World Day of Russian Unity (21/09)

Every year since 2010, September 21 is celebrated as World Day of Russian Unity.

The initiator of the establishment of this holiday was the Russian Unification Union of Compatriots (ROSS) in Kyrgyzstan, on the initiative of which the International Initiative Committee « of the World Day of Russian Unity» was created in the fall of 2009.

The idea of a new holiday was presented on November 25, 2009 by the Chairman of ROSS and Chairman of the International Initiative Committee, Alexander Ivanov, at the II International Youth Forum « St. Petersburg and Young Compatriots: Bridges of Cooperation in the 21st Century».

Participants were invited to support the initiative and sign the Declaration proclaiming this day. Representatives of 24 countries of the world became members of the International Initiative Committee and signed the Declaration, becoming co-founders of World Day of Russian Unity: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Greece, Georgia, Denmark, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, USA, Turkey, Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Estonia.

World Day of Russian Unity was established in order to preserve the ethnocultural identity of the Russian people, positive national self-identification, unification of Russians, the entire Russian world, interaction between the Russian community and Russia, to preserve ethnic, historical and cultural values, development, popularization of the Russian language and literature as part of the world cultural heritage, as well as further consolidation in the interests of creating a powerful intellectual, economic, spiritual and cultural Russian-speaking space in the world.

World Day of Russian Unity is marked by a number of important historical events in the life of the Russian people and Russia:

1. Founding Day of Russia — day of calling the Varangians to Rus' — unification of Russian tribes, beginning of the reign of Rurik (862).

2. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — is one of the main holidays celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church.

3. Founding day in 859 of the «father of Russian cities» — Veliky Novgorod.

4. Day of Military Glory of Russia — Day of Victory in the Battle of Kulikovo (1380) — begins the liberation of Rus' from the Tatar-Mongol yoke, laid by the Grand Russian Prince Dmitry Donskoy.

By the way, the symbol of World Day of Russian Unity is the Russian birch tree. And every year, events within the framework of the Day are held under a certain motto, including: «I love you, mom!», «Let’s preserve the Russian language!», «Great is the history of Rus', remember it!», «In unity and harmony — salvation of the Russian world!» and others.

World Day of Russian Unity contributes to the strengthening and development of Russian statehood and the glorification of Russia and the Russian people.



Postcard «September 21 — World Day of Russian Unity»

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