November 4th is a holiday. Day of national unity or day of consent and reconciliation

Good afternoon, dear readers. Today I want to congratulate everyone on the holiday, today is the day of national unity of Russia. Before, I didn’t quite understand what kind of holiday it was, why it was needed, well, they give a day off, and that’s okay.

But working in culture (and apparently growing up), I began to look at the holidays differently. Or rather, studying in more depth the very essence of the Russian people, I am more and more proud that I live in Russia and that I am Russian. Let's see why National Unity Day is celebrated on November 4 and why it is so important.

The holiday, as uniting all the peoples of Russia, was established in December 2004, and was first celebrated in 2005. But the history of the formation of this holiday begins many centuries ago. Briefly define what and how.

At the turn of the 16th-17th centuries, a period called the Time of Troubles passed in Russia. It was a very difficult period for the state, especially for the people. Moscow was conquered by the Polish interventionists and, in fact, a little more time and our Rus' would not have become ours at all.

Then the period of the rule of the Rurik dynasty was completed. And Poles could take the throne. No, our Russian spirit was and is very strong, the common people cared where and how to live. It was undertaken to collect the people's militia. He was collected, but the internal strife in the militia scattered him.

Then a second attempt was made. In September 1611, in Nizhny Novgorod, Zemstvo headman Kuzma Minin appealed to people to raise funds and create a militia to liberate the country. The population of the city was subject to a special tax for the organization of the militia. At the suggestion of Minin, the Novgorod prince Dmitry Pozharsky was invited to the post of chief governor.

Not everything was smooth there, but the desire of the people to be free, to live on their own land was stronger than ever. The militia was collected not only in Nizhny Novgorod, but also in many other cities. People of different classes and nationalities gathered. And in those days, an unprecedented army gathered.

The tasks of the militia included not only the liberation of Moscow, but also the formation of a new government. And in 1612, a huge army marched from Nizhny Novgorod to Yaroslavl, where a provisional government was created: the "Council of the Whole Earth." And later, with a list of the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God, revealed in 1579, the Nizhny Novgorod Zemstvo militia managed on November 4, 1612 to storm Kitai-Gorod and drive the Poles out of Moscow.

This victory served as a powerful impetus for the revival of the Russian state. So the first Romanovs came to the throne. And the icon became a subject of special veneration.

Miraculous icon.

Prince Pozharsky believed so strongly that the icon of the Kazan Mother of God helped in the victory that he built the Kazan Cathedral on the edge of Red Square at his own expense.

In 1649, by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the obligatory celebration of November 4 was established as a day of gratitude to the Most Holy Theotokos for her help in liberating Russia from the Poles. The holiday was celebrated in Russia until the Revolution of 1917.

This day entered the church calendar as the Celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in memory of the deliverance of Moscow and Russia from the Poles in 1612.

Thus, National Unity Day is essentially not a new holiday at all, but a return to an old tradition.

The essence of this holiday.

This holiday symbolizes not victory, but the rallying of the people, thanks to which a great victory took place. National Unity Day is very important for our country. We must remember and understand that only together can we overcome difficulties.

About 195 peoples and nationalities with various religious movements live on our territory. But we are still Russians, we are one country. And even when many scold the youth, saying that we are so careless and so on, I still have no doubt that when the time comes, we will unite and overcome difficulties shoulder to shoulder.

Such is our Russian spirit. We must remember not only important dates, but also the very essence, that by uniting, uniting, we can overcome anything.

Take for example the Great Patriotic War. Hitler could not understand why he could not defeat Russia. After all, it was so easy for him to conquer corrupted Europe. And this is our unity, our spirit. We do not spare ourselves, because we know why we give our lives. For the sake of the future of their children, the future of their state.

To be honest, I do not know of clear examples of such unity in other states and peoples. I am proud to live in such a diverse country, rich in culture and Russian spirit. Once I asked my classmate, who are you by nationality, he smiled and said, they say I am Russian, although Tatars, but Russian Tatars. A foreigner would have burst his brain from such an answer.

National Unity Day is an occasion for all citizens of the country to realize and feel like a single people.

How it is celebrated.

For the first time, in new Russia, this holiday was celebrated in 2005, with special attention in Nizhny Novgorod. A monument to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky was unveiled there.

In general, the most magnificent celebrations are held in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod. In other cities, festivities are held just as colorfully and brightly. Processions, folk festivals, fairs, concerts and so on are held.

Everyone walks and has fun, but the main focus is the patriotic focus of the festival. All parks, open areas, concert halls are filled with a large number of people. They are all different nationalities, but they are all one. We are united not only in the face of danger, but always. We all need to understand this and educate the younger generation correctly.

All with a great holiday - Happy National Unity Day!

In December 2004, President of Russia V.V. Putin signed the Federal Law "On the Introduction into Article 1 of the Federal Law" On the Days of Military Glory (Victorious Days) of Russia), in which November 4 was declared National Unity Day.

It was established in memory of the events of 1612, when the people's militia led by Kozma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky liberated Moscow from the Polish invaders. Historically, this holiday is associated with the end of the Time of Troubles in Russia in the 17th century. Under the Time of Troubles, historians mean the events of almost three decades, from the death of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in 1584 to 1613, when the first of the Romanov dynasty, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, reigned on the Russian throne. The Time of Troubles was the era of the deepest crisis of the Muscovite state, caused by the suppression of the royal dynasty of Rurik. The dynastic crisis soon developed into a national-state one. The united Russian state collapsed, numerous impostors appeared. Widespread robberies, robbery, theft, bribery, wholesale drunkenness hit the country. It seemed to many contemporaries of the Time of Troubles that the final ruin of the “bright Muscovite kingdom” had taken place. Power in Moscow was usurped by the "seven boyars" headed by Prince Fyodor Mstislavsky, who let Polish troops into the Kremlin with the intention of placing the Catholic prince Vladislav on the Russian throne. In this difficult time for Russia, Patriarch Hermogenes called on the Russian people to stand up for Orthodoxy and expel the Polish invaders from Moscow. "It's time to lay down your soul for the House of the Most Holy Theotokos!" - wrote the patriarch. His call was taken up by the Russian people. A broad patriotic movement began for the liberation of the capital from the Poles. The first people's (zemstvo) militia was headed by the Ryazan governor Prokopiy Lyapunov. But because of the strife between the nobles and the Cossacks, who, on false charges, killed the governor, the militia disintegrated. The anti-Polish uprising, which began prematurely in Moscow on March 19, 1611, was defeated.

In September 1611, a petty "trading man", the Nizhny Novgorod Zemstvo headman Kuzma Minin appealed to the townspeople with a call to create a people's militia. At a city meeting, he delivered his famous speech: “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. At the call of Minin, the townspeople voluntarily gave "third money" for the creation of the Zemstvo militia. But voluntary contributions were not enough. Therefore, a compulsory collection of the “fifth money” was announced: everyone had to contribute a fifth of their income to the treasury of the militia for the salaries of service people. At the suggestion of Minin, the 30-year-old Novgorod prince Dmitry Pozharsky was invited to the post of chief governor. Pozharsky did not immediately accept the offer, he agreed to be a governor, on the condition that the townspeople themselves choose an assistant for him, who would be in charge of the treasury of the militia. And Minin became "an elected man by the whole earth." So at the head of the second zemstvo militia were two people elected by the people and invested with its full confidence. Under the banners of Pozharsky and Minin, a huge army gathered for that time - more than 10 thousand serving local people, up to three thousand Cossacks, more than a thousand archers and many "subsistence people" from the peasants. With the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God, revealed in 1579, the Nizhny Novgorod Zemstvo militia managed on November 4, 1612 to storm Kitai-Gorod and drive the Poles out of Moscow. The Great Zemsky Sobor of 1613 was the final victory over the Troubles, the triumph of Orthodoxy and national unity.

By decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who ruled in 1645-1676, a holiday was established in honor of this great event, which became the Orthodox-state holiday of Moscow Rus' (it was celebrated until 1917). This day entered the church calendar as the Celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in memory of the deliverance of Moscow and Russia from the Poles in 1612. Here is what Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' said in connection with the establishment of a new holiday in Russia related to the events of 1912: “Let the new holiday serve to unite the people, to realize that Russia is our common Motherland. Worldview, national, social and other differences, inevitable in any modern state, should not interfere with our common work for the sake of the prosperity of the Fatherland and the well-being of the people living in it. The patriarch also urged Russians to turn November 4 into "a day of good deeds and care for people."

National Unity Day is one of the youngest holidays in the country. However, many Russians still do not know what an important historical event it is associated with, and what does the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God have to do with it and why this day is celebrated on November 4th.

What happened on this day?

National Unity Day is associated with the event of 1612. It was on November 4 (October 22, old style) that the people's militia, led by the Zemstvo headman Kuzma Minin and the Novgorod prince Dmitry Pozharsky, expelled the Polish invaders from the Russian capital. More than 10 thousand people from all classes of Russia united and repulsed the enemy.

This event is of great importance for the country. Firstly, with the expulsion of the Poles, the Time of Troubles ended, which began in 1598 after the death of the last tsar from the Rurik dynasty, who left no heir. It was a time of robberies, robberies, hunger, on the throne, one after another, impostors were replaced, who pretended to be the son of Ivan the Terrible. Secondly, a new tsar was elected in the country - Mikhail Fedorovich from the Romanov dynasty.

How did the National Unity Day holiday come about?

The Interreligious Council of Russia proposed to celebrate National Unity Day on November 4. Their initiative was supported by the Duma Committee on Labor and Social Policy, as well as the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy.

In November 2004, a draft law on amendments to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation was submitted to the State Duma. In particular, the document dealt with the cancellation of the celebration of November 7 (anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution) and the introduction of a new holiday date - November 4. In December 2004, President Vladimir Putin signed this bill and amendments to the federal law "On the days of military glory and memorable dates in Russia."

The country first celebrated a new public holiday in 2005.

Is it true that this holiday already existed?

The fact is that in 1613, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich established a holiday - the Day of the Cleansing of Moscow from Polish invaders, which was celebrated on November 4th.

In 1649, this day was declared a church and state holiday of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. She is considered the patroness of the people's militia. According to legend, it was with this icon that the army entered Moscow.

However, after the revolution of 1917, they stopped celebrating the liberation of the capital from the Polish invaders. Before the advent of National Unity Day.

Why is the holiday so called?

It is not known exactly. This is probably due to the description contained in the explanatory note to the draft law on the introduction of a new holiday. It says:

“On November 4, 1612, militia soldiers led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky stormed Kitay-Gorod, freeing Moscow from Polish invaders and demonstrating a model of heroism and solidarity of the entire people, regardless of origin, religion and position in society.”

The Russians are preparing for the 13th time to celebrate one of the youngest Russian holidays - National Unity Day.

When is National Unity Day celebrated?

How many days rest in November 2017

National Unity Day is a public holiday and a day off. In 2017, November 4 falls on Saturday, so the Russians were “reimbursed” for this day, adding Monday as a holiday.

Thus, in 2017, in connection with the Day of National Unity, the Russians will rest for three days in a row - from Saturday, November 4th to Monday, November 6th inclusive.

Note November 7, when the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution is celebrated, will be an ordinary working day. However, the communists have planned traditional celebrations for November 7th.

History of National Unity Day

Holiday National Unity Day first appeared in the Russian calendar in 2005. date November 4 is largely conditional, and the holiday itself is celebrated in memory of the end of a difficult historical period, which in history has received the name of the Great Troubles, or the Time of Troubles. The end of the Time of Troubles was marked by the restoration of Russian statehood and the accession to the throne of the first tsar from the Romanov dynasty - 16-year-old Mikhail Romanov, whose descendants ruled Russia for 300 years.

The accession of Romanov was preceded by the events that took place in Moscow at the end of October (according to modern chronology - at the beginning of November) 1612. In those days, the people's militia from Nizhny Novgorod, formed by a simple city dweller Kuzma Minin and prince Dmitry Pozharsky, expelled Polish invaders from Moscow.

According to the generally accepted version, it was on November 4, according to the new style, that the militia drove the Poles out of Kitai-Gorod, where the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was solemnly brought. In memory of this event, Prince Pozharsky later laid a temple in Moscow.

Having lost Kitay-Gorod, the Polish garrison barricaded itself in the Kremlin, but as a result of negotiations, surrendered. And soon a Russian tsar appeared in Russia - he became a young Mikhail Romanov elected by the Zemsky Sobor. It is believed that this event was the actual end of the Time of Troubles.

More than three decades later - in 1649 - the son of Mikhail Romanov - Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich (Quiet) ordered to celebrate on October 22 (November 4 according to the modern calendar) the day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, adding this holiday to the summer celebration of finding the shrine on July 21 (July 8 according to the old style).

National Unity Day - 2017: program of events

On the Day of National Unity, dozens of festive events are traditionally held, including the autumn holidays for schoolchildren.

The main celebrations, as in previous years, will be held in the homeland of the militia of Minin and Pozharsky - In Nizhniy Novgorod.

In Moscow National Unity Day will be celebrated in 11 parks, each of which has prepared its own festive programs, which can be found on the website of the capital's mayor's office, choosing an event to your liking.

Gorky Park, Pobeda Park on Poklonnaya Gora, Sokolniki, Kuzminki and other metropolitan recreational areas prepared a special festive program. Festivals, historical excursions, fairs, sword competitions, karaoke, Russian folk fun, etc. await visitors.

In St. Petersburg on Palace Square from November 4 to 6, a unique evening show will be held - the Festival of Light, which this year is dedicated to the centenary of the 1917 revolution.

During the holidays with the anniversary show program in the Ice Palace will perform Evgeni Plushenko. A film festival will be held at the Avrora cinema Andrei Tarkovsky, and the Bolshoi Puppet Theater (BTK) will host an international festival of puppet theaters.

More information about the program of festive events in St. Petersburg can be found.