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Russian Daily News Information Service Russia
disregards old communist holidays and institutes new ones
Russia celebrated the National Unity Day on November 4, with practically all Russian people have a three-day weekend now: November 4, 5, and 6. Making a speech at the official State Awards ceremony in the Kremlin last week, President Putin stated that the roots of the People's Unity Day go back to the glorious and heroic events of the year 1612. "People of different religions, nationalities and classes united to save the Fatherland and defend the Russian state. It was the genuine national unity for the sake of our country's future," President Putin said. Russian political parties and public movements held various events in Russia nationwide to celebrate the festive date. Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Alexey II headed the people's meeting in the city of Nizhni Novgorod. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrated the recreated temple in the city and took part in the divine service there. Russian politicians differ in their attitudes to the new holiday. Some say that it is a far-fetched celebration, communists do not recognize the date at all, whereas the pro-Kremlin United Russia party call it "the symbol of independence and state organization." "This date is the symbol of historical wisdom of the Russian nation, which managed to take the country out of chaos and war. It is the symbol of Russia's vitality and the colossal internal integrity of the country, which was subsequently proved with the country's further development," the vice-speaker of the State Duma, Vladimir Pekhtin said. About 5,000 people were expected to participate in meetings and demonstrations to celebrate the National Unity Day in Moscow. Two thousand police officers and military men guaranteed law and order in the center of Moscow on November 4 during the celebrations.
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