In 2003, though, only 83% of the respondents of a similar poll mentioned the special meaning of this holiday for them. Apparently, the additional importance of the holiday this year comes from the fact that it is celebrated with grandeur due to the 60th anniversary of the victory.
Only seven percent of Russians said it was not a special holiday for them. The majority of Russian citizens still relate to the wartime past personally. Half of the respondents (51%) said there were people among their close friends and relatives who survived the war. Forty-seven percent of the respondents do not have such people around.
Sixty-four percent of the respondents said their families lost family members during the war. Only 28% said no members of their families perished in the war. Three percent of the respondents turned out to be war veterans.
Only 13% of the polled admitted they had no plans to celebrate the Victory Day. The majority plan to have a feast: 39% said they would celebrate with their families, 19% would invite guests or visit their friends. More than a quarter of the respondents plan to visit memorials, graves of people who perished in war; another quarter would like to participate in public celebrations. Four percent would visit churches and pray for those who died during the war.
The poll was conducted on the basis of residential interviews at the end of April in 100 locations in 44 regions, territories and republics of Russia. 1,500 people participated in the poll. In addition, 600 people were polled in Moscow. Statistical error margin does not exceed 3.6%.
