January 25th is Student's Day, or, as they like to call it, “Tatiana's Day.” It is named after Saint Tatiana, the patroness of students.
But, as you know, there are two student days. One has international status and is celebrated by students all over the world, while the second is known only in the countries of the former Soviet Union. As a result, we have a situation where all over the world Student’s Day is celebrated on one day, and in Russia on a completely different day. In Belarus, which is located at the junction of East and West, students are not averse to celebrating both of these holidays. But... how does one student’s day differ from the next?
On January 25, 1755, the Russian Empress Elizabeth, on the day of remembrance of the holy martyr Tatiana and on the name day of Ivan Shuvalov’s mother (in church calendar On this day, the Russian Orthodox Church honors the martyr Tatiana and with her the victims in Rome (226), approved the petition of Ivan Shuvalov and signed a decree on the opening of Moscow University, which later became the center of advanced Russian culture and social thought in Russia. Subsequently, in one of the wings of the old university building, a house church of the holy martyr Tatiana was created, and the saint herself was declared the patroness of all Russian students.
It should be noted that then (1755) Belarus was part of a completely different state - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. And Moscow University did not have the slightest significance for us. Moreover, we had another Cultural Center– Vilna University, founded in 1579 by King Stefan Batory. And our university, unlike Moscow, was famous in Europe; people came to study with us from abroad, including from Russia.
Already by mid-19th century, from a holiday of students and professors of Moscow University, Tatyana Day actually turned into a holiday of the Russian intelligentsia. Celebrating Student's Day in Russian Empire it was noisy and fun. At first it was celebrated only in Moscow, but almost the entire city took part in it. The holiday began with official ceremonies in the university building. Then noisy and cheerful festivities took place throughout the city. During the student party, the Frenchman Olivier, who was the owner of the Hermitage, even gave away the restaurant hall where students and professors celebrated. At the celebration, as usual, they drank. But on this day, the royal gendarmes, meeting a drunken student, did not touch him, but, on the contrary, offered their help.
After October revolution Tatyana's day was rarely remembered. After all, Tatiana was a saint, and the church and the communists were not on very good terms. Only after the opening of the temple in honor of the martyr Tatiana at Moscow University in 1995, the holiday came to life again.
Since 2005, January 25 has been celebrated in Russia as “Russian Students’ Day.” In Russia, the symbolism of the holiday as a student holiday is emphasized by the coincidence with the academic calendar - January 25 is also the last day of the 21st academic week, the traditional end of the examination session of the first semester, after which the winter student holidays begin.
What we see in the end is that “Tatiana’s Day” has not the slightest relation to our country. This is a holiday of Russian students and intelligentsia. Belarusian students first formed in completely different universities.
But there is another student's day, International, which promotes international solidarity rather than celebration.
On October 28, 1939, in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, Prague students and their teachers demonstrated to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Czechoslovak state. The occupying troops dispersed the rally, and a student was shot dead. Faculty of Medicine Jan Opletal, whose funeral turned into a protest. Dozens of demonstrators were arrested. On November 17, the Germans surrounded the student dormitories early in the morning. More than 1,200 students were arrested and imprisoned in a concentration camp. Nine students and student activists were executed in prison.
Two years later, an International meeting of students who fought against Nazism was held in London, at which it was decided to celebrate the date of their death annually as Student’s Day in honor of the victims.
Of course, no one forbids celebrating two holidays at once. We simply must never forget that November 17 is a day of solidarity among students around the world, a day of remembrance for those who died in the struggle for freedom and independence. And January 25 is simply the opening day of Moscow University.
Tatyana's Day (Student's Day) 2020 is celebrated on January 25 (January 12, old style). In the church calendar, this is the date of honoring the memory of the holy martyr Tatiana of Rome, who in the 18th century became the patroness of students.
Student's Day 2020. On January 25, students of secondary vocational and higher education educational institutions note professional holiday- Student's day. This date falls during the end of the fall semester, the end of the session and the beginning of the winter holidays. On this day, students are awarded additional scholarships and certificates of honor.
Tatyana's Day 2020. On January 25, parishioners of the Orthodox Church pray to Saint Tatiana of Rome. On this day it is customary to congratulate women who bear the name Tatyana.
history of the holiday
The holiday received the name “Tatiana’s Day” in honor of the holy martyr Tatiana of Rome, who lived in Rome in the 3rd century. She was born into a rich, noble Christian family. After reaching adulthood, Tatiana took a vow of chastity and became a deaconess. She dedicated her life to serving the church, helping sick and needy people. Saint Tatiana was persecuted by the pagans. Emperor Alexander Severus sentenced her and her father to death penalty, which was carried out on January 12, 226. Tatiana was elevated to the rank of holy martyrs.
In the Russian Empire, Tatyana's Day was originally celebrated as the day of the founding of Moscow University (MSU). On January 12 (25), 1755, Empress Elizabeth issued a decree establishing Moscow State University. In 1791, the house church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana was founded in the university building. January 25 became Student's Day, and Saint Tatiana became the patroness of high school students.
On January 25, 2005, the President of Russia signed the Decree “On the Day of Russian Students.” The document officially approved the professional holiday of Russian students.
Student traditions
Students celebrate Tatiana's Day on a special scale. They visit churches, light a candle to the patron saint Tatiana and ask for help with exams and tests. On this day, universities hold holiday concerts, where diligent students are awarded certificates of honor. University students gather in groups, have parties, go to nightclubs and bars.
A well-known student tradition on Tatiana's Day is calling balloons. On the night of January 25, they go out onto the balcony or look out the window and shout three times: “Shara, come!” in front of an open grade book. Students believe that such a ritual helps them pass all exams successfully.
To attract good luck during the session, university students perform another ritual with their grade book. At noon on January 25th they draw on last page small house. It must have a door and a window. The main elements are the chimney pipe and the smoke emanating from it. The house should be drawn with one continuous, twisted line. It is believed that if you can draw it continuously, then passing the session will be easy and successful.
Folk traditions
On this holiday, there is a tradition to congratulate all Tatiana on Angel's Day.
Believers visit churches where solemn services are held. Girls who seek to arrange their personal lives pray to the patron saint Tatiana.
On January 25, girls try to lure guys. To do this, they lay a small path on the threshold of the house. It is believed that if on this day a beloved young man wipes his feet on her, he will be a frequent guest.
Tatyana's Day - good time for making wishes. To do this, you need to go out into a sunny meadow and think about your cherished dreams. Sincere wishes made on this day come true.
What not to do on Tatiana's Day
On Tatiana's Day, it is forbidden to quarrel with family members and loved ones. It is not right to refuse help to the needy and the sick. You cannot be in an uncleaned house.
Signs and beliefs
- If it snows on January 25, then summer will be rainy.
- If the weather is clear and frosty on Tatyana’s day, then you should expect a good harvest.
- Girls born on January 25 become good housewives and wives.
- If there is an exam on the day following Student Day, then you cannot read notes the day before.
- If on this day the housewife bakes bread with a smooth crust, without cracks, then the coming year will be successful and calm.
January 25th is Tatyana's Day (Student's Day). On this holiday, everyone congratulates Tatyana on Angel’s Day, visits churches, performs rituals to attract suitors, and makes wishes. Also on January 25, students of secondary vocational and higher educational institutions receive congratulations. On their professional holiday, students perform rituals to attract good luck in exams.
On January 25, 1755, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna signed a decree establishing Moscow University.
The day was not chosen by chance. The founder of the university, Count I.I. Shuvalov, timed the opening of the educational institution to coincide with the name day of his mother Tatyana Rostislavskaya.
Why is Tatyana's Day called Students' Day?
It was on this day, January 25, Orthodox Church remembers Saint Tatiana of Rome. She accepted martyrdom for faith in Christ.
In 1791, in one of the wings of the main university building on Mokhovaya Street, a house church of the holy martyr Tatiana was created, and the saint herself was declared the patroness of all Russian students.
Traditions of celebrating student's day
In the 60-70s of the 19th century, Tatyana’s Day turned into an unofficial student holiday. At first it was celebrated only in Moscow, then the tradition spread to other cities of Russia where there were higher educational institutions.
January 12 was considered an official holiday. And only by decree of Emperor Nicholas I the celebration of Students' Day was moved to January 25 - the day of signing the decree on the founding of Moscow University.
Before the revolution, the holiday had its own traditions and rituals. On Tatyana's day there were festivities. Teachers and professors, students and graduates of higher educational institutions - lawyers, doctors, teachers and other representatives of the intelligentsia - took to the streets.
The celebration scheme was universal: mass, prayer service with an akathist to the holy martyr Tatiana, a solemn event at the university, then entertainment.
The holiday was celebrated quite noisily and cheerfully. The police were not recommended to arrest or even detain drunken students that day; on the contrary, they were provided with assistance.
Students walked along Bolshaya Nikitskaya and sang the anthem “Gaudeamus igitur”. Afterwards the crowd moved to Tverskoy Boulevard, to their favorite taverns. Since the seventies of the 19th century, the owner of the Hermitage, the Frenchman Olivier, gave his restaurant to students for celebration on this day. At this feast, poor students and eminent professors could find themselves at the same table - for one day, the academic community forgot about ranks and became a single brotherhood.
After 1917, Tatyana’s Day was forgotten for many decades, but in the 1990s the holiday returned again. Many traditions, unfortunately, have not been preserved.
Student Day was officially recognized only in 2005: on January 25, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree establishing the date of the holiday and assigning it a high national status.
Why do students drink mead on Tatiana’s Day?
They drank various strong drinks at Tatyanin. Children from wealthy families could afford wine or champagne. For ordinary students, the most affordable drink was mead. On January 25, it was rolled out onto the street directly in barrels.
Student years are recognized as one of the brightest and most special in a person’s life. Rapid growth, independence, the desire to try new things, self-discovery - this is only a small part of what awaits freshmen on the path to obtaining a diploma. One of the main questions that worries everyone who begins this stage is when and how is Student’s Day celebrated? Should it be held on November 17 or January 25, and why did two dates appear at once?
It's time
For a long time, young people went to universities to gain knowledge, set goals for themselves that they wanted to achieve in order to make themselves known to the whole world. History shows us that students have repeatedly faced injustice and harshness in the world. This is what gives us reason to think about a lot of things. Celebrating Student's Day is an opportunity to remember not only how fun this time can be, but also what it provides for our future.
A memorable day for the whole world
First, it’s worth figuring out whether Student’s Day is celebrated on November 17 or January 25? The fact is that both dates exist and have the right to life. The difference lies in the history that gave rise to each of them as memorable. This is exactly what November 17 is – International Students Day. It is considered global for the reason that the events that preceded it affected the entire world community. Student's Day is November 17, the history of which tradition gives a special idea about it and fills the date with serious meaning. This is by no means a holiday in the usual sense of the word. More precisely, it can be described as a day of remembrance, symbolizing the unity and solidarity of students from all over the world.
In 1939, on October 28, young people studying at higher educational institutions took to the streets of Prague. They took part in a demonstration dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the founding of the state of Czechoslovakia. At this point, the country was already under occupation by German troops.
The demonstrators were brutally dispersed. Weapons were used. A student named Jan Opletal was shot dead. The death of the young man shocked the public. The funeral was attended not only by everyone who studied at the university, but also by teachers. The reaction to the murder was a mass protest, denouncing the injustice and cruelty of the fascist regime.
The occupiers were not forced to wait: on November 17, hundreds of demonstrators were detained. Some of them were shot, others were sentenced to imprisonment in concentration camps.
A. Hitler ordered the immediate cessation of all educational institutions. Students were able to start classes again only after the end of the war.
In 1941, the First International Anti-Nazi Congress took place in London, where students decided to designate November 17 as a day of remembrance for the fallen Czech students. Until now, this date is honored by young people of all countries, nationalities and religions.
But we also know another date. Because of this, there is a debate about whether to celebrate Student's Day on November 17 or January 25? The second date has an even longer history, but is widespread throughout Russia. Back in the 18th century, precisely on January 25, 1755, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna signed a decree prepared by Ivan Shuvalov. It marked the emergence of the first university in Moscow. In the church calendar, this day was the veneration of the Holy Great Martyr Tatiana. So, she became a protector and patroness of students.
There is an opinion that Count Shuvalov chose this particular day because of his mother. Her name was Tatyana, and the decree became a name day gift.
Why is January 25 celebrated as Student's Day? This date has already become special, because in 1791 Nicholas I signed a decree on the celebration, and also this year the Church of St. Tatiana was opened, where the children came before the session with prayers and requests. Traditions world day students Why is World Students' Day, November 17, so important for people? This is an opportunity to honor the memory of those who died at the hands of the Nazis. Memorial services are held around the world. Their organization unites and unites students from different parts of the Earth. Large-scale events are also held in the village of Nakla, where Jan was buried. This day shows another side of students' lives. Here young people, who to many seem not yet fully conscious, show that they know history and understand how important it is to honor its memory.
Traditions of the Russian holiday
In Russia it is fun and noisy. January 25 is the time when all the worries and fears from the session are left behind, which means nothing overshadows the celebration. It all started with official events, where certificates, awards and thanks were given out, and then noisy festivities were held. Lucien Olivier, who created one of our favorite salads, was very fond of students. As a sign of his affection for them, he gave the guys his own Hermitage restaurant for a feast.
Conclusion
IN different countries There are other features of this holiday. However, we have an excellent opportunity not to choose whether to celebrate Student Day on November 17 or January 25.
You can honor young people studying at the university twice: the first time by remembering those who became victims of war and cruelty, and the second time by praising yourself for successfully passing the session. After all, the student period passes, like everything else in this world, which means you should get as many impressions from it as possible.