Today, November 4, Russia celebrates National Unity Day (this day has been declared a public holiday). Let us remind you that the whole country rests on Monday because it falls on a Saturday this year! What do you need to know about the holiday? Let’s talk!
National Unity Day has been celebrated annually since 2005 – on November 4, 1612 (October 22 according to the old style), militia warriors led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky attacked Kitai Gorod, saving Moscow from Polish intervention.
Brief historical background: In Russian history, this holiday is associated with the end of the Time of Troubles in Russia in the 17th century (the Time of Troubles is the period from the death of Ivan the Terrible in 1584 to the accession to the throne). The first of the Romanov dynasty, in 1613, at a time when the Moscow state was experiencing a deep dynastic and national crisis). Polish prince Vladislav later became one of the contenders for the Russian throne, and Polish troops, with Lithuanian support, occupied Moscow, in response a patriotic movement for the liberation of the capital began and a people’s militia was created.
The day after the events of 4 November, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth signed a capitulation and surrendered a day later. A few decades later, in 1649, the 4th day began to be celebrated as the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God – Dmitry Pozharsky entered Kitai-Gorod with her – and, by the way, the “Kazan Celebration” of the Icon of the Mother of God (Moscow and In memory of the liberation of Russia from the Poles in 1612)” is preserved in Orthodox and folk calendars to this day!
The holiday became “National Unity Day” only in 2004, at the initiative of the Russian Interfaith Council. Later, a bill was submitted to the Duma to amend the Labor Code of the Russian Federation: canceling the celebrations of Constitution Day on November 7 and December 12, the anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, and increasing New Year holidays from 2015. two to five days, and also a new holiday is introduced on November 4th. The project was accepted and became law on December 27, 2004; 327 deputies voted “in favour” and 104 deputies voted “against”.
Source: People Talk
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
