So the long-awaited May holidays have come , and many have a logical question: "What kind of day is this - May 2?" May 1 - Day of Spring and Workers, May 9 - Day of Great Victory. And what is customary to honor and celebrate on the second day of May? May 2 - a holiday or not? We’ll try to figure it out.
Background
And what only happened in history that day, for example, Isadora Duncan married everyone beloved national poet Sergei Yesenin in 1922. It was to her that many of his works were devoted. Or in Paris in 1902, the famous film by Georges Milles with a sci-fi bias - “Flight to the Moon” —was first screened by everyone. Later, this twenty-minute masterpiece will win all possible awards in the field of cinema. And in Russia in 1785, with the light hand of Empress Catherine the Great, "A Charter to the Nobility" and "A Charter to the Cities" were published. These were very important reforms that left their mark on history. But not all of the above is celebrated on this day. So then, May 2, what holiday?
The capture of Berlin
Perhaps the basis of the solemn date is something more global. It was on May 2, 70 years ago, that the Soviet army, under the command of Marshals G. Zhukov and I. Konev, completely took control of the capital of Nazi Germany, Berlin. At about 3 pm German troops voluntarily laid down their arms, the enemy was defeated. More than seventy thousand people, including very important persons, were captured. For example, the general defense commander of Berlin, General Weidling, Goebbels' right hand doctor of historical sciences Frice, who later during interrogation will confirm the suicide of the Fuhrer. Well and most importantly, it was May 2, not 9, that the Reichstag was taken. The same photograph, known to all of the history books, where Soviet citizens Egorov and Kantaria proudly squeeze the Victory Banner, was taken then. But this meant only one thing: the victory is extremely close!
And although the importance of this feat is enormous, nevertheless it is not spelled out anywhere that we are celebrating this very act. Then, on May 2, what kind of holiday? We will understand further.
The birth of the great
On this day, many famous personalities were born. Well, for example, this is the birthday of Catherine II herself, which was already mentioned in this article. Or, on that day, the Russian philosopher, theorist, and critic of literary works V. Rozanov once celebrated his birthday. This day could have been dedicated to Jerome K. Jerome, an English writer who knew with brilliant grace to expose the vices of modern society in his works, remember only “Three in a boat, not counting a dog”. The People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, a conductor with a long experience, known not only in Russia but also abroad - V. Georgiev - was also born on May 2. And on this day very media personalities were born: L. Konevsky, an actor and TV presenter in Russia, and D. Beckham, a football player, model, practically an icon for so many of our contemporaries. But all this, you see, is not that. They can’t give an official day off because of Beckham’s birthday, or even Catherine the Great.
Then, perhaps, this day is entertaining in that some extremely famous historical person died on this date. We continue the search for facts.
Death of the great
Here the list is also large and brilliant. What is the name of Leonardo da Vinci! This creator and scientist of the Golden Renaissance is known to literally everyone in the world. On this day, I. Aivazovsky, a Russian artist, was mainly inspired by the expanse of the sea. His dynamic, romantic works, filled with the freshness of the sea breeze, are also known to extremely many. Maya Plisetskaya is the beauty and pride of Russia, Russian ballet is a celebrated phenomenon abroad, and M. Plisetskaya and her school are the standard in this art form. Presidents, actors, military figures, the list here is very long. But all this is also not that, after all, there cannot be a spring and bright holiday on May 2 dedicated to the death of someone, even the great one.
Name Day May 2
On this day, many people celebrate their name day. True, the names on this day according to the church calendar pop up exclusively male, but still. May 2 - the bright name day of all Antonov, Georgiev, Nikiforov, Feofanov and Ivanov. It is necessary to call guests on this holiday and celebrate this bright day in the circle of the closest people. But again, for the official universal weekend, the scope is not enough. This is not the basis of triumph.
Day of St. Matrona of Moscow
If you are already talking about the Orthodox calendar, it should be noted that on this day, May 2, should celebrate the Day of the Blessed Matrona of Moscow. The story about this girl is extremely famous and instructive, and most importantly - true.
From birth, the girl Matron, who was born in Russia, near Moscow in 1881, was blind. Parents even wanted to initially abandon their daughter, but still did not. According to legend, this happened because of the holy sign that appeared to the mother of Matrona.
From a very young age, when Matron remembered herself, she always knew how to cure diseases and willingly helped people. Only at the age of eighteen her legs were taken away , and the girl was no longer able to walk. She is transported to relatives in Moscow, and she will spend the rest of her life in the capital.
The story of St. Matron is also interesting in that she was a fortuneteller, and, according to legend, at the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War I. Stalin himself visited her with questions. But only this legend does not carry any evidence.
He treated Matron mainly with potions from herbs. Many went to her for treatment. And not only from Moscow and its suburbs, but also from all over Russia. That is why when Matron herself predicted her death, and it was in three days, a lot of people came to say goodbye to her. And today, St. Matron of Moscow is one of the most revered and beloved saints in the Christian pantheon.
But again, very rarely, Christian holidays are declared days off, because even in the Constitution of the Russian Federation it is prescribed that we live in a secular state. Therefore, the reason for the holiday date is not in this event. Rather, on the contrary, it only supplements the root cause. So what is it? We approach the main thing.
No reason
But there is no reason, the fact is that the second number only reinforces May Day, the Day of All Workers. It is just a day off. When workers after pickets and processions, usually taking place on May 1, can calmly relax and stay with their family, go about their business and enjoy the wonderful spring weather. There is no high meaning in the celebration of May 2. In the Soviet Union, May 1 was introduced as the Day of Workers' Solidarity, and 2, as it were, served as an additional day off for working people. Some even interpreted this “anomaly” by the fact that people simply did not have enough time to plant potatoes or just work in the garden. Here is an extra free day for the workers and was presented, do whatever you like in it. May 2 is a holiday of the day off.
It is interesting that in the 90s they tried to cancel this holiday, considering it inappropriate. But only then it was decided that this would cause violent discontent among the population. So they left.
To summarize: May 2 is a holiday or not?
So this is how interesting it turns out, on this day in history there was a lot of interesting things, someone was born, someone was dying, but only now we celebrate, perhaps not this, but, as on the first day of May, greatness and significance human labor. And it's wonderful that on the second day of warm May everyone can have a good rest before further accomplishments. Yes, comrades, May 2 is the festival of spring and labor!