State State symbolssymbols

Contemporary State Emblem of Russia is a new emblem, but the parts of it are deeply traditional. The state emblem of Russia has the drawing of a gold

two-headed eagle on the red field. This drawing of the eagle goes back to

the images on the monuments of the Peter

the Great epoch.

 There are three historical crowns of Peter the Great above the two-headed eagle (they are symbols of the sovereignty both in Russia as a whole and in its parts). The eagle holds in claws sceptre and orb as embodiment of State power and united state. Some Russian explained this drawing in the following way: two heads mean  the President (Medvedev) and Prime Minister (Putin) and three crowns symbolize the executive, legislative and judicial powers of Russia.

 On its chest there is a horseman – Russian St. George – who is killing an evil snake with his spear. That is one of the oldest symbols of victory of Russia against all its enemies, symbol of the struggle of good against evil, light against gloom.     The final restoration of this symbol took place in 1993, when President Boris Yeltsin approved it as a national coat-of-arms.

 The current Russian flag was adopted on August 21, 1991 just before the country became an independent state. Most historians trace the origin of

Russia’s flag to Peter the Great. In 1699, out of hundreds of different flags, Peter selected the flag similar to the flag of the Netherlands - white,

blue and red flag. His design was used as a Russian maritime flag for merchant ships and then it was adopted as the civil flag of Russia in 1883.

At that time, this flag symbolized goodwill, neighbourliness and peace.

• There is no official meaning of to the Russian flag but Russian people create their own variants.

Some Russians believe that white color symbolizes generosity and frankness; blue stands

for loyalty, honesty and wisdom; red means courage, magnanimity and love. The other people think that red represents Russian people, blue -

the Ukrainians, and white - the Belarusians. There is one more version: white is seen to be the color of moral purity, the Christian faith and eternity. Blue is the color of truth and the Mother of God,

the protector of Russia, the Virgin. Red is the color of strength and life. Taken together, the flag

represents the eternal Virgin and the Giver of Life.

ANTHEM 

• For a long time Russia had no anthem. The various church hymns and military marches were used to honour the Russia up to 1816, when the

“Молитва русских“ ("Prayer of the Russians") by Russian poet

• V. Zhukovskii was chosen as the national anthem.

•         The second official anthem “Боже, царя храни“ was presented in 1833, on December 25th , when the nation celebrated the

expulsion of the French from Russia. That anthem existed until the October revolution of 1917 and

was replaced to the new anthem of the victorious proletarian revolution -  "International" -  in 1918.

 In 1944, people heard a new official Soviet anthem “Союзнерушимый республик свободных“ ("The Unbreakable Union of Freeborn Republics") on the

radio. It was written by the composer A. Alexandrov and poets Sergei Mikhalkov and Garold

El-Registan.    After the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1993,  a

government commission and  President Yeltsin   offered a new national anthem

“Патриотическая песня“ ("Patriotic Song") by M. Glinka. However this anthem was unpopular and didn’t inspire Russians. People preferred the old

Soviet anthem instead of it.

  On December, 2000, President Vladimir Putin approved t

herestoration of the music by A. Alexandrov and new variant of lyric by S. Mikhalkov, which evoked and eulogized

the history and traditions of Russia.

1st stanza:1st stanza:

Russia, our holy country! Russia, our holy country!

Russia, our beloved country! Russia, our beloved country!

A mighty will, a great glory, A mighty will, a great glory,

Are your inheritance for all time!Are your inheritance for all time!

Refrain:Refrain:

Be glorious, our free Fatherland! Be glorious, our free Fatherland!

Eternal union of fraternal peoples, Eternal union of fraternal peoples,

Common wisdom given by our forebears, Common wisdom given by our forebears,

Be glorious, our country! We are proud of Be glorious, our country! We are proud of you!you!

2nd stanza:2nd stanza:

From the southern seas to the polar regionFrom the southern seas to the polar region

Spread our forests and fields. Spread our forests and fields.

You are unique in the world, inimitable, You are unique in the world, inimitable,

Native land protected by God!Native land protected by God!

3rd stanza:3rd stanza:

Wide spaces for dreams and for living Wide spaces for dreams and for living

Are opened for us by the coming years Are opened for us by the coming years

Faithfulness to our country gives us strength Faithfulness to our country gives us strength

Thus it was, so it is and always will be!Thus it was, so it is and always will be!

1 1 куплет:куплет:

Россия - священная наша держава!Россия - священная наша держава!

Россия - любимая наша страна!Россия - любимая наша страна!

Могучая воля, великая слава -Могучая воля, великая слава -

Твое достоянье на все времена.Твое достоянье на все времена.

Припев:Припев:

Славься, Отечество наше свободное -Славься, Отечество наше свободное -

Братских народов союз вековой.Братских народов союз вековой.

Предками данная мудрость народная,Предками данная мудрость народная,

Славься, страна! Мы гордимся тобой!Славься, страна! Мы гордимся тобой!

2 куплет:2 куплет:

От южных морей до полярного краяОт южных морей до полярного края

Раскинулись наши леса и поля.Раскинулись наши леса и поля.

Одна ты на свете! Одна ты такая!Одна ты на свете! Одна ты такая!

Хранимая Богом родная земля.Хранимая Богом родная земля.

3 куплет:3 куплет:

Широкий простор для мечты и для жизни,Широкий простор для мечты и для жизни,

Грядущие нам открывают года.Грядущие нам открывают года.

Нам силу дает наша верность Отчизне.Нам силу дает наша верность Отчизне.

Так было, так есть и так будет всегда!Так было, так есть и так будет всегда!

• Russian anthemRussian anthem

National HolidaysNational Holidays

June 12 - Russia Day

• Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin. June 12, 1990 the first Congress of People's Deputies of the RSFSR accepted the "Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation from the USSR”

• Holiday took a roots slowly. Surveys confirmed - people do not understand the holiday, think it ‘s another weekend, furthermore, many people simply forget about it and come to work!

•When people’s dislike to this day became obvious, B.N. Yeltsin offered to celebrate “the Day of Russia” on June 12. And in the February 1, 2002 holiday officially got a new name.

June 12 - Russia DayJune 12 - Russia Day

•Celebrates annually since 1992 (day off since 1991) on the day of accepting the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the RSFSR - June 12.

November 4 - National Unity Day

October 22 (November 1 in the Gregorian calendar) in 1612 soldiers militia led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky stormed China Town, bringing the garrison Rzeczpospolita (Polish invaders) retreated to the Kremlin. Prince Pozharsky entered into China Town to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and vowed to build a temple to commemorate this victory.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy publicly supported the initiative to establish the celebration of November 4. "This day reminds us how in 1612 the Russians of different faiths, nationalities and origin overcame separation, defeated the enemy and brought the country to civil peace," - said the Patriarch.

November 23, 2004 a bill was introduced to the Duma, November 23, 2004 a bill was introduced to the Duma, involving amendments to the Labor Code: abolition of involving amendments to the Labor Code: abolition of celebration of November 7 - the anniversary of the celebration of November 7 - the anniversary of the October Revolution and 12 December - Constitution Day October Revolution and 12 December - Constitution Day and the introduction of a new holiday on November 4.and the introduction of a new holiday on November 4.

At the same time, in many cities of Russia holiday was At the same time, in many cities of Russia holiday was invariably take place during the rallies and marches invariably take place during the rallies and marches various patriotic and nationalist movements, causing a various patriotic and nationalist movements, causing a negative attitude of the liberal media and politicians. negative attitude of the liberal media and politicians.

New YearNew Year and Christmasand Christmas

• 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 January - New Year 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 January - New Year holidaysholidays

• January 7 - ChristmasJanuary 7 - Christmas

2323 February February• Russia inherited several public holidays

from the era of the Soviet Union. For example, Defender of the Fatherland

Day (originally known as Red Army Day) is celebrated on February 23rd.

2323 February February

• In a broad sense, this holiday celebrates people who are serving or

were serving the Russian Armed Forces. Due to a common Russian

stereotype that the role of the defender is reserved for males, the holiday has more recently come to celebrate Russia's men as a whole. 

March 8thMarch 8thInternational Women's

Day—which is celebrated in the first month of spring on March 8th.

One might compare March 8th in Russia with Mother's Day in

the West, although the Russian holiday celebrates all women, including mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and

girlfriends.

• The International Women's Day. This holiday emerged as a political celebration to symbolize the fight of women from all over the world for their rights, full equality with men, democracy and peace. As the time passed, the political motives of the

holiday moved to the background and March 8th simply became a women's holiday in Russia and other republics

of the former USSR.

• Task:Task:

- Find the symbols of The International - Find the symbols of The International Women's Day in Russia Women's Day in Russia (http://masterrussian.com/russiancultu(http://masterrussian.com/russianculture/womens_day_march8.htm and re/womens_day_march8.htm and otherother sources)sources)

- Compare the March 8th with similar - Compare the March 8th with similar holiday in your countryholiday in your country

May 1 - May Day    International Workers' DayInternational Workers' Day

May 1 - May Day    International Workers' DayInternational Workers' Day• After the After the

October October Revolution of Revolution of 1917 became 1917 became

an official an official holiday:holiday: at this at this day conducted day conducted demonstrations demonstrations of workers and of workers and

military parades military parades (First Day (First Day

parade was held parade was held in 1918in 1918

May 1 - May Day    International Workers' DayInternational Workers' Day

• In 1992, the In 1992, the holiday was holiday was renamed in renamed in “Spring and “Spring and Labour Day". Labour Day". Labour Day is Labour Day is celebrated as a celebrated as a state, is state, is commonly used commonly used for political for political campaigns.campaigns.

May 9 - Victory Day

One of the biggest Russian holidays, Victory Day, marks Germany’s surrender to the Soviet Union in 1945, ending one of the bloodiest wars

in Russia’s history.

On this day, TV networks broadcast World War II-inspired films, younger generations honor veterans, and the festivities culminate in a military parade at Moscow’s Red Square.

The first Victory Day Parade at The first Victory Day Parade at 24.06.4524.06.45

Many people attend a local military parade and watch the fireworks at night on Victory Day. The biggest parade is in Moscow’s Red Square. Most veterans wear their medals as they head to the parade or an event organized by a local veteran organization.

The Tomb of the Unknown The Tomb of the Unknown SoldierSoldier

• Another tradition is to give flowers, usually red carnations, to veterans in the street and to lay

wreaths at the war memorial sites. Neighborhood schools may host a program prepared by the

students, featuring wartime songs and poetry.

• At home, families gather around a festive table to honor surviving witnesses of World War II and remember those who passed away. They may also watch a favorite Soviet film based on the

events of World War II, which is also known as the Great Patriotic War. These films are repeated

each year but the audience seems to never grow tired of them.

Symbols of the Victory DaySymbols of the Victory Day

St. George ribbon Victory BannerVictory Banner

Red carnations eternal Flame

BackgroundVictory Day marks Germany’s surrender to

the Soviet Union in 1945. It became the end of the Great Patriotic War for the USSR, which lost about

25 million citizens in the four years of fighting. Interestingly, until its 20th anniversary (May 9,

1965), Victory Day was not a major holiday, unlike, for instance, May 1, and was considered a work

day. Apart from the anniversaries in 1965 and 1985, Victory Day celebrations in the Soviet Union did not

feature a military parade. This tradition started in 1995.

The Victory’s Day firework on Red SquareThe Victory’s Day firework on Red Square

Memorial day on June 22

• Celebrates annually in Russia on June Celebrates annually in Russia on June 22; such anniversaries are also 22; such anniversaries are also celebrate in Belarus and Ukraine. celebrate in Belarus and Ukraine. June 22, 1941 the German army June 22, 1941 the German army entered the territory of the USSR, entered the territory of the USSR, and the Great Patriotic War, which and the Great Patriotic War, which killed more than 26 million Soviet killed more than 26 million Soviet people, began.people, began.