Russians Celebrate New National Holiday

AP via Yahoo! News ^ | 04.11.2005 | MIKE ECKEL

[lizol]

Russians Celebrate New National Holiday

By MIKE ECKEL, Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW - Russia celebrated a new national holiday Friday, although many people did not even know its name or what it stood for.

With the Kremlin trying to balance strong nostalgia for the Nov. 7 Soviet holiday marking the Bolshevik Revolution with efforts to inspire patriotism in the fractious and sprawling nation, President Vladimir Putin signed an order last year establishing the "Day of People's Unity," designed to commemorate Moscow's liberation from Polish invaders in 1612.

State-run TV led newscasts with explanations of the holiday and showed footage of people performing traditional music and dances, followed by broadcasts of classic Soviet-era films and children's cartoons showing folk traditions and fairy tales.

In central Moscow, about 500 people protesting illegal immigration marched along several streets, along with other right-wing political groups, Ekho Moskvy radio reported. Some participants chanted "No to Occupiers!" and "Throw Out the Occupiers!" the station reported.

Human rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyevna lamented the fact that the anti-immigrant groups were being allowed to hold rallies on a holiday ostensibly intended for national unity.

"Recently, I've gotten the impression that Moscow, and federal, authorities are infected with xenophobia, or are afraid of these people or are trying to hoping to use them for their own purposes," she said in comments on Ekho Moskvy.

The Day of People's Unity is the second holiday set up to replace the Great October Socialist Revolution holiday, one of the Soviet Union's most important celebrations.

In 1996, President Boris Yeltsin re-christened the Bolshevik holiday, which was celebrated on Nov. 7 but took place in October under the old calendar in use during the 1917 revolution, as the Day of National Reconciliation and Accord.

In a poll conducted by the respected Levada Center, 63 percent of respondents opposed the decision to scrap the Nov. 7 holiday. When asked what holiday Russia would celebrate Friday, 51 percent did not know and only 8 percent referred to it by the correct name.

The Oct. 14-17 poll of 1,600 people nationwide had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

A Russian Orthodox Church leader earlier this week compared the holiday to Victory Day, the major holiday marking the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 — a holiday many Russians see as the proudest moment in the nation's history.

"It is a day of victory, an undeservedly forgotten day of victory," Metropolitan Kirill told a news conference Wednesday. "Moscow was liberated."

The new holiday comes amid Kremlin efforts to strengthen patriotism, warning that separatism could tear the multiethnic country apart.

Ultranationalist demonstrators march in downtown Moscow, Friday, Nov. 4, 2005, to mark a new state holiday, the Day of People's Unity, designed to commemorate Moscow's liberation from Polish invaders in 1612. The banners read: Russians forward, bottom, Russia is against occupants, top. The small banners at right read: DPNI, the Russian acronym, which identifies one of the ultranationalist organizations, The movement against illegal immigration, which participates in the march. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

[lizol]

Eastern European ping list

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FRmail me to be added or removed from this Eastern European ping list

[Semper Paratus]

If Putin had any stones he would throw what's left of Lenin's corpse down the same well that the Romanovs were found.

[lizol]

President Vladimir Putin signed an order last year establishing the "Day of People's Unity," designed to commemorate Moscow's liberation from Polish invaders in 1612.

A Russian Orthodox Church leader earlier this week compared the holiday to Victory Day, the major holiday marking the World War II defeat of A Russian Orthodox Church leader earlier this week compared the holiday to Victory Day, the major holiday marking the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 — a holiday many Russians see as the proudest moment in the nation's history.

Hmmmm... what a nice company we've got in, don't you think?

I really can't get rid of an impression, that the Russians simply love us. :-))))

And don't forget, that some Russian guys here maintain, that Poland is for Russia nothing more that some small, meaningless country.

[Jaysun]

"Come comrades, let us pilfer them, and murder them, and have them stand in line for bread."

[Ciexyz]

I guess we should say "Happy Holiday" to our Russian friends, whatever the day is called.

[starfish923]

If Putin had any stones he would throw what's left of Lenin's corpse down the same well that the Romanovs were found.

If you supply me with Putin's e-mail address or snail mail address, I will suggest it to him.
It is an EXCELLENT idea.

[Grzegorz 246]

I love Russians too.

[kaiser80]

yes, strange indeed...celebrating a day when our army died of hunger as there was no horse-meat left...Yes, Ruskies can be proud of it.

[kingattax]

[eleni121]

Human rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyevna lamented the fact that the anti-immigrant groups were being allowed to hold rallies on a holiday ostensibly intended for national unity.

______________________________________________________-
I guess Ludmilla has forgotten Beslan and the Moscow theater terror among many many other terrorist actions. Russia is bordered by Islamic terrorists who seek to undermine Russia just as they have throughout most of Russia's history.

If anything Putin has not been aggressive enough in destroying these scum.

[kaiser80]

And don't forget, that some Russian guys here maintain, that Poland is for Russia nothing more that some small, meaningless country.

And always been a small country ;) That explains the alergy of most of the Ruskies on everything Polish. Such a country "was in" Moscow for 2 years. LOL.

As far as I can make it out, Russia or SU is strong with help of Nazis (1939), with help of winter and strategy of burnt land (both Napoleon and Nazis).

In other cases they can't defeat Poland, Afghanistan or Chechnya.

[silverleaf]

"HAPPY FESTIVUS"

[SaltyJoe]

Pray that Russia and all the world may have an identity built on the Sacred Union of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin.

[Sender]

I don't suppose this 'freedom from Polish occupation' theme has anything to do with the fact that we are developing such a cozy relationship with Poland, does it? It almost sounds like something Pravda would publish to give a not-so-subtle warning to the marriage.

[Atlantic Bridge]

Nunc est bibendum!

Russia should rather think about a holidday celebrating the invention of wodka. Them they could say with pride:

Exegi monumentum aere perennius.

[kaiser80]

There are, however, disputes between historians who realy invented vodka. Some say Poles, some Russians...Have no idea what's wright.

[Atlantic Bridge]

Anyway it would be worth celebrating. This Russian-Polish BS from anno domini is just ridicolus.

[x5452]

Absolut isn't a Russian Vodka. o_o

[x5452]

Absolut is Swedish. o_o



Further:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodka

The origins of vodka (and of its name) cannot be traced definitively, but it is believed to have originated in the grain-growing region that now embraces Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, and western Russia. It also has a long tradition in Scandinavia. Little is known about the early history of the drink in Europe. The first written record of vodka in Poland dates from 1405 in the Sandomierz Court Registry, although it is uncertain whether this refers to the drink of today. In Russia, the first written usage of the word vodka in an official document in its modern meaning is dated by the decree of Empress Catherine I of June 8, 1751 that regulated the ownership of vodka distilleries.

[jb6]

"Recently, I've gotten the impression that Moscow, and federal, authorities are infected with xenophobia, or are afraid of these people or are trying to hoping to use them for their own purposes," she said in comments on Ekho Moskvy

Watching France burn...why on earth would they be Xenophobic?

[jb6]

Poland was once an empire, now it is a backwater province of the EuroFascist state. Times change. It comemorates a fight against a powerful Poland some 400 years ago. Again, times change. Just like the British are a second rate power now.

[jb6]

That's where your history is rather lacking. The final occupation of Moscow was ended by national peasant armies raised by a minor noble and by a butcher. Thus they were national armies. The high nobility was actually in the Kremlin along with the Polish garrison and all were killed. That's how a minor noble family became tsars, the Romanovs.

[jb6]

What's interesting is that the slavik national drink was mead. Vodka didn't develop till about 1,000 years ago when the wheat germs finally got big enough to contain enough sugars for distilling. A major I served under was a real history buff, he'd pick a subject and just start reading. Vodka was one such subject, which was interesting because he was a Baptist who drank very little.

[ZULU]

I like beer with a shot of vodka. Also Vodka with a shot of vodka.

[iva]

Well I'm not really understand the core & aim of the Holliday. And 80% of my compatriots too. We have already the "unity day" for ALL the nations & religions in Russia, MAY 9. I almost sure that this Holliday will not settle down in the country.

[lizol]

Actually - can you imagine some national holiday declared in Poland today to celebrate victorious Battle of Grunwald (with Teutonic Knights), or driving the Swedes out of Poland??????????

[lizol]

Well, I'm affraid, they must be taken very, very seriously.

[lizol]

Well I'm not really understand the core & aim of the Holliday.

Hmmmm... - people would never forgive Putin, if they lost a day off. :-)

[jb6]

They went to a foreign land with hostile intentions and they got a proper reward.

Ehh? It was the Russian high nobility in the Moscow Kremlin locked in with the Poles.

[jb6]

The reason that particular war is celebrated as opposed to the countless others that the nobility fought, is because it was won by peasant armies raised by the common people and the poor, lesser nobility not by the grand princes.

[jb6]

The Greeks celebrate Marathon by having marathons, where they won a battle to defend their lands. The Russians freed their capital and triumphed over the main enemy of the day. It is not an offensive war but a struggle of national survival. Every example you sight is an offensive war.

[x5452]

Yorsh.

[Thunder90]

Too bad that the individual Russian states celebrate that Boslevek holiday.

[Thunder90]

Also, Putin seems to be trying to distract us for some reason (talk of burying Lenin, new national holidays, ect) He, however, never puts much effort to getting these things done. And airing old Soviet films did not do much to make him look less like a communist, it made him look more like one.

[Freelance Warrior]

Good posts!

[Freelance Warrior]

President Vladimir Putin signed an order last year

Small lie #1. Putin didn’t sign a decree. He signed a bill adopted by the parliament. A mistake, but probably an intended one.

Human rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyevna lamented the fact that the anti-immigrant groups were being allowed to hold rallies on a holiday ostensibly intended for national unity.

"Recently, I've gotten the impression that Moscow, and federal, authorities are infected with xenophobia, or are afraid of these people or are trying to hoping to use them for their own purposes," she said in comments on Ekho Moskvy.

Correction: Lyudmila Alexeyeva. That’s a surname not a patronymic name. On the topic: protests against illegal immigration isn’t something these people can swallow. Moreover, while “human rights activists” are richer (because they receive much money from the Fond of Ford or from Soros) they have marginally few public support. They tend to defend interests of everyone at expense of the rights of the citizens of Russia. Last spring a human rights defending activist was convicted for holding an art exhibition insulting Christians.

A Russian Orthodox Church leader earlier this week compared the holiday to Victory Day, the major holiday marking the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 — a holiday many Russians see as the proudest moment in the nation's history. "It is a day of victory, an undeservedly forgotten day of victory," Metropolitan Kirill told a news conference Wednesday. "Moscow was liberated."

This day marks the day of liberation from Polish-Lithuanian occupation. This was achieved by a popular uprising funded on public donation. The victory lead to electing a new dynasty by a congress of deputies of gentry and of cities’ dwellers. That’s why the war had a special meaning for Russia unlike for Poland.

The new holiday comes amid Kremlin efforts to strengthen patriotism, warning that separatism could tear the multiethnic country apart.

Small lie #2. Laughable. Why are Caucuses’ islamists people expected to loose the support they have because of this public holiday?

DPNI, the Russian acronym, which identifies one of the ultranationalist organizations. The movement against illegal immigration, which participates in the march.

Small lie #3. Sorry, that’s not an ultra-nationalist organisation. They just want stopping illegal immigrations with legal measures.

[Freelance Warrior]

A monument to Minin and Pozharskiy

A monument commemorating the 2 leaders of the uprising - city elder Koz'ma Minin and Prince Dmitriy Pozharsliy. It was installed on Red Square before Kremlin in 1818 and actually was the first monument in Moscow. So, commemorating of freeing of Moscow isn't a recent one.

[REactor]

Fot. SERGEY PONOMAREV AP

Fot. SERGEY PONOMAREV AP

Fot. SERGEY PONOMAREV AP

Fot. SERGEY PONOMAREV AP

Russia ueber alles!

[lizol]

I think - on the first picture - he's just trying to cover his eyes from the bright sun with the right palm :-)))

[REactor]

Establishment of a quasi-fascist regime in Russia is only a matter of time. Until the crude prices are high Putin may allow himself to pose as a "liberal" - Russia-style. When the prices on crude go down (and sooner or later it is inevitable) or crude will no longer be needed (which is less probable but still quite possible in 10 years time perspective) the whole regime will degenerate into some sort of Middle East "democracy", like Syria or Egipt. Given the Russian resentments after the collapse of USSR, their inferiority complex towards the West and hostility induced by it, it is inevitable that the authoritarian regime will be still strengthened by a xenophopic and nationalist attitude of the Russian people. The result will be a full-blown "russo-fascist" regime.

I think this regime won't be a real threat to the world due to its technological lag, but it will still be a deadly threat to Russian people. The sad thing is that most of the educated and more civilized Russians seem not to realize the danger.

[SaltyJoe]

"...most of the educated and more civilized Russians seem not to realize the danger."

I'm sure the Russians are quite aware of the situation, but it could be an endemic characteristic of the populace similar to how the French face their own internal problems (jihadists). Each nation lets such errors fester uncontrolled (like liberalism in America) until the citizens say, "Enough is enough!".

The best solution for nations outside Russia is to keep strict border controls, thus keeping the quasi-fascists within Russia only. When the infection pustulates, the Ruskies will do away with the criminally minded anti-citizens per their own blend of justice. Furthermore, this is a big opportunity for the Russian Orthodox Church to take charge of the Russian conscience. Family values are universal and intellectuals in that part of the world have been taking copious notes on how everyone else operates. Those loyal to Mother Church deserve our prayers and our best intentions for Peace. I wish them the best of luck for the inevitable ensuing struggle between a secular/nationalist and goddless identity and the Divine Salvation available through their Judeo/Apostolic Faith.

[Freelance Warrior]

. Until the crude prices are high Putin may allow himself to pose as a "liberal" - Russia-style. When the prices on crude go down (and sooner or later it is inevitable) or crude will no longer be needed (which is less probable but still quite possible in 10 years time perspective) the whole regime will degenerate into some sort of Middle East "democracy", like Syria or Egipt.

.... The result will be a full-blown "russo-fascist" regime.

Why didn't Russia become a "russo-fascist after the economic crisis in 1998?

[Freelance Warrior]

Is Russia the only state in which there are ultra-national organisations?

[Freelance Warrior]

The sad thing is that most of the educated and more civilized Russians seem not to realize the danger.

I don't trust a Polish patriot giving advices to Russians. Most people are patriots of their countries, and are subject to double standards in favor of their countries.

Some people can overcome double standards, but I've never seen this from you.

[A Russian]

Nothing personal, the Poles were just unlucky enough to get defeated close to the seventh of November, that's all...