Johnson's Russia List
2009-#17
26 January 2009
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A
World Security Institute Project
#1
Over 7 and half million Russian
students mark their holiday
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
on the day when the
founded. Empress Yekaterina the
Great signed the
ordinance establishing the
January 25, 1755, the Day of St.
Tatiana. 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.
and fairs. Several thousands of
people gathered
at the
Celebrations in
depicting six local universities,
while
marked the day with a religious
procession, and
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.
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