Project RuSu 365
Henri Cartier-Bresson said, "Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.", so bear with us...
To all my women friends, Happy International Women's Day ~ may the substance of your lives be richly woven with the patterns of love & happiness and a touch of wealth thrown in for good measure. (3.8.2012)
Yes, another holiday here - International Women's Day, which was actually started by the American Socialist Party in NYC in 1909. Somehow it never caught on in the States, but became a holiday here after the Russia Revolution and was subsequently celebrated throughout the Communist world. People here are always very surprised to learn it wasn't celebrated in the West and therefore, wasn't really an international holiday. I believe it was last year that Hillary Clinton congratulated women on March 8th and the U.N. seems to have adopted it, so it might truly be international someday.
Here it's a day off & something of a cross between Valentine's Day & Mother's Day with flowers & chocolates de rigueur for all women. No matter what you're doing today, stop to appreciate the women in your lives!
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![Today's a federal holiday here in Russia. During the Soviet era it was known as Soviet Army Day; it's now known as Defender's of the Fatherland Day. Although this day honors all those who serve and have served in the military & isn't specific to WWII, I thought I'd post this shot of a monument and eternal flame honoring those who lost their lives in WWII - the Soviet Army's greatest victory [along with a little help from the Allies]. More than 20,000,000 Soviets lost their lives during WWII, split almost equally between military & civilians. <br />
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Conscription is still mandatory in Russia. Rustem was a lieutenant in the Soviet Air Force, so it's a day we celebrate. This photo was taken on the grounds of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. (2.23.2012)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Photography/Project-RuSu-365/i-2qKDGNJ/0/e6b815b3/Ti/IMG_4568D-Ti.jpg)
