International Student Day was established in London in 1946 at the World Student Meeting. It is set in memory of students who bravely fought against hard fascism in occupied Prague in 1939.
The history of this holiday is very sad. In October 1939, students, together with the teaching staff, staged a demonstration in honor of the anniversary of the creation of the Czechoslovak State. But the German invaders dispersed the entire demonstration, while a young student named Jan Opletala, who was studying at a medical university, was killed.
His funeral caused a tremendous resonance among the population and grew into a protest. Most of the students and teachers were captured, and in the early morning of November 17, the Nazis surrounded the dormitories in which young students lived and many of them were sent to concentration camps. Nine students were executed without a court verdict in the walls of a Prague prison. Hitler ordered all higher education institutions to close before the end of hostilities.
Today, World Student Day is cheerfully celebrated on November 17 among young people studying in universities. This is a symbolic holiday uniting all students. On this holiday young people do not attend schools, they can relax and have fun in discoclubs and dormitories. In all universities, amateur evenings with competitions and dances are organized, and the most resourceful and active participate in KVNs.
All youth, regardless of nationality and territorial distance, unite and celebrate International Student Day. Meanwhile, in three large states: Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, Tatyana's Day is celebrated twice a year - a student holiday founded on January 12 on the day of the founding of Moscow University by decree of Empress Elizabeth.
Initially, this holiday consisted of several parts: a solemn event directly held at the university itself, and then massive fun in the whole city. On Tatyana’s day, all students felt relaxed, they could sing and dance right on the streets of Moscow, knowing that the police would not take them to the station, but on the contrary would politely ask if they needed help.
In the USSR, this holiday was remembered, but not celebrated. But since the 90s, this tradition has revived again, and now the youth is very rapidly celebrating it twice a year: January 25 and November 17.
How is International Student Day celebrated in other countries?
For example, in Belgium, students like to gather in large companies with close friends and acquaintances. But they do it most often in bars, and not in nature. Unlike Russian youth, Belgians prefer to listen to music rather than sing it in karaoke.
All holidays are accepted in Denmark, including International Student Day conduct only in the circle of family people. In the afternoon, everyone gathers at home at the table, and in the evening they go to the pubs to dance and have fun. They prefer light alcoholic drinks, such as beer, so that the holiday becomes pleasant and sincere.
But the Americans like complete freedom. Students that day with friends go out of town or go to nightclubs. Many of them are from fairly wealthy families and therefore can afford to visit elite restaurants, clubs and even order food at home. In a word - they can celebrate the event as they please.
There are many other interesting customs, but all of them testify only to the fact that students on the International Student's Day try to "break out" and have fun. Undoubtedly, this holiday is the best for young people. Student years are the most wonderful moments when you can live at ease, knowing that your parents will take care of you - they will dress, feed and caress.