United in rest: Russians to celebrate three-day weekend

Muscovites might have the Monday blues today, but smiles will be aplenty on Friday, when Russians get a day off to celebrate National Day of Unity.

The public holiday was first marked in 2005, but it celebrates something much older: the liberation of the country from Polish and Lithuanian invaders in the 17th century.

During this difficult period, the Russian people united under the leadership of Dmitry Pozharsky and Kozma Minin. The two are now regarded as national heroes.

Celebrations will be held all around the country on Friday. If you join in the celebrations, it is a good idea to dress warm, as by the weekend temperatures are forecasted to drop to -7 degrees Celsius.

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