Speaking about the bottom of the city of Moscow, one can not help but recall its long and glorious history. It has existed for at least 870 years. For the first time in written sources, Moscow is mentioned in the middle of the XII century. The favorable geographical position played a large role in its formation as the center of the Russian state. Everything that happened before and is happening to her now is interesting not only for Muscovites, but also for many other residents of our country. The date of the city’s day in Moscow and how it is celebrated will be described in the article.
Ipatiev Chronicle of the Origin of Moscow
For the first time, the name “Moscow” was learned by scientists from the Ipatiev Chronicle. This is one of the oldest and most authoritative sources covering ancient Russian history. It belongs to the beginning of the 15th century and was originally located in the Ipatiev Monastery, near Kostroma.
According to the chronicles, the year of foundation of the city of Moscow is the 1147th, and its founder is Yuri Dolgoruky, who at that time headed the Principality of Rostov-Suzdal. The Moscow City Day date is oriented to the time when the following events occurred.
Construction of a wooden city
Initially, on the site of the future capital was the city of Kuchkov, whose name came from the name of the boyar Stepan Kuchka, who owned the local lands. He was executed by Yuri Dolgoruky allegedly because he did not want to give his lands to the prince. After that, looking around, Dolgoruky ordered to begin the construction of the city of wood. The name was given to him by the name of the Moskva River, at the confluence of which it is located with the Neglinnaya River.
Construction began with the construction of the Kremlin walls, which served to protect local settlers and new arrivals for people to live. And also with the construction of the princely courtyard and several other buildings. At the same time, Yuri Dolgoruky spread Christianity among the people who were under the influence of paganism and sorcerers. The origin of the name "Moscow" has not yet been established.
Slavophil initiative
The celebration of the day of the city of Moscow originates in the distant 1847. Then it was dedicated to the glorious anniversary - the city turned 700 years old. The idea to mark this event was expressed by two public figures, historians and writers - M.P. Pogodin and K.S. Aksakov. Both of them were spokesmen for the ideas of such a philosophical trend as Slavophilism, which propagandized the identity of Russia and its special political and cultural path. At the same time, European peoples condemned them for atheism and falling into heresy.
In 1846, K. S. Aksakov began a discussion about the role of the city in historical events. The idea of Russia celebrating Moscow City Day was supported by the Moscow Metropolitan and Governor General. It was decided to start the celebrations in the spring of 1847 and celebrate for three days. The action plan was as follows:
- Day 1: Celebrations associated with church traditions.
- Day 2: A festive meeting within the walls of Moscow University and a ball organized by the mayor.
- Day 3: Folk fun with giveaways.
The first celebration in the Russian Empire
However, these plans were not destined to come true. This was due to the prejudice of Tsar Nicholas I to the initiators of the celebration - the Slavophiles, as they represented one of the opposition movements. By his order, Moscow City Day was postponed to January 1, 1847 and limited to a one-day period.
The first celebration in the Russian Empire was different from the original one and looked as follows:
- Metropolitan Filaret in one of the churches of the Chudov Monastery located on the territory of the Kremlin said a prayer in honor of Moscow City Day. Prayers were held in many churches, glorifying the ancient capital.
- In the evening, an attempt was made to arrange illumination with the help of oil lamps, illuminating the Kremlin, the university, the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, the house of the mayor and the Novodevichy Convent. However, almost immediately a strong wind came in, and most of the lights were extinguished. At this event in honor of Moscow and ended, and more in the era preceding the revolutionary events in Russia, were not held.
The resumption of City Day in the USSR
After the revolution, Moscow City Day, although periodically celebrated, was not of a large scale. The very first celebration, characterized by a large scale, was held after the war, in 1947, in connection with the 800th anniversary of the founding of the city. This time, the initiator was G. Popov - chairman of the Moscow City Executive Committee. His proposal was approved by I.V. Stalin, who issued a decree on celebrations in September.
At the government level, an organizing committee was created, which included such prominent figures of that era:
- L.P. Beria - as a representative of the Central Committee of the Politburo of the Bolshevik Party.
- A. Ya. Vyshinsky - Deputy. Foreign Minister of the USSR.
- S. I. Vavilov - President of the Academy of Sciences.
- S.V. Bakhrushin is a historian.
- A.V. Schusev - architect.
Events dedicated to the celebration
In anticipation of the holiday, the following events were held:
- A monument was laid to Yuri Dolgoruky, which was installed later, in 1954. He stands in front of the Moscow City Hall.
- The medal “In memory of the 800th anniversary of Moscow” was established. It was awarded to Muscovites and residents of the suburbs who had lived in Moscow for at least five years and took part in the reconstruction of it.
- The Museum of Old Russian Culture and Art was opened. He was placed in the Spaso-Andronikov Monastery and given the name of Andrei Rublev, the great icon painter who painted the Spassky Cathedral.
- The Moscow-Volga Canal, which bore the name of Stalin, was given a new name - "Moscow Canal."
Celebrating September 7, 1947
As it was planned, the holiday took place in September, the 7th. It was dedicated to the 135th anniversary of the battle at the village of Borodino, located 125 kilometers west of the capital. By this date, the city was updated, roads and facades of houses were repaired.
The events for Moscow City Day were as follows:
- The center of the capital is illuminated by bright illumination.
- For the period of folk fun, a large number of buffets and outdoor cafes were opened.
- Brass bands performed on the festive streets, the largest of which was located between the Maly and Bolshoi Theater.
- On the sites put up tanks that were in service with the Russian army even before World War II.
- The end of the holiday was marked by a grandiose salute.
At that time in Moscow there was a Nobel Prize laureate, the famous American prose writer John Steinbeck, author of the famous novel “Bunches of Wrath”. He recalled the holiday with childish enthusiasm, describing a procession along the Moscow streets of elephants and funny clowns. Steinbeck said that the grand show at Dynamo Stadium lasted all day. In theaters, there was a real crowd, and in the museums there was such a darkness of the people that it was impossible to get into them.
After that, the City Day in the capital was not celebrated for 39 years.
City Day in 1986-1987
In 1986, Boris N. Yeltsin headed the Moscow City Committee of the Communist Party. It was he who made the decision about the next revival of the tradition of celebrating the City Day in September days. In the same autumn, food fairs began to operate in the capital's neighborhoods in honor of this event.
The next day of the city of Moscow was appointed September 19, 1987. The holiday went like this:
- The day began with a solemn demonstration, at which Yeltsin and Chairman of the Moscow City Executive Committee V.T. Saykin spoke from the rostrum of the Lenin mausoleum.
- A parade of old cars passed along the Garden Ring, platforms with carnival participants moved.
- Numerous barges were launched along the Moscow River, the decoration of which corresponded to Moscow themes.
- On the territory of parks and squares Muscovites were congratulated by brass bands, singers and actors.
- At the exhibition of the national economy and in Kolomenskoye near Moscow, festivals were held celebrating labor Moscow.
Holidays 1988-1990
During this period, the tradition of the annual September Day of the City of Moscow was supported by the authorities. Here's how they went:
- Typically, the holiday began with a rally, which was held on Sovetskaya Square, where a monument to Prince Yuri Dolgoruky is located. Muscovites were greeted at it by top officials and guests of honor.
- The streets were dressed in festive attire, fairs were organized in different places of the city, at which products from many regions of the country were presented.
- Muscovites and visitors could watch the concerts taking place everywhere, various theatrical performances, athletics competitions.
Moscow Day in Russia is celebrated annually
In 1991, City Day in Moscow was celebrated on August 31. Although there were no official events, festivities were still held, as well as sports. This time the Moscow government did not finance the event, sponsors took up this.
A big celebration was organized in connection with the 850th anniversary of the city. Boris Yeltsin, who by that time was elected President of Russia, on 11/09/1994 issued a decree on the creation of a state commission to organize preparations for the anniversary celebrations. The then mayor, Yu. M. Luzhkov, was appointed its head. The celebration was supposed to be held on the first autumn weekend - September 6, 7. Since 1997, Moscow City Day is a public holiday every year.
On the eve of the 850th anniversary of Moscow
By this significant date, large-scale restoration work was carried out in Moscow. In particular, this affected such cultural and historical objects as: the Tretyakov Gallery, the Historical Museum, the Alexander Garden, as well as temples and park areas.
The plans were implemented: to open a park in the metropolitan area of Maryino, an archaeological museum on Manezhnaya Square; on the construction of a new bridge, which was given the name of the hero of the war of 1812, the general from the infantry (infantry) P. I. Bagration. The bridge connected the two embankments of the Moscow River - Krasnopresnenskaya and T. Shevchenko.
In the Kremlin, on Cathedral Square, just before the holiday, 09/05/1997, the City Day officially opened. President B. .N honored his presence. Yeltsin, head of the diplomatic department of the Russian Federation E.M. Primakov, Patriarch Alexy II.
The feast of September 6 and 7, 1997
These days, the festivities were in full swing. They were marked by the following events:
- Festivals, fairs, concerts, festivals.
- The singer and composer O. Gazmanov wrote the song “Moscow, the bells are ringing”, which was very fond of Muscovites and became the anthem of City Day.
- On City Day, the famous Italian lyric tenor Luciano Pavarotti visited Moscow's Red Square with his song congratulations.
- On one of the buildings of Moscow University, a grandiose laser show of the Frenchman J. M. Jarre took place.
- The famous traveler F. Konyukhov, in honor of the 850th anniversary of the capital, made a number of alpine ascents.
Day 870th anniversary of the capital
This holiday took place in 2017. The round date was also widely celebrated on the weekend of September, the 9th and 10th. The main theme of the holiday was the slogan that Moscow was the city where history is going on. Here are some statistics that characterize this celebration:
- Within two days, about 430 major events were held in urban areas.
- About 4.5 thousand people took part in their organization.
- Fireworks were lit at 13 sites in the central part of Moscow and in 17 parks.
The festivities were tied to the opening of the Zaryadye nature park and the restored Luzhniki sports complex.