May in Moscow - Malin Jochumsen




Victory Day or 9 May marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War (also known as the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union

To me 9th of May and the days leading up to Victory Day are magic - like an elusive image of a bygone era and of a country that has undergone tremendous changes.

If there is a time of the year I would choose to be in my beloved Moscow, it's the first ten days of May.





I lived in Moscow for twelve years and Victory Day was something special; the thorough preparations, people getting ready rehearsing the parade, the general chaos.

But amid all this chaos, there's a pride in being Russian, a pride of their country and their people, and it is a Victory Day that is celebrated, even if the tone of the celebrations has changed in recent years.

When I moved to Moscow, 9 May was mostly about the old war veterans, but this has changed in recent years and it has become similar to the celebrations during the Cold War. Russia shows its entire arsenal of tanks, missiles and air defense systems in large parades.

Photo and text © Malin Jochumsen


Comments

ulla larsson said…
Malin, very interesting and with wonderful photos!!