November 7 - a holiday in the USSR, which was canceled in the new Russia. Are there any prerequisites for this and what was offered to us in return? A beloved and bright celebration turned out to be unnecessary in modern society.
What happened on this day?
The history of the holiday on November 7 in the USSR is a memory of the great revolution of the twentieth century. Until 1917, Russia was an autocratic monarchical state, which at that time was ruled by Nicholas II.
The rebellious mood in the country has been accumulating for several years, and it was on October 25 that a rebellion of the common people began in St. Petersburg against the inequality of social strata. Armed Bolsheviks took the Winter Palace (the residence of the provisional government), captured all important information points (newspapers, post office, railway stations) and main military points (city outposts, port).
The uprising was organized by 47-year-old V. I. Ulyanov (Lenin), 38-year-old L. D. Trotsky and 27-year-old Ya. M. Sverdlov. These people led the coup and were considered the main leaders in the country for several years. They created a new socialist state, constitution and traditions in Russia.
What holiday was celebrated on November 7 in the USSR until 1990years
It was called in full: Day of the Great October Socialist Revolution. Why is "October Day" celebrated in November? Until 1918, time in the country was calculated according to the Julian calendar. But already in February, Russia switched to the Gregorian calendar. The uprising lasted two days, October 25-26, according to the old style, and in the USSR the holiday was celebrated in a new way - on November 7 and 8. But the name remained as a memory of one of the greatest events of the twentieth century, which changed the course of the entire world history.
In honor of this, thematic groups are created, called villages and districts, streets, enterprises, cinemas. For example, in 1923, groups of children were created who called themselves Octobrists. And the candy factory "Red October" is remembered and loved by many generations of Russians.
History of the holiday
November 7 (a holiday in the USSR) has been celebrated since 1918 for only one day. Demonstrations and parades were held in Moscow, in the regional and regional cities of Russia. It was considered a day off, a "red" day of the calendar. In 1927, by decree of the Presidium of the Central Committee, the celebration began to be celebrated on November 7 and 8. In 1990, by decree of Gorbachev, the 8th becomes a working day again. In 1996, President Yeltsin renamed this holiday into "Consent Day". In 2004, it was canceled by V. V. Putin and since 2005 it has become a working day.
Near abroad countries still celebrate this day under the old name - October Revolution Day. These include Belarus, Transnistria and Kyrgyzstan.
Parade on Red Square
Since 1918, parades were held twice a year, in which servicemen of the active army andmilitary equipment: May 1 and November 7. The holiday in the USSR in honor of the October Revolution was a significant event for all working people. The parade was hosted by the leader of the people and the commander-in-chief, as well as the leaders of the main industries.
In 1941 parades were temporarily canceled until 1945. During the Great Patriotic War, the country did not have the opportunity to recall the military and equipment from combat posts. A special event is the passage of troops in 1945. For this celebration, a special selection of employees was carried out: age - under 30 years old, height - 176-178 centimeters, military awards. After 1945, parades on Red Square were held only once every 5 years. In 1995, the passage of troops became on foot, without military equipment.
Demonstrations in honor of October Revolution Day
If parades were held only in Moscow and large cities, then demonstrations are an event for every locality in Russia, from the capital to large settlement centers. All sections of the population took part in them: workers, schoolchildren, peasants and students. November 7 holiday in the USSR was accompanied by the enthusiasm and joy of every inhabitant of the country.
A demonstration is a public event, the passage of people in groups along the main streets of the city in a single political mood. The procession is accompanied by music, slogans, flags, banners, portraits of current heads of state. A column of people taking part passes through the central part of the city, the main square and the podium with party and public leaders.
Onthe best workers and students were put forward on a voluntary basis, the procession was accompanied by thematically decorated transport, songs, dances, acrobatic and sports numbers. Congratulations on November 7 Day sounded from the podium. A holiday in the USSR, poems and poems about which the great poets of Russia wrote, inspired all the people. People believed that from the day of the Great Revolution they became free and happy.
The most important years (Chronicle of 1918)
Particularly memorable days are: the first celebration of 1918, as well as the parades of 1941 and 1945. November 7 is a holiday in the USSR, the congratulations of the people at that time were an important political step.
November 7-8, 1918:
- "Pantomime" on Red Square;
- 1st anniversary amnesty;
- opening of monuments to Zhores, Marx and Engels;
- rally and concert;
- premier of the thematic performance "Mystery Buff";
- Lenin's speech for the staff of the Cheka.
Parade during the war (1941 chronicle)
1941. For 5 months there has been a war with Germany. But November 7th is coming. What holiday is possible in the USSR when the front line is a few kilometers from the capital? But Stalin makes a decision that later historians will call "brilliant military operation." He holds the most grandiose parade, with all the latest military equipment in front of the nose of the enemy. Half of the units, after marching along Red Square and the personal parting words of the Leader of the people, immediately went to the front. Printed editions of England and Francewere full of headlines and photographs of Russian soldiers marching and saluting into battle. This move, "a holiday in the war", raised the spirit of the Soviet army. And Hitler, according to the recollections of his inner circle, was infuriated.
Preparation for the celebration began on October 24 under the leadership of Generals Artemyev and Zhigarev. The uniqueness of the task was in the strictest secrecy, and the complexity - in the besieged state of the city. November 6, Stalin holds a meeting in honor of the holiday in the metro (Mayakovskaya station). The congratulatory speech of the Commander-in-Chief is broadcast throughout the country.
The main danger during the parade was represented by German aviation. It was believed that German fighters would risk flying outside the city in order to destroy the entire government of the USSR with one blow. In this regard, on November 5, Russian aircraft bombed enemy airfields. And only the forecast of weather forecasters, that due to low cloudiness the weather will be non-flying, defused the situation. At night, the Kremlin stars were lit, the Mausoleum was disguised, and in the morning at 8 o'clock one of the most important parades in our history began.
1945. Victory
The first year of peaceful life. Tired of the horror of war, people want joy. After the grandiose Victory Parade, each event gives a new sense of peace, and November 7th is no exception. What a holiday in the USSR: congratulatory speeches, a parade of veterans, fireworks! And all this is already on the verge of a cold war with America. Even Molotov's report on the Day of the October Revolution is the USSR's response to the US provocation.
It was from this moment that the arms race and maintaining the reputation of a country so rich in technical geniuses began. This confrontation between the two states will last until 1963. In 18 years, Russia will restore the destroyed cities, re-establish production. And by 1990, he will begin to forget what the holiday on November 7 was called in the USSR.
Oblivion or rebirth?
In 1996, the holiday got a different name. In 2004, before moving the holiday to November 4 (National Unity Day), a social activist group conducted a survey among the younger and middle-aged residents of the country. The goal is to have information about the events of the October Revolution and its importance in the life of Russians. Only 20% of respondents answered the question about what holiday was celebrated on November 7 in the USSR.
What is this? Shortcomings in education or the real need for the modern generation to move forward without thinking about the history of their ancestors? In some cases, psychologists believe that moving away from a dubious event in time means moving towards progress correctly and more quickly. Do we need today a day whose significance died with the country?
Today the October Revolution is an ambiguous phenomenon. It has a wide range of historians' assessments. The first point of view is the illegal seizure of power, which led the country to a totalitarian regime. Others argue that an uprising was necessary. It brought Russia to modern society not by capitalist means, but thisunique case in history. Thanks to the coup, the country avoided the political collapse that was inevitable after the abdication of the king. The territory would be divided by such countries as England and America. Russian traditions, nationality and even language would simply cease to exist.
Besides these two opinions, there are intermediate statements about how events would have developed if there had been no revolution. For example, professor of history I. Froyanov says:
“This is too important an episode in history, and putting a plus or minus sign is simply not correct. When there is simply a change of power, the term "political coup" is more appropriate for this phenomenon. More than one generation will remember the name of the holiday on November 7 in the USSR, because it is a bright memory of the hopes and pride of the Russian people.”
This date asks for a rethinking of our descendants. It is they who will weigh, analyze and compare the facts that are still so emotionally close to us.
