In the Soviet Union, the anniversary of the October Revolution of 1917 (November 7) was the most important public holiday.
After the dissolution of the USSR, most former Soviet republics chose to discontinue the celebration.
Kyrgyzstan still celebrate October Revolution Day as a public holiday.
In March 1917, Nicholas II of Russia was forced to abdicate.
The power was seized by the Russian Provisional Government.
It was composed predominantly of former aristocrats and nobles.
The government was unpopular and weakened by internal disagreements.
The Bolsheviks used its weakness as an opportunity to seize power.
On October 25 (November 7 in the Gregorian calendar), 1917, a blank shot from the forecastle gun of the cruiser Aurora signaled the start of the assault on the Winter Palace in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg).
The Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government and established Soviet Russia.
