Lenin's birthday

Today, 22 April, is the 147th anniversary since Lenin's birthday in 1870. As usual, a procession organised by the Communist Party marched across Red Square to lay flowers and listen to speeches in front of the Mausoleum.  Mostly old people and, this year, children; it seems that the Party is making the event a family event although I cannot imagine what the kids must take away from it.  Maybe they're simply enjoying the day out and the pageantry.  It was a cold and wet day and I left before the speeches started and hoping that the leaders adapted their typically long winded endeavours to the awful weather conditions (i.e. keeping them short and sweet).