Regional/Cultural Day
Ziua Victoriei
The anniversary of the end of World War II, observed with ceremonies at the Victory Monument in Chisinau. The veterans march in their uniforms, and the younger generation brings flowers. The day is both celebration and remembrance, and the reminder that Moldova lost over 100,000 people in the war. The day is controversial in Moldova: the pro-Russian parties celebrate it as Victory Day with the orange-and-black ribbon of Saint George, while the pro-European parties prefer Europe Day on the same date with the blue-and-gold EU flag. The two groups sometimes hold rival rallies on the same square.