In Russia, every schoolchild knows that May 9 is Victory Day. But his peer from Western Europe does not agree with him . And by no means because France or Italy do not honor the bright date of the surrender of fascist Germany. Just Victory Day in Europe is celebrated a day earlier than ours. It was on May 8, 1945, Alfred Jodl, a German general, signed the act of surrender of the Third Reich. This document marked the end of the most terrible war in world history. But what about the next day? When festive fireworks rattled in the sky over our cities on May 9, "they" also celebrate the anniversary of a momentous event. This is Europe Day. “What kind of holiday is this?” - they will be surprised at us. And they doubt it. Is this not an attempt to alter, distort the meaning of the victory over fascism with which our grandfathers fought? Not at all. By the way, not only our grandfathers, but also the ancestors of modern Europeans and Americans fought the Third Reich. And it is still unknown what the outcome of the war would have been if it had not been for the troops of the allies of the USSR. But now this is not about that. Talk about Europe Day. What kind of holiday is it, when is it celebrated and how.
Europe Day History
As Hegel said, history moves in a dialectical spiral. There are certain dates that are key. Take at least the latest history of Ukraine. On November 21, 2004, the Orange Revolution began , and ten years later, Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU in Vilnius. What came of it - you know for yourself. The beginning of May is no less significant time for Europe. Four years after the Second World War ended, a significant event occurred. On May 5, the Council of Europe was established. In 1964, this date was approved as a holiday. Victory Day summed up the long history of the separation of European peoples into two warring camps. In 1985, the prototype of the EU, the European Community, adopted the symbols: flag, anthem and day. Statesmen chose May 9th. Just then, on the date of the “Schumann Declaration,” Europe Day is celebrated.
Why May 9th?
As we have already noted, the day of the creation of the Council of Europe is May 5, 1949. It was the only holiday dedicated to the idea of unity of the peoples of the continent for a year. On May 9, 1950, Foreign Minister Robert Schuman spoke at a briefing to reporters, where he voiced the main provisions of the earlier agreement. According to this document, opponents so irreconcilable as France and Germany, as well as Italy and the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) agreed to unite the coal and steel industry of their states. This performance was later called the “Schuman Declaration.” In order to commemorate this date, which gave impetus to the formation of the European Union, a meeting of governments was organized on May 9, 1985 in Milan, at which the EU flag was adopted - the same blue one with stars circling. And in 2008, this date was officially approved as a holiday - Europe Day.
Why is EUSC so important?
How could a purely economic treaty on the unification of industries play such a paramount role that the date of its signing became an international holiday? In the modern world, politics, alas, permeates all areas of public life. Until 1950, European countries were afraid of Germany. What if revanchist sentiments triumph in the state? The "economic miracle" of Germany frightened its neighbors. At the same time, this attitude towards Germany restrained the growth of its potential in the international market. The steel and coal industries are two pillars on which the military-industrial complex was held at that time. The creation of a supranational structure, called the European Coal and Steel Association (EUSC), resolved the notorious “German question”. All countries participating in the agreement were subordinate to the High Council with the elected president at the head (he became in 1952 a close ally of Schuman Jean Monet). Since that day, countries have been able to mutually control their military power, and this has become the key to peace on the continent. This is also why Europe Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the victory over fascism. Such are the parallels.
Is the holiday a day off?
In October 2008, the European Parliament officially recognized May 9 as a holiday. But the fifth day of the last month of spring did not remain forgotten. May 5 emphasizes the role of the Council of Europe in protecting the rule of law, human rights and parliamentary democracy. But the date is not always the same. When to celebrate Europe Day - it is at the discretion of the government of a country. It is celebrated in all EU countries. But in the UK, due to the mood of Euroscepticism among citizens, this day goes unnoticed. But it is celebrated in some countries that only apply for EU membership - in Turkey, Croatia, Ukraine, Macedonia. In most EU countries, May 5 or 9 is declared a day off. But sometimes the celebration is combined with work or rescheduled for Saturday.
How to celebrate this date
Europe Day has become a symbol of the activation of a new successful model of cooperation between states. This peaceful coexistence is based on shared values and interests. Until the 2000s, the celebration was primarily cultural in nature. Art exhibitions, concerts, and other similar events took place. But since the EU began to grow into new members, the holiday has gradually gained a political sound. They began to celebrate this day in the candidate countries. There, the main emphasis is placed on the choice of citizens of the vector of European integration. In countries that have long become full members of the EU, local differences are demonstrated that should dispel skeptics' fears about the impact of globalization on the identity of individual countries. So, on Europe Day 2014, cultural and entertainment programs and sports, conferences and public debates were everywhere. Television appearances by political and public figures are also popular.
How to spend a long weekend in Europe
In our country, the period from May 1 to 10 is almost two weeks, if not complete idleness, then a relaxed work schedule. And if you add to these days the accumulated days off, you get a second mini-vacation. How to spend it with maximum benefit? You can go to tropical countries, where the hot summer reigns supreme - to Egypt, the UAE, Turkey. But do not forget that spring is a great time to visit the countries of Central and Western Europe. Moreover, in the first decade of May there is an atmosphere of fun. In many countries, 1-2, as well as 7-9 of this month are days off. Europe celebrates the day of workers' solidarity, the anniversary of the victory over fascism and many more, no less joyful events. Interesting performances, concerts, festivals are held everywhere.
Blitz holidays in Europe
Well, if you can’t escape for a week or two from working days, you can take advantage of special offers from various travel agencies. Inexpensive, but very eventful vacation give rounds of the day off. Europe is really so close! Only 2-3 hours - and you are already in Paris, visiting the castles of the Loire and ride with the children on the attractions of Disneyland. Or in the Kingdom of Tulips and Windmills - beautiful Holland. Or in Munich - try beer and look at castles against the backdrop of snowy alpine peaks. You can choose a bus tour - a great opportunity to inexpensively see several countries at once in one fell swoop. By the way, Victory Day in Europe is celebrated with no less scope than ours. But geogrievsky ribbons donning there is not accepted. Well, that’s understandable, because the symbol is Russian.
Europe Day in Ukraine
For this country, the date is special. This state is the only one in Eastern Europe where the holiday is celebrated at the official level. Back in 2003, President Leonid Kuchma signed Decree No. 339 of April 19, according to which the third Saturday of May was declared the holiday of Europe Day in Ukraine. The main goal of all events dedicated to this date was, as the document says, to demonstrate a desire for rapprochement with the EU countries. Every year on this day, large-scale celebrations were held, and not only in the capital, but also in various parts of the country. But usually the officialdom came down to the fact that on the Khreshchatyk street in Kiev that day the "European Town" grew out of the exhibition pavilions. There, each EU member state represented its country.
Ukrainian Europe Day 2014
Recent political events have made the holiday more meaningful, one might say, symbolic. After all, we do not forget: the revolution also began because Yanukovych V.F., who was the country's president at that time, refused, despite numerous promises to his people and foreign partners, to sign the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. Therefore, the current celebration of Europe Day was especially large-scale. The third Saturday this year was May 17th. But they began to celebrate the holiday in Kiev on the 11th. The official opening of Europe Day took place on the capital's Mikhailovsky Square. Moreover, the events were organized not only by the European Commission, but also by the forces of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Three days later, the holiday was celebrated in Odessa, Lviv and other cities of the country.
As we celebrate this holiday with us
In Moscow, on the third Saturday of May, the festival “Days of Europe in Moscow” starts annually. The organizers of this event are the Delegation of the European Commission to the Russian Federation, the Moscow Student Center and the Moscow City Committee for Public Relations. Ambassadors of all EU countries are invited to the festival. Members of the Moscow government also participate in it. Guests of the festival are told about scholarship training programs in the EU countries. In general, this holiday is not quite like the Day of Europe in Ukraine. But there are many cognitive and useful points in this. The citizens of our country can understand that Europe is not an enemy, but a partner of Russia.