What remains of the day of pride Artillery salvo from guns during a salute in St. Petersburg, Russia, May 9, 2024. Photo: Anatoly Maltsev / EPA-EFE They say they have surpassed our most important holiday. Yes, but they also stole it. The history of Victory Day is amazing. At first, until 1965, there was practically no holiday. Yes, the bosses pronounced ritual words, but the day was a worker. The fighters, of course, were noted, but everything was more than modest.