The survey showed how many Russians honor the Day of Memory and Sorrow

Most often this happens in the family circle.

More than half of Russians (53%) mourn in a special way and remember those who died on the anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War. This was shown by the VTsIOM poll timed to coincide with the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow.

Sociologists have identified three main ways to honor the memory of the fallen. The majority (28%) reported that they prefer to do it within the family. We are talking, in particular, about meetings with relatives, shared memories, viewing photographs of relatives who participated in the war, talking with children and grandchildren about the events of those times, feasts with a hundred grams “for remembrance”. Sociologists called the second method traditional practices of mourning (18%). This is the laying of wreaths at monuments, the eternal flame, visiting cemeteries, putting in order the graves of war veterans. The third option to honor the memory is to take part in events dedicated to the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow (12%). People go to commemorative concerts, actions, processions. Religious grief is less common (6%): prayer, lighting candles, going to church. Some fellow citizens (5%) on this day turn to the culture of the war years – they watch films and read books about the war, listen to military songs.

According to sociologists, 81% of Russians visit monuments dedicated to the war. Today, they do this much more often than eight years ago: according to a 2015 survey, only 73% of fellow citizens visited the monuments. The survey also showed that young people visit monuments more often than the older generation: if among 18-24-year-olds 13% do not visit monuments, then in the group over 60 years old – 24%. This, according to sociologists, is associated with less mobility of the older generation. Well, most of all the monuments are visited by young people aged 18-24. Moreover, 42% of young people come to memorials several times a year (the average for Russia is 34%). The survey also showed that the smaller the settlement, the more often people visit war memorials. In rural areas, 90% of residents do this (44% – several times a year). For comparison, in both capitals – 72% (several times a year – 29%). In addition, the vast majority of our fellow citizens (93%) noted that the monuments erected in their settlements are in good condition.