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Johnson's Russia List 2009-#17 26 January 2009 [log in to unmask] A World Security Institute Project <http://www.worldsecurityinstitute.org> www.worldsecurityinstitute.org JRL homepage: <http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson> www.cdi.org/russia/johnson Support JRL: <http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/funding> www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/funding #1 Over 7 and half million Russian students mark their holiday MOSCOW, January 25 (Itar-Tass) -- More than 7.5 million Russian students marked their holiday on Sunday. Although the day had been marked unofficially for more than two centuries, then President Vladimir Putin formalized it only in 2005. The holiday originated in Moscow. It was marked on the day when the Moscow State University was founded. Empress Yekaterina the Great signed the ordinance establishing the Moscow University on January 25, 1755, the Day of St. Tatiana. The church of St. Tatiana was later built in the university campus, and the Church declared St. Tatiana the heavenly patron of students. The university marks its 254th anniversary this year. Traditionally, it has the largest celebrations of the Russian Students' Day. This Sunday the university presented an amateur theatric show involving the rector and a basketball game between the university team and the team of alumni, among them Deputy Prime Ministers Alexander Zhukov and Sergei Ivanov, State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov and Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov. In the evening University Rector Viktor Sadovnichy treated students and guests to mead, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey and water, and fireworks. There were celebrations in other Russian cities, as well. Irkutsk opened the Regional Youth Year with games and fairs. Several thousands of people gathered at the Irkutsk dam lake for traditional winter attractions. Celebrations in Tomsk centered on a huge puzzle depicting six local universities, while Barnaul marked the day with a religious procession, and Smolensk had a theatric performance and a mead feast. Samara students were contesting in building the best snowman, and the Kirov Drama Theater welcomed 160 best students to a ball in the 19th century traditions. Historically, Russian police have been indulgent to celebrating students on their holiday. Celebrations may last through the night. *******