Immortal Regiment

Origins and history

The movement started in Tomsk, Russia, in 2012. Journalists noticed that fewer veterans were attending official parades. They created a voluntary organization to let ordinary citizens share stories of their ancestors. Earlier local initiatives existed in Novosibirsk and Rostov Oblast, but the modern format began here. By 2015, it became a major part of Russian Victory Day celebrations. The first march on Moscow's Red Square drew tens of thousands of participants.

How it is kept

Participants gather in central squares and walk through main streets. They hold portraits of grandparents, great-grandparents, or family friends. The front line carries a large banner with the event name. In Moscow, the procession follows the official military parade. Families often wear medals or simple black clothing. The atmosphere is solemn and respectful, focusing on personal remembrance rather than political slogans.

Spread across borders

The tradition expanded quickly to other former Soviet states. It is now held in Israel, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Each country adapts the event to local contexts. In Jerusalem, Jewish participants honor soldiers from the Red Army. In Yerevan, the march also remembers those who fell in later conflicts like Nagorno-Karabakh. Some nations face government restrictions or public opposition due to political tensions.

Meaning and symbolism

The core idea is to keep individual memories alive. It shifts focus from state narratives to family stories. Carrying a portrait symbolizes continuity between past sacrifices and present life. For many, it is a way to ask questions about relatives they never met. The event emphasizes unity among diverse groups who share a common historical experience, regardless of ethnic background.

How Immortal Regiment is kept

People prepare portraits of deceased relatives before the event. On 9 May, they gather in city centers and form a column. They walk slowly while holding the photos at chest height. Many speak quietly or sing songs from the war era. The procession moves through main avenues toward a central monument or square. Participants often place flowers at memorial sites afterward.

When and where

It takes place annually on 9 May, which marks Victory Day in Russia and several other countries. The date commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945. If the date falls on a weekend, the event still occurs on that specific day.

The tradition is strongest in Russia, especially in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. It has spread to cities with large Russian-speaking populations worldwide. Major hubs include Jerusalem, Yerevan, and Almaty. Local organizers coordinate routes through central districts.

What Immortal Regiment means

The portraits represent personal loss and survival. Holding them up signifies that these individuals are not forgotten. The act of walking together creates a visible chain of memory. It transforms private grief into a public declaration of respect for those who endured the war.

Days Immortal Regiment is marked

Questions people ask about Immortal Regiment

See also

ChristmasA festival of Jesus's birth, kept on 25 December with gifts, lights and shared mealsHanukkahAn eight-day Jewish festival marking the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of a single day'MaslenitsaA seven-day Eastern Slavic festival of pancakes and bonfires marking the end of winter before Lent.Yaldā NightA solstice night of poetry, fruit and family, kept from Iran through Central Asia

Good reading and sources

• Immortal Regiment: Thousands march to remember WW2 relativesBBC, Article
• Immortal Regiment: Thousands march to remember WW2 relativesBBC, Article

• Immortal Regiment on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.