 1 The holiday received official status in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917. The main festive events were mass parades and demonstrations under the slogans “Peace! Labor! May!”. 🇷🇺Alongside this, another tradition existed — mayovkas. This was the name given to informal festive gatherings in nature to mark the Day of Workers’ Solidarity. 👉Today, May 1 in Russia is a public holiday and an official day off. However, in the contemporary Russians perception, it is no longer so much about demonstrations as about historical memory of an important era for our country, a sense of continuity and respect for the past. And also — an opportunity to spend time with loved ones during a long weekend. For example, by going out into nature. Such outings are no longer called mayovkas today, but they remain the main May Day tradition. ❤️What does May 1 mean for a student? ✔️a day off (sometimes even a mini-vacation); ✔️meetups with friends in parks or outside the city; ✔️traditional shahlyks=Russian barbecue (give them a try — this is part of the cultural code); ✔️photos of the first leaves and the May sky; ✔️and, of course — time for study at home: after all, it’s Labor Day, and exams are just around the corner. 🌐MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)