St. Petersburg is a beautiful city on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, in which the country's cultural and economic life is concentrated. It is known for its rich history, architecture, attractions, special atmosphere and for the most part educated cultural residents.
This city, like most cities in Russia, the CIS countries, Europe and America, has its own holiday - the birthday of St. Petersburg, which falls at the end of May, or rather, on the 27th.
The emergence of St. Petersburg
The history of St. Petersburg begins at the beginning of the XVIII century, when Peter I laid the first stones of a new settlement on lands conquered from the Swedes. The year of foundation of Northern Palmyra is considered to be 1703, when the St. Peter Burkh fortress was built (in honor of Saints Peter and Paul), designed personally by the king.
The city began to grow rapidly from the side that is now called Petrograd. Already at the end of the year, a church called Trinity was built, and the square on which it stood was the first marina of the new city.
St. Peter Burch stood on Hare Island, connecting to the new city island with a drawbridge. Houses and buildings began to grow and occupy first the other side of the river, and then Vasilievsky Island.
Relocation of the capital to St. Petersburg
Beginning in 1712, the tsar’s court, and then most of the official institutions began to move from Moscow to St. Petersburg, that's how they began to call this city in 1720. At the beginning of the First World War he was renamed Petrograd, in 1917 he also met with that name. Well, in Soviet times, the city was called Leningrad.
For nearly two hundred years, St. Petersburg was the capital of the Russian Empire.
The history of St. Petersburg includes a number of events significant for the whole country, including several revolutions:
- the Decembrist uprising, held in 1825;
- The Great October Revolution, which was then seen by Petrograd;
- 1917 was also marked by the February Revolution.
Therefore, St. Petersburg is the unofficial name of the city of three revolutions.
During the Great Patriotic War, he survived the most severe blockade, in honor of which in 1945 he was named a hero city.
On May 8, 1965, for the heroism and courage of its inhabitants, who proved themselves in the struggle for freedom of the Motherland in the Great Patriotic War, Leningrad was awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal, and was awarded the official title Hero City.
Sights of the northern capital
St. Petersburg is known for the most beautiful architectural buildings of the 18th-19th centuries that it was possible to preserve and restore, with its parks and fountains, cozy public gardens and wide embankments.
The most significant architectural ensembles include the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Nevsky Prospect, Peterhof, Peter and Paul Fortress, Smolny Institute, Strelka Vasilievsky Island, Palace Square, Winter Palace, Admiralty, St. Isaac's Cathedral.
The city has a huge number of beautiful bridges. The architecture of each of them is unique, but the Palace cast iron bridge is connected with the image of the city, which connects the two banks of the Neva and connects Vasilyevsky Island with the main part of the city.
The world’s first equestrian monument to the Russian Tsar - The Bronze Horseman is also world famous. By the way, once a year - on the birthday of St. Petersburg - they wash it. This action is carried out by specialists together with several volunteers, who are determined by the results of a quiz on knowledge of the history of the city.
The city is also famous for its many diverse museums, the most famous of which are the Hermitage, the Central Naval Museum, the Russian Museum, and the Kunstkamera.
City Business Card
Speaking of St. Petersburg, it is impossible not to recall the white nights and the construction of bridges. It is these two phenomena that attract tourists from all over the world to visit the city on the Neva.
Indeed, a truly impressive, magical sight is the raising of several parts of the bridge, illuminated by bright lights, against a twilight sky reflected in the water of the Neva, along which the ship slowly floats. This phenomenon inspires a romantic, mysterious mood to its witnesses, inspiring romantic acts and suggestions.
When is this year celebrated?
Residents of the northern capital honor traditions and love cultural events, so the holiday program, as usual, will be very diverse and will take place over two days off - Saturday and Sunday.
St. Petersburg celebrates City Day already 314 times, and although this is not an anniversary, anyway, on the 27th and 28th of the last month of spring there will be many festivals and entertainment programs for residents and visitors of the city. The organizers of the holiday tried to diversify the events so that everyone could choose entertainment to their taste. There will be programs for children and adults, so you can come with the whole family.
Holiday program for May 27
The birthday of St. Petersburg will begin to be celebrated at 10.00 on Sennaya Square, where they will lay flowers at the monument to Peter the Great.
An hour and a half later, a ceremony will be held in the Peter and Paul Fortress.
By tradition, the birthday of St. Petersburg cannot be held without an ice cream festival on Ostrovsky Square, which starts at 11.00 and ends around 21.00.
At noon it will be possible to lay flowers at the tomb of Peter the Great in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
The annual inclusion of fountains in the Summer Garden of Peterhof will also take place on this day, from 12.00 to 18.00.
An interesting event that will take place on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island and will become a symbol of our country is the Ball of Nationalities. You can watch and even participate in it from one in the afternoon to five in the evening.
At 18.00, a charity concert by E. N. Artemyev will begin at the Mariinsky Theater, stars of Russian rock and classical opera music will take part in it.
In the evening (at 21.00) a gala concert starts at the Palace Square, the entrance to which will be completely free. There you can hear the music of Verdi, Strauss, Mozart, Rossini, Puccini performed by the Mikhailovsky Theater Symphony Orchestra.
At 22:00, the birthday of St. Petersburg will be completed by a large firework with musical accompaniment on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island.
Birthday of St. Petersburg: events on May 28
On this day, in parallel with the celebration of City Day, SKA, the hockey club that won the Russian championship, will be honored. Presentation of the Gagarin Cup will take place at Palace Square.
Also on Manezhnaya Square you can see the performance of military ensembles.
Starting from 11.00 in the Summer Garden there will be an open air plein air of artists called "I draw Petersburg."
Declaration of love for one’s family will be possible not only with brushes and paints, but also with a chalk in hand: the festival of asphalt drawings “Petersburg Childhood” will begin at the same time, only in South Primorsky Park.
At 15.00, Palace Square will welcome honorary citizens of St. Petersburg in a roller run under the same name.
At about 2.00 p.m., the Cossack festival will begin in the Alexander Park, which will be dedicated to such an event as St. Petersburg's Birthday.
On Saturday and Sunday, the already-traditional Tulip Festival will take place, which, due to the expected rains, will be held in the Kirov Park. The Tulip Festival is a long-awaited spring holiday, filling with bright colors and pleasant aroma the territory on which it passes, inspiring optimism for everyone who visited St. Petersburg.
City Day is truly an event uniting people, instilling a sense of admiration and pride.