Every year on May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day to commemorate the Soviet victory in World War II or the Great Patriotic War, as the World War II is referred to by the Russians. The peace treaty had been signed late on 8 May, 1945 in Berlin. Moscow (being in a different time zone) received the news in the early hours of 9 May. The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin.
May 9th became a non-labor day only in 1965 and only in certain Soviet republics. But it was and is the holiday of celebrating victory over Nazis and remembering all those who had died, defending their Motherland.
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