Student Day

    Russian students celebrate Student's Day at 25 of January. This day also is called "The Day of St. Tatiana ("Tatianin Day")". Russian Orthodox Church celebrates a day of Saint Martyr Tatiana this day. Here we have a crossover of two holydays. It is not an occurrence. 

   Russian Empress Elizabeth (the daughter of famous Russian Emperor Peter I , who built city St-Petersburg) established a Moscow university that day. At 25 of January ("new style" of calendar) 1755 she signed the edict about this event. The minister Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov gave her a text of this edict just at the Day of Saint Martyr Tatiana. This day was the name day of his mother named Tatiana. By that way Shuvalov impressed the memory about his mother. He said: " I am presenting now the University to you!" Since that time St. Tatiana is a sky patroness of Russian students. 

   At 60-70-th of XIX century "Tatianin Day" became a nonofficial holyday of Russian students. At 1890-1905 Moscow became a place of student's recreation that day.Students were walking at the center of Moscow-city singing songs. They could sing not ordinary student's songs and "Gaudeamus" that day but also political songs. Police was not allowed to arrest students at "Tatianin Day". So students could make political meetings that day.

   Nowadays Russian Orthodox Church makes special trunks giving this day. For example at 2003 in Ekaterinburg was a special service in Ural State Architecture Academy. Priest Vickenty said: "I wish you, dear students and their tutors, strong mental and physical statement for your knowledge, that you are obtaining, will be for advantage of Russia. "

   St. Tatiana was a daughter of rich Roman nobleman. She was a Christian. When she became of age she decided not to marry and she devoted her life to church. She helped ill people, poor people, worked in prisons. At 225 Roman chief Uplian threw Tatiana to Coliseum arena with other Christians. He wanted Tatiana to be eaten by lions. But fierce lion did not eat her and became to endear to her legs. At last she and her father were behead by swards. 

   Nowadays Tatianin Day is also a student club-holyday. 25 of January is just at the last week of student's winter exams-time. So there is no time for a large celebration now. But in many student clubs there are parties devoted to Tatianin Day. Dancing, carnivals and other student's events are there in this clubs. 

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