China Youth Day (04/05)

Every year on May 4, China celebrates the public holiday — Youth Day (whale). 河), dedicated to the mass anti-imperialist movement known as the «May 4 Movement».

After the Paris Peace Conference (held in Versailles in early 1919 and convened to finalize the results of the First World War) decided not to return to China the former German concessions in Shandong province seized by Japan, a massive anti-imperialist movement began in China.

Thus, on May 4, 1919, a student demonstration took place in Beijing to protest against this decision of the conference, as well as against the government of his country, which betrayed the national interests of China. Gradually, a wave of such protests swept across the country, and in addition to students, workers, the wider middle strata of the urban population and the petty bourgeoisie joined this movement. «The May 4 Movement» was of great importance for China, raising many issues of cultural and national identity of the people.

The day of May 4 was originally designated as Chinese Youth Day in Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border District, at the initiative of youth organizations in the area. At that time, the Kuomintang, under pressure from the patriotic movement of the broad masses of youth, also agreed with this decision.

Subsequently, the Kuomintang, fearing the growth of revolutionary sentiments among young people, considered such a decision dangerous and moved Youth Day to March 29 (Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of the Revolution who died in 1911 and were buried in the Canton suburb of — Huanghuagang). However, on the territory of the revolutionary strongholds led by the Communist Party of China, Youth Day remained May 4.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the State Administrative Council of the Central People's Government officially declared May 4 as Chinese Youth Day in December 1949.

Today, China Youth Day is celebrated as another revolutionary date — is the anniversary of the start of the patriotic movement «4 May». This day is notable mainly for the appearance of feature articles in newspapers, the organization of a youth rally in support of the policies of the Communist Party of China in Tiananmen Square at the Monument to People's Heroes and the holding of performances by creative groups.

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