In 2010, member countries of the International Maritime Organization at the UN decided to replenish the list of professional holidays. And now, every June 25, sailors accept congratulations on the Day of the Sailor. However, for more than seventy years, one of the most beloved and widely celebrated celebrations in Russia has been Navy Day.
It was approved exactly two years before World War II and has since been celebrated on the last Sunday of July. Perhaps this is a coincidence, but it is interesting that the end of this summer month firmly entered the history of the Russian fleet at the beginning of the eighteenth century. July 26-27, 1714, the Russian sailors won their first major victory, defeating a detachment of Swedish ships near the Baltic island of Gangut, moreover, the command was not conducted by a professional military officer, but Tsar Peter the Great. In commemoration of this victory, by the decree of the ruler (and at the same time the creator of the Russian fleet), solemn services, naval parades, and, of course, fireworks and cannon fires, which the Tsar naval commander loved, were held on July 27 each year.
For residents of cities such as St. Petersburg or Vladivostok, the Navy Day is remarkable, above all, in that they can admire the most beautiful sight - a grandiose parade of warships. It should be noted that only sailors have such a privilege on the occasion of their holiday. For other branches of the armed forces no special parades of this scale are provided.
Of course, there is something to see on
Navy Day! Destroyers, cruisers and ships of other types, elegantly decorated with multi-colored flags, line up near the coast, and crew members in full dress are standing in solemn order along their sides. Ships arrange demonstration artillery and missile firing, marines, accompanied by fire support from the sea, land on the shore, demonstrating coherence and training during landing operations, and planes and helicopters of naval aviation cover them from the sky. Rescuers, underwater special forces soldiers and representatives of other naval professions also show their art. In the evening twilight, the silhouettes of the ships, on which all the side lights are lit for the festivities, look especially impressive against the backdrop of the water surface, and at the end of the holiday, fireworks are thundering.
Congratulations on this day are rightfully accepted not only by the military themselves, but also by members of their families. Anyway, the Day of the Navy is truly a popular holiday, because among several generations of Russian men there are many who served in the Navy. On this day, even in the cities farthest from the sea, you can meet former "moroman" who proudly put on their vests and visors in honor of the holiday.
Gathering in a designated place (usually in green parks), they sometimes celebrate their holiday too noisily, but such outdoor activities very rarely end in unpleasant incidents.
In the evening, when clusters of festive fireworks are scattering in the sky (and it is arranged in all large cities - both “land” and coastal), “brothers”, as sailors traditionally call themselves, announce the air with a thunderous “Hurray! Hooray! Hooray!" and exclamations "Happy Navy Day!".