October 22 is the holiday of "White Cranes". History and features of the holiday

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

October 22 is the holiday of the White Cranes. This memorable day is known not only throughout Russia and the CIS countries, but also far beyond their borders. The great holiday is dedicated to the memory of soldiers who died on the battlefields of the Great Patriotic War and were buried in mass graves. Such a poetic name appeared thanks to the poem of the same name by R. Gamzatov. It was he who became the founder of this wonderful memorable day.

About the author

The poet was born in September 1923 in the village of Tsada, located in Dagestan. Poet and laureate of the State Prize of the Soviet Union.

He graduated from the Aran school and the Avar Pedagogical College. Upon graduation, he worked as a teacher, then as an assistant director, staff correspondent in the Bolshevik Gory newspaper, and was an editor in the radio committee of Dagestan. Since 1945 he began studying at the Institute. Maxim Gorky in Moscow. Since 1951, Rasul Gamzatovich served as chairman of the Writers' Union of Dagestan. He stayed in this position until the end of his life. Gamzatov began his career at the age of nine. Very early his poemsfound their way into newspapers and magazines. The first collection of poems was published in 1943 in the Avar language. Many of his works later became songs.

Rasul Gamzatovich has a lot of government awards, titles and prizes. His name is widely known outside of Russia and the CIS countries. The writer died in 2003, he was buried near Mount Tarki-Tau, next to his wife's grave.

History of the White Cranes holiday

October 22 marks one of the saddest holidays, honoring the memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War. But why exactly did the cranes become a symbol of the celebration? The tribute to the soldiers takes place on 22 October. The poet Gamzatov Rasul Gamzatovich proposed to celebrate the White Cranes Holiday. He is the author of the poem "Cranes" of the same name.

Initially, this day was celebrated only in Dagestan, but very soon many cities and countries of our vast Motherland took over the baton. The poem written by Gamzatov has also undergone changes. The poet wrote in the initial version the line: “It seems to me sometimes that horsemen…”, which was later changed. The initiator of this change was Mark Bernes - the first performer of the song. The deep meaning of this penetrating work made a great impression on the songwriter. The singer suggested changing the word "jigits" to a synonym - "soldiers". It was in this version that the song was heard by a huge audience. The lines of the song became the epigraph for the holiday.

In Dagestan, honoring takes place in the village of Gunib. It is here that representatives of various nations try to come on October 22. The White Cranes Festival isa symbol of endless peace and solidarity in many fraternal countries and republics.

The impetus for writing the poem was a sad event that occurred in Japan, which the poet visited. In August 1945, the atomic bomb hit Hiroshima.

Tens of thousands of people were injured in the explosion. So, one little girl, who was only 8 years old, named Sadako Sasaki, became a victim of radiation sickness. According to Japanese tradition, if a sick person makes a thousand origami cranes, tsuru, he will recover. Sadako tried her best to make a thousand paper cranes, but managed only 644. This story struck the poet to the core, and he wrote the poem "White Cranes".

In August 1986, a monument depicting cranes was unveiled for the first time. The grand opening took place in Dagestan. At the heart of his composition are cranes. This first "crane" monument was the starting point for the celebration of the days of the "White Cranes".

Crane Symbol

Why exactly is the crane the symbol of this poetic holiday? In many cultures, the white crane is the personification of spirituality, peace, light and warmth. In Japan, this is the personification of longevity, in China - a symbol of immortality, in Christianity - integrity and patience, among African peoples - the messenger of the gods. In the Caucasus, it is said that the souls of soldiers who died in battle turn into snow-white cranes and soar up.

In many cultures, the crane is an intermediary between the worlds of people and gods. He is a bright signliberation and immortality, symbolizing peace and prosperity.

Poetic Solidarity

Annually invites the literary holiday "White Cranes" on October 22 to schools, libraries, universities, clubs of writers and poets, and many other institutions in our country and abroad.

The epithet of the celebration is Gamzatov's poem "White Cranes". Events are opened with the lines of this creation, they are immortalized in tombstones. Traditionally, the White Cranes holiday takes place on October 22nd. The script is written using a huge number of poems. These poetic sketches are dedicated to the soldiers who gave their lives in the battles for their Motherland.

Immortalized in stone

In 2009, UNESCO proclaimed: October 22 - White Cranes Festival, adding it to the international list of memorable events. This is a celebration of solidarity and a poetic song about fallen soldiers around the world. The meaning of this memorable date was to honor the memory of the innocent soldiers who died during various wars around the world, which, unfortunately, continue to this day.. The holiday served as the beginning of the creation of "crane" monuments throughout the vast world.

White Cranes Festival - October 22

Photos of "crane" monuments you can see on this page. In 1986, the first such monument was opened in the village of Gunib. Every year, on October 22, honors are held at the memorial for soldiers who did not return from the battlefields. Here, under the white Russian birches,the soldiers of the Apsheron regiment and the highlanders of Shamil are buried.

In 1980, a memorial was opened in St. Petersburg called "Cranes".

In Saratov there is the highest "crane" monument on Sokolovskaya mountain. The opening took place in 1982 on May 9th. The design consists of 5 levels, each of which symbolizes the city, for the liberation of which the Saratov people fought. Three forty-meter arrows are framed by cranes as a symbol of freedom and purity.

In 2015, in honor of the celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the Great Victory over the Nazis, a memorial called "White Cranes" was erected in Astrakhan.

It is located in Victory Square. The stele, fourteen meters high, gives a run to the cranes, soaring up above the monument. It is a symbol of infinity and purity.

Interesting facts

After the opening of the first "crane" monument in Dagestan, commemorative sculptures depicting soaring cranes began to be erected throughout the country and beyond. Nineteen such monuments are best known in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Dagestan and many other countries and republics. After Mark Bernes performed the song "White Cranes", its popularity began to grow outside the country. The event became especially popular due to the inclusion of this significant day inUNESCO list. British artist Mark Almond recorded a single in English called "The Storks". In 2008, the Polish band "Majdanek W altz" recorded the song "Zurawi".

Conclusion

Be sure to visit the "crane" monument on October 22. The holiday of the White Cranes symbolizes not only the bright memory of the dead soldiers, but also the hope for a bright peaceful time. Honor the feat of ordinary soldiers defending their native lands and our mighty state.