MOSCOW, November 02, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning how Russians estimate the new holiday and how they are planning to celebrate it.

The guarded attitude to the change in the date and name for the traditional autumn holiday is starting to change. During the last two years the number of those who positively estimates the shift of the holiday, has grown (from 31% up to 38% in 2007), and also the number of those who treat this change negatively has essentially reduced (from 46% up to 32% respectively). It is important to note, that though the new date has not yet become a favourite national holiday, but the shackles of habit are starting to prevail, and the irritation connected with the shift of the celebratory date, is gradually fading away.

The uncooperative attitude to the shift of the holiday date remains to a greater degree among older persons (44% of Russians of a pension age are dissatisfied with this change), especially this concerns people who are still true to communistic traditions (the majority of supporters of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation negatively estimate the shift - 58% of respondents). There are much fewer people unhappy with these changes among the youth -    no more than 18%.

That fact that the holiday on November 4th has not yet become part of the national tradition, affects plans of Russians how they are going to celebrate it: 50% of respondents are not going to do anything, and 18 % - found it hard to provide an answer to this question. As far as the more active minority is concerned, 11% of respondents are going to celebrate People's Unity Day at home sitting at a festive table, 6% will spend it at other people's place, 2% will be in the country, in a country house, 1% are going to a restaurant, club or to a disco, 1% want to go to the theatre, a concert, to the cinema. 1% of respondents are going to take part in demonstrations and other political events.

What is worth noting is that in comparison with the situation last year the plans that Russians have in respect to People's Unity Day remained practically unchanged.

The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM in October 27-28, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.