Europe Day 2014. How is the holiday celebrated in Ukraine?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

In Russia, every schoolchild knows that May 9th is Victory Day. But his peer from Western Europe will not agree with him. And not because in France or Italy they do not honor the bright date of the capitulation of fascist Germany. It's just that Victory Day in Europe is celebrated a day earlier than ours. It was on May 8, 1945 that Alfred Jodl, a German general, signed the act of surrender of the Third Reich. This document marked the end of the most terrible war in world history. And what about the next day? When festive fireworks thunder in the sky above our cities on May 9, "they" also celebrate the anniversary of a significant event. It's Europe Day. "What kind of holiday is this?" - they will surprise us. And they doubt. Is this not an attempt to alter, distort the meaning of the victory over fascism, with which our grandfathers fought? Not at all. By the way, not only our grandfathers fought with the Third Reich, but also the ancestors of modern Europeans and Americans. And it is still unknown what the outcome of the war would have been if it were not for the troops of the allies of the USSR. But now it's not about that. Let's talk about Europe Day. What is this holiday, when is it celebrated and how.

History of Europe Day

As Hegel said, history moves in a dialectical spiral. There are certain dates that are key. Take at least the latest history of Ukraine. On November 21, 2004, the Orange Revolution began, and ten years later, Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU in Vilnius. What came of it - you know. The beginning of May is no less significant time for Europe. Four years after World War II ended, a momentous event took place. On May 5, the Council of Europe was created. In 1964, this date was approved as a holiday. Victory Day summed up the long history of the separation of the European peoples into two warring camps. In 1985, the EU's prototype, the European Community, adopted the symbols: the flag, the anthem and the day. Statesmen opted for May 9th. It was then, on the date of the Schuman Declaration, that Europe Day is celebrated.

Why May 9th?

As we have already noted, May 5, 1949 is the founding day of the Council of Europe. It was the only holiday dedicated to the idea of the unity of the peoples of the continent for a whole year. On May 9, 1950, Foreign Minister Robert Schuman spoke at a briefing for journalists, where he announced the main provisions of the previously adopted treaty. According to this document, such previously irreconcilable opponents as France and Germany, as well as Italy and the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) agreed to unite the coal and steel industries of their states. This performance inlater became known as the Schuman Declaration. To commemorate this date, which gave impetus to the formation of the European Union, on May 9, 1985, a meeting of governments was organized in Milan, at which the EU flag was adopted - the same one, blue, with stars going around. And in 2008, this date was officially approved as a holiday - Europe Day.

Why is the ECSC so important?

How could a purely economic agreement on the unification of industries play such a paramount role that the date of its signing became an international holiday? In the modern world, politics, alas, permeates all areas of public life. Until 1950, European countries were afraid of Germany. What if revanchist moods triumph in the state? Germany's "economic miracle" frightened its neighbors. At the same time, such an attitude towards Germany held back the growth of its potential in the international market. The steel and coal industries are the two pillars on which the military-industrial complex rested in those days. The creation of a supranational structure, called the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), solved the notorious "German question". All countries participating in the agreement were subordinate to the Supreme Council, headed by an elected president (Jean Monnet, a close associate of Schuman, became in 1952). Since that day, countries have been able to mutually control their military power, and this has become a guarantee of peace on the continent. This is also why Europe Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the victory over fascism. Such are the parallels.

Isweekend holiday?

In October 2008, the European Parliament officially recognized May 9 as a holiday. But the fifth day of the last month of spring was not forgotten. 5 May highlights the Council of Europe's role in protecting the rule of law, human rights and parliamentary democracy. But the date is not always the same. When Europe Day is celebrated is left to the discretion of the government of a particular country. It is celebrated in all EU countries. But in the UK, due to Euroskepticism among citizens, this day goes unnoticed. But it is celebrated in some countries that only apply for EU membership - in Turkey, Croatia, Ukraine, Macedonia. In most EU countries, May 5 or 9 is declared a public holiday. But sometimes the celebration is combined with work or moved to Saturday.

How this date is celebrated

Europe Day has become a symbol of the activation of a new successful model of cooperation between states. This peaceful coexistence is based on common values and interests. Until the 2000s, the celebration was predominantly cultural in nature. There were art exhibitions, concerts and other similar events. But since the EU began to acquire new members, the holiday has gradually gained political overtones. This day was also celebrated in the candidate countries. There, the main emphasis is placed on the choice of citizens of the vector of European integration. In countries that have long been full members of the EU, local differences are demonstrated, which should allay fears among skeptics about the impact of globalization on the identity of individual countries. Yes, on the dayEurope 2014 hosted cultural and entertainment programs and sports events, conferences and public debates throughout. Television appearances by political and public figures are also popular.

How to spend a long weekend in Europe

In our country, the period from May 1 to May 10 is almost two weeks, if not complete idleness, then a relaxed mode of operation. And if you add the accumulated days off to these days, you get the second mini-vacation. How to make the most of it? You can go to tropical countries where the hot summer is already in full swing - to Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey. But do not forget that spring is a great time to visit the countries of Central and Western Europe. Moreover, in the first decade of May, an atmosphere of fun reigns there. In many countries, 1-2, as well as 7-9 of this month are days off. Europe is celebrating the day of solidarity of workers, the anniversary of the victory over fascism, and many other equally joyful events. Interesting performances, concerts, festivals are held everywhere.

Europe Blitz Vacation

Well, if you can't escape for a week or two from working days, you can take advantage of special offers from various travel agencies. Inexpensive, but very full of impressions vacation give weekend tours. Europe is really so close! Only 2-3 hours - and you are already in Paris, visiting the castles of the Loire and riding with your children on the attractions of Disneyland. Or in the Kingdom of tulips and windmillsmills - beautiful Holland. Or in Munich, tasting beer and looking around castles against the backdrop of snow-capped Alpine peaks. You can choose a bus tour - a great opportunity to inexpensively see several countries in one fell swoop. By the way, Victory Day in Europe is celebrated on a no lesser scale than ours. But St. George's ribbons are not customary to wear there. Well, this is understandable, because the symbol is Russian.

Europe Day in Ukraine

The date is special for this country. This state is the only one in Eastern Europe where the holiday is celebrated at the official level. Back in 2003, President Leonid Kuchma signed Decree No. 339 of April 19, according to which the third Saturday of May was declared a Europe Day holiday in Ukraine. The main goal of all events dedicated to this date was, as the document says, to demonstrate the desire for rapprochement with the EU countries. Every year, large-scale celebrations were held on this day, and not only in the capital, but also in various parts of the country. But usually officialdom boiled down to the fact that on Khreshchatyk Street in Kyiv that day a “European town” grew out of exhibition pavilions. There, each EU member state represented its country.

Ukrainian Europe Day-2014

Recent political events have made the holiday more significant, one might say, symbolic. After all, we do not forget: the revolution began also due to the fact that Yanukovych V. F., who was then the president of the country, refused, despite numerous promises to his people and foreign partners,sign the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. Therefore, the current celebrations of Europe Day were especially large-scale. The third Saturday this year was May 17th. But they began to celebrate the holiday in Kyiv on the 11th. The official opening of the Day of Europe was held on the capital's Mikhailovskaya Square. Moreover, the events were organized not only by the European Commission, but also by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. Three days later, the holiday was celebrated in Odessa, Lvov and other cities of the country.

How do we celebrate this holiday

In Moscow on the third Saturday of May, the festival "Days of Europe in Moscow" starts annually. The organizers of this event are the Delegation of the European Commission in the Russian Federation, the Moscow Student Center and the Moscow City Committee for Public Relations. Ambassadors of all EU countries are invited to the celebration. Members of the Moscow government also take part in it. Festival guests are told about scholarship programs in the EU countries. In general, in our country this holiday is not exactly the same as Europe Day in Ukraine. But it also has a lot of educational and useful points. Citizens of our country can understand that Europe is not an enemy, but a partner of Russia.