Metallurgy is one of the most important branches of heavy industry. It covers the processes of extracting metals from ore and other materials, changing the chemical composition of a substance, improving the structure and properties of metal alloys, as well as giving the metal the required shape. Metallurgists who produce equipment, tools, various metal products, provide the work of almost all enterprises of heavy and light industry.
The history of metallurgical production in Russia dates back to the late 18th - early 19th centuries. The oldest enterprises in the industry are the famous metallurgical plants of Siberia and the Urals. Throughout the 19th century, metallurgy remained one of the main branches of the national economy of Russia, but workers in this industry did not have their own professional holiday at that time.
Only in the 20th century, on September 28, 1957, after the successful industrialization and victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the All-Union Day of the Metallurgist, which was annually celebrated on the third Sunday of July. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the professional holiday of metallurgists remained in Russia and other CIS countries, where the metallurgical industry plays a leading role.
Modern metallurgical enterprises supply products of excellent quality for the domestic market of the country and abroad, actively implement various social projects, participate in the life of cities and regions, provide charitable assistance to social institutions, and support talented youth.
Nowadays, the metallurgist's holiday, which is also celebrated every third Sunday in July, has ceased to be a purely professional date. Today this day is widely celebrated by entire cities, the main industrial branch of which is metallurgy. The Day of Metallurgist is held on a special scale in Chelyabinsk, Lipetsk, Magnitogorsk, Cherepovets and other large industrial centers.
On this holiday, it is customary to honor the best metallurgical specialists, to reward industry workers who have achieved the highest performance in their difficult craft. At the federal level, the honorary titles "Honored Metallurgist of the Russian Federation" are awarded annually. Many enterprises organize professional skill contests at their sites, the purpose of which is to reward the best workers in the metallurgical industry.
