Holidays such as New Year, Victory Day and International Women's Day are celebrated around the world. But in Russia there are large-scale holidays that are typical only for this country.
Tatyana's Day
Every January 25th is a fun holiday for the students. On this day, student parties, fun gatherings and competitions are organized, and various entertainment institutions provide students with free admission. However, the background of this date is not so rosy. January 25 is dedicated to the memory of the early Christian martyr Tatiana of Rome. Tatiana was born into a noble Roman family, but was persecuted because of her religion. She was tortured and then executed with a sword. In 1755, on the day of memory of Tatiana, Catherine II signed a decree on the creation of Moscow University. So Saint Tatiana became the patroness of students, and January 25 is still celebrated as the main student's holiday.
Defender of the Fatherland Day
The holiday was established in 1922 and was originally called the Day of the Red Army and Navy. The government wanted to create a holiday date on the anniversary of the appearance of the Red Army - January 28, but due to bureaucratic delays, the request was considered almost a month later. Nevertheless, the holiday was established and gained great popularity. The modern name was adopted after the collapse of the USSR. Now the purpose of the holiday has changed somewhat - on this day, not only servicemen are congratulated, but all other men as well.
The celebration of Defender of the Fatherland Day is condemned by some politicians. In their opinion, this date is no longer relevant, and for the men's holiday it is necessary to choose another day.
Spring and Labour Day
This date, originally known as International Workers' Day, is celebrated on 1 May. Contrary to popular belief, it appeared not after the revolution, but some time before it. For the first time in the Russian Empire, the day was celebrated in 1890. Over time, it increasingly acquired a political orientation and was accompanied by workers' rallies. After 1917, May Day became a national holiday. Now it has been renamed Spring and Labor Day, and the May weekend has become a traditional time for family gatherings and barbecue in the country.
Russia Day
This holiday is celebrated on June 12 - it was on this day that the existing declaration of Russian sovereignty was signed. Thus, the collapse of the Soviet Union was officially completed, and the Russian Federation became an independent state. Also on this day, memorable presidential elections were held, in which Boris Yeltsin won. By tradition, on June 12, state awards are presented in the Kremlin, and patriotic concerts are held on Red Square.
More than 30% of the population of Russia calls June 12 the Independence Day.
Day of Accord and Reconciliation
The festive date of November 7 is another memory of the country's Soviet past. After the collapse of the USSR, one of the main Soviet holidays - the anniversary of the October Revolution - became irrelevant. Until 1996, November 7 was celebrated as the anniversary of the October Revolution, but many spoke negatively about the mention of the Soviet past. However, it was also difficult to cancel the memorable day to which millions of Russians are accustomed. As a result, after long discussions, the holiday simply received a new name - the Day of Accord and Reconciliation.
