“My country is wide, there are a lot of forests, fields and rivers in it ...” And also streams, lakes, seas - in a word, a whole multitude of water bodies where you can fish. It is not surprising that almost every man loves fishing in our country, and many women also will not refuse to sit with a fishing rod by the water.
Another thing is those for whom fishing is not just a hobby, but the main activity. Fishing is a large industrial industry, which includes fishing for a wide variety of needs. Let's talk about those who are engaged in an important and necessary business. About those whose holiday is Fisherman's Day. And plunge into the history of this day.
Fisherman's Day in Russia was created just like a professional holiday. But soon he began to celebrate and all those who consider themselves to be a brotherhood of lovers to pick up a fishing rod in the early foggy morning. There is no specific date for this day; every second Sunday is celebrated on a hot July.
The statement that a fisherman is a sailor twice is one hundred percent true! Indeed, in all their lives, fishermen have traveled so many miles on a boat, raised so much catch from river or sea depths that they can’t be counted. And professionals spend three times more time on water than on land. With special pride they celebrate the Fisherman's Day holiday - especially those for whom this occupation is family.
The official celebration of this day began in 1989, after approval by the Soviet Presidium. However, many do not agree with this. The fisherman’s profession is very ancient and universal - even World Fisherman Day exists! Although in Russia it is special. After all, it has long been the largest and most numerous fishing fleet in our country, it was we who occupied the first place in this industry among all other countries. Therefore, the fishermen began to celebrate their holiday much earlier.
How was Fisherman's Day celebrated? Gala evenings were held at each fishing base; the best traders received merit letters, cash prizes, and souvenirs. Each ship anchored in the port hoisted all the flags. And on one or several ships, excursions were usually conducted for everyone who wanted to immerse themselves in fishing life.
Since the second half of the 70s, in Russia we have combined Fisherman's Day with another event - the holiday of the Sea. The result was almost a whole week, full of various thematic events. Cheerful fairs were opened, at which it was possible to purchase craftsmanship of craftsmen. Beer was pouring in the river, national dishes could be tasted on every corner. Part of the celebration was, of course, musical accompaniment - in the form of concert performances by groups for the most varied tastes. And the culmination was a large-scale carnival procession, by land and water. These events varied depending on the city, but everywhere they were different and very beautiful.
What about fishing for fishermen? It so happened that in recent decades, the percentage of fish consumption by the population of our country has fallen sharply. If earlier a Soviet citizen ate 20 kilograms of this valuable product a year on average, today in the country this figure has dropped to 12 kilograms, but in reality it is even less.
Of course, blame the fishermen for this. But it’s time for the industry leadership to pay attention to the situation in the country, to listen to the problems and needs of fishermen. Well, and we wish these brave, patient, hardworking people good luck and worthy catches. Happy holiday to you!