Grind away, Student: ways to celebrate the students’ day in different countries
"I dare to thoroughly assure that it is no such creature born in the whole world yet who used to be as courageous as a Russian student!" — wrote Valentin Pikul, a Soviet writer. These words refer to the first Russian students of the Moscow University, founded by Mikhail Lomonosov and Count Shuvalov January 25 1755. On this sunny and unusually frosty January day, the day of remembrance of St. Tatiana, the chronicle of the life of Russian students began.
More than 250 years pasted, epochs and people varied, but the Russian students did not change their internal state. They are always easy-going, brave, prankish and full of vitality and aspirations. The date of "professional" holiday wasn’t changed as well — January 25 is a red calendar day. It’s the time when exams are finished and vacations begin.
Student's Day, or St. Tatiana's Day (Saint Tatiana has become the patroness of all students) in Russia is being celebrated with a special scale for centuries. The main entertainment of the students in the 18th and 19th centuries was sledging and singing the students’ anthem “Gaudeamus igitur”. Especially loud the national anthem was sung on Bolshaya Nikitskaya and nearby streets. Teachers and professors used to join them in singing.
In the 21st century the tradition of Tatiana’s Day celebration is partly remained. The anthem on Bolshaya Nikitskaya and "cat shows" on the corner of Bolshaya Dmitrovka and Strastnoy Boulevard (where a university press centre used to be) are not heard any more. But sledging and ice skating are still the ways to spend time for students and have fun. By the way this year the entrance to all Moscow ice rinks is free for students.
Every country has its own traditions to celebrate the Students’ Day. For example in the USA it is celebrated in February. Harvard held theatrical festival called “Hasty Pudding” in honor of the feast which students has brought to their first club meeting since 1795. Now a large carnival is arranged. But female roles are still played by men as it used to be before because Harvard was only for males.
In Finland a students’ holiday is called Vappu and is celebrated on the first day of May. On this day school graduates receive students’ caps and sashay to the statue of Havis Amanda, Helsinki symbol of students. Portugal has an interesting tradition of celebrating the Day of students. After singing serenades at the monument of one of the Portuguese kings all universities of two major cities Porto and Coimbra gather for a procession.
Students clothe the University form and hold tiny ribbons in the hands. The parade follows the decorated car. In the car there are university graduates. Freshmen follow the car singing songs in praise of science. The ribbons are burnt at the end of the celebrations.
Despite the fact that in every country the Students’ Day is celebrated on different days, there is International Students' Day. It is celebrated on 17 November. The holiday was established in 1941 in London at an international meeting of students in memory of Czech students-patriots.
We congratulate MAI students with the Students’ Day and wish to have good holidays and new forces to return to their studies!
