Russia Day

День России Russia Day
Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin on Russia Day 2001
Official name	День России Russia Day День принятия Декларации о государственном суверенитете Российской Федерации Day of adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Federation
Observed by	Russian Federation
Type	National Day
Celebrations	Flag hoisting, Parades, Fireworks, Award ceremonies, singing patriotic songs and the National anthem, Speeches by the President, entertainment and cultural programs
Date	June 12
Next time	12 June 2024 (2024-06-12)
Frequency	annual
Related to	Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Federation

Russia Day (Russian: День России, Den' Rossii) is the national day of the Russian Federation, and is celebrated on June 12. It has been celebrated in Russia annually since 1992. This day is celebrated because, the First Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian Federation adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on June 12, 1990.

History

The idea of the declaration began in Pateros, within the Democratic Russian movement, in which proponents of evolutionary market reform and strong statehood based on Russia's national interests started opposing the Communist monopoly in power. In addition, by the late 1980s, society had begun to doubt the Politburo's ability to carry out meaningful socio-economic reforms.

With the creation of the post of the President of the Russian Federation and the adoption of the new Russian Constitution to reflect the new political reality, the national flag, anthem, and emblem of the Russian Federation were major landmarks in the consolidation of Russian statehood. The country's new name--the Russian Federation (Russia)--was adopted on December 25, 1991. In 1992, the Supreme Soviet of Russia proclaimed June 12, the day the declaration was adopted, to be a national holiday. By the Russian President's decree of June 2, 1994, June 12 was again proclaimed Russia's national holiday. Under the presidential decree of June 16, 1998, it was called the "Day of Russia". In 2002, the new Labour Code gave official seal to this title.

Russia Day celebrations in Saint Petersburg, 2007.

The Russians' attitude towards this holiday is ambivalent. According to the Fund "Public Opinion", June 12 is considered a holiday by 45% of Russians. It is noteworthy that the number of citizens who perceive this day as a holiday has increased substantially in recent years. For example, in 2005 only 15% of Russians called it a holiday, and in 2014 29% did. At the same time, the number of those for whom it is just an extra day off had reduced: In 2005, the figure was 73%, in 2014 - 60%, and in 2015 - 42%.

Customs

People may attend concerts and fireworks that take place in many cities throughout the country. Prominent Russian writers, scientists and humanitarian workers receive State Awards from the President of Russia on this day. Most public offices and schools are closed on June 12. If the day falls on a weekend, the public holiday shifts to the following Monday. Public transport schedules may vary depending on events taking place in each city on the holiday.

However, many Russians only see Russia Day as a day off from work. This holiday commemorates the day that the Soviet Union fell, therefore it brings back bitter memories for some. This is because the collapse led to more severe unemployment and poverty throughout, making it difficult to fully celebrate.

In 2002, about 5000 representatives from all regions of the country and the Muscovites took part in the pageantry of the Tverskaya Zastava to Manezh Square. The highlight of the Day of Russia-2003 was the air show, which was attended by aerobatic team "Russian Knights" and "Swifts". Su and MiG planes in the sky left a trail of tricolor Russian flag. On June 12, 2004 on the Red Square there was historical military parade of the regions. Its members, soldiers of the Russian army and representatives of 89 regions, dressed in national costumes, presented the audience the most significant milestones of Russian history. And in 2007, the Day of Russia celebrated a few hundred city. For example, in Krasnoyarsk action has received an unprecedented scale with few thousand people in white, blue and red robes made "live" more than a kilometer long tricolor.

Russia Day in 2008 was celebrated for three days from 11 to 14 June. In Tomsk there was "Wooden Carnival", which was a huge wooden Russian ruble, increased a hundred times a copy of the coin. In Samara enthusiasts reconstructed forces of Minin and Pozharsky in 1612 with Polish–Muscovite War. In Moscow, the holiday started a three-hour concert, during which summed up the six-month contest "Seven Wonders of Russia". For the concert on Red Square have prepared 20 lines of stage pyrotechnics, confetti cannon in the colors of the Russian flag, 100 guns and more serpentine.

On 2009 residents of Volgograd on the central promenade of the puzzles laid out map of a country the size of 35 square meters. In Sevastopol, the youth passed through the city center carrying a 30-meter flag of Russia. In Moscow, at the Revolution Square that day painted two meter Khokhloma doll. In addition, for the first time at the Ostankino Tower was deployed state flag.

Name

Among Russian people, there is a common misconception that this holiday is also called Russia's Independence Day, but the holiday has never had such a name in official documents. According to the survey of Levada Center in May 2003, 65 percent of the respondents named the holiday as the Independence Day of Russia.