Unity Day (Russia)

The day of the unity of the people (Russian День народного единства ) is one of the national holidays in Russia and is celebrated annually on November 4. As a public holiday, he was first introduced in 2005 as a replacement for 7 November, at which up to then the anniversary of the October Revolution was celebrated.

Historical Background

After the October Revolution, the new rulers managed 22 October from a holiday. Instead, it has since then and the day of the revolution officially celebrated throughout the period of the Soviet Union - originally October 25, 1918 took place after the conversion from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, accordingly, on November 7. Even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, this day was a few years yet exist as a state holiday was called from 1996 to 2004 officially " day of reconciliation and concord ."

The end of 2004 was passed in the Duma on the initiative of some Conservative Member of Parliament, including Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a new law with which the previous holiday regulations were modified in Russia. Thus, both the day of reconciliation and unity as also abolished the hitherto December 12 celebrated " Constitution Day " as public holidays and instead of the day of the unity of the people - so the old days of the Mother of God of Kazan icon - - as well as three additional New Year holidays in early January introduced. The November 4, instead of the original 22 October in turn results from the calendar change - the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendar is in the conversion of data in the 21st century just 13 days.