Russia celebrates Railway Workers' Day

Railway Workers' Day is celebrated in Russia this year on August 1st, RIA Novosti reports.

Railway Workers' Day was the first professional holiday in Russia. It has been celebrated since 1896, when it was introduced by Tsar Nikolai the Second. The day was celebrated on the birthday of Tsar Nikolai the First (June 25th), during whose reign the first railways were constructed in Russia.

This holiday was officially celebrated on June 25th till the Revolution of 1917. After the Revolution, the holiday was not celebrated for almost 20 years and it was restored only in 1936. By order of the government, Railway Workers' Day was celebrated on July 30th. Later it shifted to the nearest week-end.