What is November 4 the day of unity of peoples. National Unity Day: traditions and meaning

One of the new holidays that appeared in our calendar not so long ago was National Unity Day.

The date of this holiday has historically become November 4, and this day has been an official holiday for the inhabitants of Russia since 2005. However, it is worth understanding how the Day of National Unity appeared, and what events is this holiday dedicated to?

National Unity Day: a brief history of the holiday

This holiday was established in honor of an important event in the history of Russia - the liberation of Moscow from the Polish invaders in 1612, and is timed to coincide with the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Back in 1612, when the Russian land was groaning under the yoke of the Polish-Lithuanian invaders, in the city of Novgorod, under the leadership of Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, the people's militia was assembled and on October 22 Kitai-Gorod was liberated. And the military, who were in the service of the Commonwealth, took refuge in the Kremlin. On October 26, a surrender was signed, and the next day the army surrendered. Thanks to the selfless feat of people, in 1613, by the end of February, a Zemsky Sobor was held, at which a new tsar from the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail, was elected. From then until 1917, the Russian Empire was headed by tsars from the Romanov dynasty.

The question would be quite logical: when is National Unity Day in Russia, if according to history it is October 22, and the celebration is November 4? It's all about the calendars. After 1917, the Soviet government changed the chronology calendar from Gregorian to Julian, so October 22 in the modern world corresponds to November 4.

National Unity Day is a holiday of courage, heroism and unity of the people, when, not being afraid of the enemy, people rallied together under the leadership of Minin and Pozharsky and liberated their homeland from enemy troops and from turmoil. Thanks to the feat of the people, an autocrat appeared in Russia.

The history of the approval of the holiday in Russia was quite complicated. There were heated debates in the society. Opinions about the holiday differed. There was an opinion that National Unity Day would not take root in modern society. But in 2004, the idea of the holiday gained strong support not only in the Duma, but also in the church, and also thanks to the broad support of the public. And at the end of 2004, on the eve of the New Year holidays, on December 27, a draft law was adopted in the Duma.

Different opinions of Russian citizens at first caused misunderstandings of the holiday and often associated the introduction of Unity Day with a desire to replace (cancel) the holiday on November 7th. But thanks to numerous discussions, National Unity Day became independent, and not "artificial". This holiday testifies to the strength of the human spirit and says that no matter who you are, rich or poor, what faith you did not belong to, having rallied, all the peoples courageously and selflessly rebuffed the Troubles that hitherto walked the Russian land.

Today, National Unity Day is celebrated widely and massively. Concerts, rallies, festive processions - all this unites people and reminds them of the feat of their ancestors, which is not forgotten even in 2015, after 403 years.

National Unity Day is a public holiday, the day of Russia's military glory. In 2019, it is celebrated on November 4th. This is an official holiday in the country. The holiday is associated with the liberation of Moscow from the Polish invaders in 1612 and symbolizes national unity. It is dedicated to the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. It is celebrated by all citizens of the Russian Federation. In 2019, National Unity Day is celebrated for the 15th time.

history of the holiday

On November 4 (October 22 according to the old style), 1612, the militia led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky stormed Kitay-gorod and liberated Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. Russian troops marched to the Kremlin in a procession with the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God - the protector of the Russian land. In 1630, the Kazan Cathedral was built on Red Square. In 1649, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich declared November 4 a public holiday - the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, in memory of the liberation of Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian troops. After the October Revolution of 1917, the tradition of celebrating this celebration was interrupted.

In September 2004, the Interreligious Council of Russia proposed to establish a holiday on November 4 - National Unity Day. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V. Putin No. 200-FZ of December 29, 2004 amended Article 1 of the Federal Law of March 13, 1995 No. 32-FZ “On the Days of Military Glory and Commemorative Dates of Russia” and Article 112 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation No. 197- Federal Law of December 30, 2001. November 4 - National Unity Day became a day of military glory and a public holiday.

Holiday traditions

The Day of National Unity is a young holiday, which is celebrated magnificently and solemnly. Its goal is to unite the people of Russia, regardless of social status, nationality or religion. On this day, the citizens of the country remember the historical event, to which this celebration is timed, and arrange mass events.

Political parties hold rallies and parades. Craft fairs, entertainment programs for adults and children, and exhibitions are organized on city squares. Charity events are held in many cities. Action participants collect things, toys, books, money and donate them to orphanages, homes for children with disabilities and boarding schools.

In places of celebration, free points for distributing treats and drinks are organized. In the evening, concerts are held at which pop stars, dance and musical groups perform.

The main place of celebration is Red Square in Moscow. The event begins with a solemn procession through the city and ends with the laying of flowers at the memorials to the headman Minin and Prince Pozharsky. The President delivers a celebratory speech to the citizens of the Russian Federation and presents State awards.

The celebration takes place on a special scale in Nizhny Novgorod, the birthplace of Kuzma Minin. On November 4, city authorities open public facilities: bridges, schools, kindergartens, parks. The main events take place on the National Unity Square, where a monument to Minin and Pozharsky is erected. There is a big concert and fireworks.

Since 2001, a public patriotic action "Altar of the Fatherland" has been held. It involves social activists, cultural workers, students, schoolchildren. They follow the path of the militia, which begins in Nizhny Novgorod and ends in Moscow on Red Square.

Congratulations

Happy National Unity Day!
May our people be united.
We want to feel pride in the country,
Boldly and confidently move forward.

May this holiday add strength to you,
Let the wave of luck sweep you.
Let the sun of happiness shine on you
Together we are one great country!

On National Unity Day
Please accept my congratulations.
I wish happiness to you and your loved ones,
Kindness, respect for each other.

I also wish you strength, strength,
Important aspirations, good ideas.
So that the heart is always warm,
And the love in him was for his Fatherland.

What date is National Unity Day in 2020, 2021, 2022

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National Unity Day in Russia on November 4, 2018: the history of the holiday, customs, traditions, congratulations.

With the expulsion of the Poles from the Kremlin, the long period of the Time of Troubles in Russia ended. A few months after the liberation of Moscow, the Zemsky Sobor, which included representatives of all the estates of the country: the nobility, boyars, clergy, Cossacks, archers, peasants and delegates from Russian cities, elected a new tsar - a representative of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich.

November 4, 2018: what holiday in Russia?

National Unity Day is a public holiday, the day of Russia's military glory. In 2018, it is celebrated on November 4th. This is an official holiday in the country. The holiday is associated with the liberation of Moscow from the Polish invaders in 1612 and symbolizes national unity. It is dedicated to the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. It is celebrated by all citizens of the Russian Federation. In 2018, National Unity Day is celebrated for the 14th time.

National Unity Day: why November 4 became a holiday

National Unity Day, which has been celebrated in Russia on November 4 since 2005, refers us to the distant year 1612 and the militia of Minin and Pozharsky. In the autumn of 1612, a popular movement arose in Nizhny Novgorod for the liberation of Russian lands from foreign invaders (Poles). This movement was led by the Nizhny Novgorod Zemstvo headman Kuzma Minin and the experienced voivode Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. In mid-February, militia detachments moved towards Moscow, gathering everyone who wanted to join the fight against the invaders along the way.

The first clash between the militia and the Poles took place on August 22 near the Novodevichy Convent. The detachments of Minin and Pozharsky would hardly have been able to defeat the Poles, if not for the help of the Cossack hundreds of Prince Trubetskoy, who were stationed not far from the capital. But after the first victory, the people's militia still had to retreat to the left bank of the Moscow River. However, the outcome of the campaign was again saved by Trubetskoy’s units, and on October 22 (November 4, according to a new style), Minin’s and Pozharsky’s associates entered Kitai-Gorod, and four days later the Polish garrison, which had settled in the Moscow Kremlin, capitulated.

National Unity Day: the history of the holiday

On November 4 (October 22 according to the old style), 1612, the militia led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky stormed Kitay-gorod and liberated Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. Russian troops marched to the Kremlin in a procession with the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the protector of the Russian land. In 1630, the Kazan Cathedral was built on Red Square. In 1649, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich declared November 4 a public holiday - the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, in memory of the liberation of Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian troops. After the October Revolution of 1917, the tradition of celebrating this celebration was interrupted.

In September 2004, the Interreligious Council of Russia proposed to establish a holiday on November 4 - the Day of National Unity. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V. Putin No. 200-FZ of December 29, 2004 amended Article 1 of the Federal Law of March 13, 1995 No. 32-FZ “On the Days of Military Glory and Commemorative Dates of Russia” and Article 112 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation No. 197- Federal Law of December 30, 2001. November 4 - National Unity Day became a day of military glory and a public holiday.

National Unity Day: holiday traditions

In places of celebration, free points for distributing treats and drinks are organized. In the evening, concerts are held at which pop stars, dance and musical groups perform.

Congratulations on National Unity Day 2018

Folk wisdom said:
We must always live in harmony,
We are one and this is all power,
Therefore, happiness is in our hearts!

National Unity Day in Russia is a public holiday celebrated annually on November 4th. This date was not chosen by chance. Despite its seeming youth, historically National Unity Day is associated with the distant events of the early 17th century, when in 1612 Moscow was finally liberated from the Polish invaders. It was on November 4 (October 22, old style) that the people's militia, led by the Nizhny Novgorod governor Kozma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, successfully stormed Kitay-Gorod, forcing the command of the Polish army to sign an immediate surrender. Dmitry Pozharsky was the first to enter the liberated city with the sacred icon of the Kazan Mother of God in his hands. It was she, as sacredly believed in Russia, who helped protect the Moscow State from the Polish invasion.

In 1625, Dmitry Pozharsky, in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and the victory over the Poles, built a wooden church on Red Square at his own expense. The stone Kazan Cathedral appeared only in 1635; it was built on the site of a wooden church that burned down during the Moscow fire. In 1649, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich issued a decree that November 4 is a public holiday, the day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The holiday was celebrated in Russia until the Revolution of 1917.

Day of national unity of Russia in our time

In honor of the day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and the glorious victory of the Russian army over the Polish interventionists, in 2005, President of the Russian Federation V. Putin signed a decree on the establishment in Russia on November 4 of a new public holiday, National Unity Day. And the very idea to celebrate the holiday on this day belongs to the Interreligious Council of Russia. Therefore, National Unity Day is not only a secular, but also an inter-religious holiday, which is celebrated by all residents of the country and representatives of different religions and confessions.

Traditions of the National Unity Day of Russia

It would be a mistake to think that National Unity Day in Russia has replaced the beloved November 7th. But, like on November 7, concerts, demonstrations and mass processions, charity events are held on this solemn day. Also on this day, a solemn government reception is necessarily arranged in the Great Kremlin Hall, at which people who have made a great contribution to the development and prosperity of Russia are awarded. On the evening of November 4, it has become a good tradition to arrange visual shows and fireworks, festive festivities and concerts.

Now in Russia, National Unity Day is becoming more and more popular. After all, pride in one's Motherland, for its past and present, and faith in its happy future - this is what invariably unites people and makes them one people.

On November 4, Russians celebrate National Unity Day. What are we celebrating? Unfortunately, the majority of citizens of the Russian Federation cannot give a clear answer to this question. The historical side of the holiday is little known. tells what is National Unity Day

Monument to Minin and Pozharsky in Moscow. Photo: travel.rambler.ru

What happened on November 4th?

On November 4 (October 22, old style), 1612, the people's militia, led by the zemstvo headman Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, liberated Moscow from the Polish invaders.

How did the Poles appear on Russian lands?

National Unity Day was established in memory of the events of November 4 (October 22, old style) 1612. At the end of the 16th century, the Rurik dynasty was interrupted: in 1598, the childless son of Ivan the Terrible Fedor Ioannovich died. The country was left virtually without control. The throne was taken by Boris Godunov - boyar, brother-in-law of Tsar Fedor I Ioannovich. However, for the nobility, Godunov's rights to supreme power were illegitimate. Then impostors began to appear on the horizon, posing as the deceased youngest son of Ivan the Grozdy Dmitry. The state experienced political and economic crises.

Ivan the Terrible (painting by V. Vasnetsov "Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible"), Fedor I Ioannovich (portrait from "The Tsar's Titular"), Boris Godunov

In 1605, the first "resurrected" son of Ivan the Terrible appeared in Russia - the impostor False Dmitry I, who, with the support of the Cossacks and rebels, entered the capital with his retinue and was married to the kingdom in the Assumption Cathedral. The ruler did not last long on the throne - in 1606 he was killed by conspirators. But soon a new impostor appeared - False Dmitry II. He went on a campaign against Moscow with Polish-Lithuanian detachments, but he failed to capture the capital.

Painting by K.F. Lebedev “The entry of the troops of False Dmitry I into Moscow” (1890s)

Meanwhile, in 1609, the Polish king Sigismund III invaded Russian lands, part of which was under the control of the Polish-Lithuanian troops. In the end, in 1611, the former Tsar Vasily Shuisky and his brothers took the oath to the Polish king, and the boyars let foreign troops into Moscow. In the winter of the same year, after the call of Patriarch Hermogenes to defend the Church and Fatherland, the First People's Militia was created. But the militias failed to liberate the capital from the invaders. A new militia was assembled.

Painting by Ernst Lissner "The Expulsion of Polish Interventions from the Moscow Kremlin in 1612"

Who are Minin and Pozharsky?

Nizhny Novgorod Zemstvo headman Kuzma Minin appealed to the townspeople to repulse the enemy.

“Orthodox people, let us want to help the Muscovite state, we will not spare our stomachs, but not only our stomachs - we will sell our yards, we will lay down our wives, children and we will beat with a forehead so that someone becomes our boss. And what praise will be to all of us from the Russian land that such a great deed will happen from such a small city as ours.

Novgorod Prince Dmitry Pozharsky was invited to the post of chief governor of the Second People's Militia. The failure of the first militia did not frighten the people at all, but on the contrary. Thousands of people of various nationalities stood under the banner of Minin and Pozharsky and set off on a campaign against Moscow to drive out the Polish invaders. On November 4, 1612, the militia stormed Kitai-Gorod in Moscow and drove out the Polish troops.

According to legend, the army of the Second Militia entered Moscow with the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, which became the patroness of the war-liberators. The confidence that thanks to the icon it was possible to expel the Poles was so deep that Pozharsky built a temple in honor of the shrine, the Kazan Cathedral, on the edge of Red Square.

Painting by Mikhail Scotti "Minin and Pozharsky in Moscow" (1870)

Why is November 4 so important?

With the expulsion of the Poles from Moscow, the period of the Time of Troubles, which lasted about 15 years, ended. In February 1613, Tsar Mikhail Romanov, the first representative of the Romanov dynasty, ascended the throne of Russia.

When did the holiday start?

In 1649, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov ordered November 4 (October 22, old style) to be celebrated as the day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, which helped save Moscow and Russia from the invasion of the Poles in 1612. The icon was also revered as the patroness of the Romanov dynasty.

In Soviet times, November 4 was not celebrated. November 7, the Day of the Great October Socialist Revolution, was considered a holiday.

In Russia, the holiday was established by the Federal Law "On the introduction of Article 1 of the Federal Law "On the days of military glory (victory days) of Russia", signed in December 2004 by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The establishment of the holiday was supported by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy.

Kazan Cathedral in Moscow, built by Dmitry Pozharsky. Photo smileplanet.ru

What are we celebrating?

One of the explanations for why November 4 is called the "Day of National Unity" is given in the explanatory note to the draft law on the introduction of a new holiday:

"November 4, 1612, the soldiers of the people's militia<…>demonstrated a model of heroism and solidarity of the whole people, regardless of origin, religion and position in society.

But, in fact, National Unity Day is not a new holiday, but a return to an old tradition. Moreover, the church tradition of veneration of religious shrines. But almost no one cares about this, like the whole holiday as a whole. In 2013, the research center of the Superjob.ru portal found out that the majority of Russians (54%) perceive November 4 as just a “normal day off” and do not consider this day a holiday. The situation has not changed much: on November 3, 2017, VTsIOM published the results of a study, according to which Russians do not understand why there are three days off in November. Only 12% of respondents could remember the name of the holiday.

This does not mean that this holiday should not exist. Especially since it already exists. If the state does not conduct lengthy and educational PR campaigns, then November 4 has only one future - itwill be perceived as nothing more than an additional day off.

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