9th May: patriotism at its best

On this day Russians remember WWII and the day in which the Red army defeated the Nazi.

Arrangements start well in advance.

A month before the big event the city ic covered with placards and posters. Their detailed charts, lenghty explanations, pictures and drawings have the purpose of "refreshing" yor memory, if not to make sure you understand what happened on May 9 a few decades ago.

Rehearsal instead commence a couple of weeks before.

So you may be sitting at a restaturant in the city centre, having dinner with your friends. all of a sudden windows, tables, chairs and glasses start shaking. "An earthquake?" you wonder.

No - replies a Moscovite, they are tanks, they are rehearsing for the parade.

Few days later, on a fine morning, you are enjoying your breakfast, watching the birds perched on the green branches of a tree. Out of the blue, you hear a gunshot and all the birds fly away. Then you hear other gunshots, repeated ones. And more shots again for quite a few minutes.

The artillery is rehearsing this time.

Then comes the music: mighty marches are played and sung in the middle of the day.

On May 9th, I woke up too late to be on time for the parade. but I was on time for the demonstration that followed the parade and ended by the Red Square. Red flags with the iconic symbol of the hammer and sickle were waving at the sky. War veterans with their uniform honoured with medals and bravery awards, headed the march.

Every year the sun shines on Moscow on May 9.. and it is not a coincidence.

There is actually a master plan being carried out. In case of cloudy weather, jet planes are sent in the sky with the aim of "sweeping away" the clouds. The planes shoot at the clouds some kind of chemical mixture made of silver and dry ice..and here comes the sun.