Every second Sunday in August in Russia it is customary to celebrate the professional holiday of all builders. Officially, the Builder's Day was established by a decree of the government of the USSR on September 6, 1955, and the first celebrations on its occasion were held on August 12, 1956.
The profession of a builder is considered to be one of the most peaceful and creative professions. Builders are erecting new residential areas, modern industrial complexes, unique buildings and structures. Their work changes the appearance of cities and villages, makes people's lives brighter and more intense. On this day, it is customary to congratulate all workers related to construction: surveyors, designers, technologists, architects, engineers, masons, plasterers, painters, etc. A great help for these people is the use of modern production technologies that allow them to get high quality buildings.
Builder's Day is widely celebrated in almost every city in Russia. Official events of the holiday include awarding the best workers in the industry with certificates of honor and cash prizes, honoring construction veterans, as well as celebrations with the participation of government officials. All this is a good tradition inherited from Soviet times. The only action that has not come down to us from the previous Days of the Builder is specialized exhibitions, which demonstrated the professional achievements of the best employees in the industry.
Often, the commissioning of new facilities is timed to coincide with the Builder's Day - modern schools and hospitals are opened, and tenants are solemnly handed keys to new apartments.
In addition, on this day, the "dedication" of young builders usually takes place. This interesting procedure involves treating young specialists with bread and salt, symbolizing their admission to the "building brotherhood". After that, beginners are offered to hold their hands over a special bowl of fire, which demonstrates how "hot" their chosen profession is. Then construction helmets are put on the heads of the neophytes. "Baptism of fire" ends with a solemn oath.
