Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Only 15% of respondents can say the name of the holiday celebrated on November 4 without prompting.

MOSCOW, November 1, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data how many Russians know the name of the holiday celebrated on November 4; what is celebrated on this day as well as how Russians are going to spend this holiday.

The exact name of the holiday observed on November 4th is known for 15% of Russians (the share of such respondents several years ago was smaller, 8-10%). The remainder misname the holiday (46%) or fail to give any name (39%). Those who know the exact name of the holiday (National Unity Day) are mainly Russians with high level of education (20%).

Russians have hazy notions about what this data is devoted to: 70% of respondents failed to answer; however the share of such respondents is decreasing in 2010– 80%).  More Russians understand the meaning of this holiday: the share of those who believe that the reason for this holiday is the liberation of Moscow by Minin and Pozharsky from the polish intervention in 1612 has increased over the recent years from 10 to 19%.

Twenty-four percent of Russians will celebrate this holiday (a year ago - 15%); 12% have not decided yet.  Those who know how they will celebrate this holiday say that they will visit friends (10%) or will have a dinner at home (8%). Rarer Russians say that they would like to go to the countryside (3%), to the cinema, theatre, restaurants or clubs (1%, per each group). The number of those who would like to take part in demonstrations is also law.

60% report that they are not planning to celebrate the November 4 holiday; a year ago the share of such persons was 66%.

The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on October 19-20, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

What is the name of the holiday celebrated in Russia on November 4th?  

(open-ended question, any number of answers)

2008

2009

2010

2011

2013

Day of Unity

3

10

9

11

13

Russia's Independence Day

7

4

8

8

5

National Unity Day

13

16

10

8

15

Day of Accord and Reconciliation

4

3

6

4

6

Day of Russia`s Unity

7

1

2

3

4

Constitution Day

1

2

2

2

2

Day of Reconciliation

1

2

3

2

2

Day of Unity and Accord

4

1

1

1

2

Peoples` Unity Day

1

1

2

1

1

Day of Our Lady of Kazan Icon

1

1

1

1

2

Consent Day

-

-

2

1

1

Unity and Reconciliation Day

3

0

0

1

0

Day of Solidarity

1

-

1

1

1

October Revolution Day, substitution for November 7th

2

2

1

1

2

Day of Liberation from Polish Intervention

1

1

0

1

1

People's Unity Day

1

0

1

1

1

Russia`s Day

0

0

0

0

2

Other

2

2

1

2

1

Do not know/Do not remember

48

51

50

43

39


Can you tell us what holiday is celebrated on November 4?

 (open-ended question, any number of answers)

 

2008

2010

2011

2013

The Pozharsky and Minin Liberation of Moscow, 1612

13

10

14

19

1917 October Revolution  

4

2

2

2

Substitution for the November 7th

0

0

1

1

Day of Our Lady of Kazan Icon

1

1

1

0

Putsch, 1990s Coup d`etat

2

1

1

1

Russia` Independence Day/Day of Russia

1

0

1

1

Russia`s Unity Day

0

1

1

1

Constitution Day

0

1

1

1

Peoples of Russia united

2

0

0

2

Battle of Kulikovo

1

0

0

0

Other

2

1

2

1

Hard to tell  

76

80

77

70


Are you going to celebrate this holiday? If yes, then how? (closed-ended question, one answer)

 

2006

2007

2008

2009

2013

Visiting friends  

8

6

6

4

10

Going to restaurant. Club  

2

1

1

1

1

Going to cinema, theatre, concert

1

1

1

1

1

Countryside, at dacha  

2

2

2

2

3

Recreation center; health resort in Russia

0

0

0

0

0

Abroad  

0

0

0

0

0

At home, at holiday table  

14

11

8

6

8

I have not decided yet

19

18

14

14

12

Participating in demonstrations  

-

1

1

1

1

I am not going to celebrate this holiday  

49

50

62

66

60

Hard to tell  

3

11

6

5

4


Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

Read the article in Russian