[JURIST] In a symbolic break with the Soviet past, Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday signed a new law scrapping the old October revolution holiday in November as a day off work, redesignating it a Day of Military Glory commemorating the November 7, 1941 military parade in Moscow's Red Square. The bill also extends the New Year holidays, cancels as official days off Constitution Day on December 12 and the national day off on May 2 following May Day, also a popular Societ holiday. It adds National Unity Day as a new public holiday to be celebrated on November 4, the anniversary of Moscow’s liberation from Polish occupation in 1612. Holidays remaining unchanged are the Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7, Defenders of the Fatherland Day on February 23, International Women's Day on March 8, the Holiday of Spring and Labor, or May Day, on May 1, Victory Day on May 9 and Russia Day on June 12. The Russian Presidency has a press release here; Prime-Tass has more.