January in Russia traditionally ends with the last major holiday that literally everyone knows about. On January 25, students at universities across the country celebrate Student Day, acquaintances of Tatiana congratulate them on their namesakes, and students at Moscow State University celebrate the university's birthday. How did Tatiana's Day become a day of student binge and fun? And do students in other countries have a similar holiday?
The history of students in Russia
To begin with, there were no secular educational institutions in Russia until the middle of the 18th century, where young people could receive higher education. And among the nobility it was, to put it mildly, unpopular. Military service or religious education was honored. At a time when in Europe there was already in full swing the Age of Enlightenment was underwayand the first Russian scientists went there to study. Among them was the great Russian explorer Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov.
But he was not the only one who contributed to the opening of Russia's first university. In 1754, Count Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov served at the court of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. He was fond of science and was familiar with Lomonosov. It was he who came up with the idea of opening his own university in the country to raise domestic specialists.
Thus, the two of them developed a plan and program of study at the first higher education institution in Russia and persuaded the Empress to allocate funds from the treasury. On January 25, 1755, New Style, Elizabeth Petrovna signed a decree on the establishment of Moscow University. Why exactly on January 25? Some historians believe that it was Count Shuvalov who asked to issue the decree on Tatiana's Day. He was left early without a father, and he was brought up by his mother - Tatiana Rodionovna. Thus, the son immortalized his gift on her name day, on Tatiana's day. By the way, it was Count Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov who was appointed the first curator of the new university.
How two holidays - Tatiana's Day and Student's Day - came together
The first Moscow University made higher education more accessible to the general public. After all, everyone could study there, except serfs and ...women, of course. In addition, for the first time, education was conducted in Russian! Although previously Russian educational institutions taught in Latin, Greek or German.
Since the opening of the university, students began to celebrate this day - January 25 - as their "professional" holiday every year. Since on this day believers commemorated the holy martyr Tatiana, over time students began to consider her their patroness. So these two holidays became firmly associated with each other.
In 1791, Moscow University built on its territory a Temple in the name of St. Tatiana. Thus, her name became definitively associated with Russian studenthood.
Which countries celebrate student day
There is a common international student day around the world - November 17. This is the day of remembrance of the students who died at the hands of fascists in the Czech Republic in 1939. But despite this, student day is celebrated on other dates in different countries. Let's consider a few points on the map:
- May 1 celebrates student day in Finland. This day is celebrated not only by current students but also by alumni. This day is so beloved by Finns that the state has declared it a day off.
- at the end of May, after the end of the session, there is a student holiday at the Portugal. Local students celebrate the day with a festival procession that begins at midnight.
- Dec. 8 at Bulgaria is celebrated as a holiday for all students. As in Russia, this day coincides with an Orthodox holiday. Therefore, December 8 is also the day of St. Kliment Ohridski, after whom Sofia University is named.
- Serbian students had their own protests on April 4, 1936, with a tragic outcome. That's why the student day in Serbia is celebrated twice a year - April 4 and November 17 (international day).
- and in Brazil students celebrate for a whole week in mid-October. During this time they do not study and have parties.
- Norwegian students do not celebrate their day every year, but every 2 years. В Norway there's a major international ISFiT festivalwhich brings together students from all over the world.
- в U.S. Harvard's most famous student-run event takes place at Harvard in February. It is a popular carnival with dressing up and theatrical performances called Hasty Pudding.