Why do airborne troops bathe in fountains? holiday tradition

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

The motto of the Airborne Forces: "No one but us!" It reflects the fighting spirit, strength, reliability and courage of the paratroopers. Every year on August 2, the troops of "Uncle Vasya" celebrate their holiday. The streets are filled with strong men in blue berets and vests. Why does the Airborne Forces have a tradition of bathing in a fountain? Where did it come from?

A little about the history of the holiday

The holiday of the airborne troops originates in 1930, when on August 2 a small unit of 12 people successfully landed near the city of Voronezh and completed its combat mission. The unit was led by military pilots L. G. Minov and Ya. D. Mogavsky.

Well, now let's move on to the question that concerns many: why do the Airborne Forces bathe in fountains on August 2?

This strange tradition

The tradition of swimming in the fountain on Airborne Forces Day has several very different versions of origin: from serious and romantic to funny and ridiculous. Let's take a look at them.

Connection with church holiday

August 2 is also Ilyin's day. Ilya the Prophet was considered among the Slavs the lord of rain and thunder. The paratroopers consider this saint to be their patron,assuming he's clearing the sky for them to make a good jump. Washing with spring water on August 2 was considered a tribute to the saint, and at the same time a rite of protection from all sorts of failures. After the Great Patriotic War, the tradition of washing was transformed into full immersion in water, and then smoothly flowed into bathing in a fountain.

Demonstration of one's own invulnerability

According to an old legend, everyone who dared to enter the water on August 2 was dragged to the bottom by mermen and mermaids. They also used to say that if you swim on Ilyin's day, then a serious illness cannot be avoided. The paratroopers, famous for their good he alth, courage and readiness to face danger, challenged this sign and showed that they are not afraid of any diseases, and Aquarius and mermaids themselves are afraid of them.

Good shot

The next version of why people bathe in fountains on the day of the Airborne Forces is connected with a funny story. Once, having celebrated their holiday too strongly, several paratroopers, who were pretty tipsy, fell into the fountain. Their friends naturally rushed to help. Onlookers immediately began to pay attention to an interesting spectacle, then the police, as we used to call them today, joined in. Among the passers-by was an amateur photographer who, without thinking twice, captured what was happening on his camera. In order not to lose face, the paratroopers announced a tradition of swimming in fountains, which attracted many VDVs.

Love

Another explanation is that the sky is reflected in the water. Therefore, for paratroopersswimming in the fountains on the day of the Airborne Forces means expressing boundless love for your element.

Seize the chance

In Russia, it was also believed that Ilyin's day is the end of summer. On this day, you can swim for the last time. And the paratroopers were not used to missing the last chance, so they could not stay away here either.

Why the fountain?

Many explanations that make it possible to understand why on the day of the Airborne Forces to swim in the fountain, they say that it is the process of dipping into the water that is important. Why do paratroopers prefer to swim in fountains without fail?

It all started from Moscow. The capital has always been and remains today the most progressive city in our country. The number of its inhabitants is enormous, and, of course, there are many paratroopers among them. Naturally, many of them knew about the tradition of washing on August 2, and not all apartments had water, so the paratroopers went to the baths with their colleagues and paratrooper friends, and then smoothly “climbed” into the fountains, because they don’t need to pay more.

Other holiday traditions

Why the Airborne Forces bathe in fountains seems to have been figured out. But there are a number of other traditions, lesser known but seemingly more important.

Watermelons

On August 2, paratroopers prefer to treat themselves to watermelons, and this is no accident. This tradition appeared in the early 90s of the last century. The paratroopers returning from Afghanistan celebrated the holiday with watermelons. Firstly, it could quench your thirst, and secondly, at this time, watermelons are very tasty.

In touch

For each vedevthe morning of the holiday begins with a call to colleagues. Today, however, it can be an SMS message or a message on a social network. In general, this does not really matter, because the main thing is to show that the airborne brotherhood does not tolerate insults, betrayal and never forgets each other.

Third toast

The tradition originated in the 80-90s of the last century. Until that time, the second toast was raised for all the dead, for them they drank a second glass. But the understanding that “alive is alive” came precisely at this time.

No one clinks glasses on the third toast, the right to announce it belongs either to the oldest or the most respected person, and no one supplements his words. The third glass is drunk while standing as a tribute to memory and respect.

Holiday activities

Not a single Airborne Forces Day can do without festive events. Usually the beginning is the paratroopers visiting military memorials and laying flowers on them. Then various demonstration performances are held, clearly showing the strength and power of the Russian paratroopers, and military equipment is also demonstrated. Concerts and charity events dedicated to this day are held in many cities.

Why has the tradition of bathing in the fountain become one of the main ones among the Airborne Forces? Maybe the fact is that their joy on this day knows no bounds? Then the question arises of how worthy the behavior of the "blue berets" on this day.

Decent behavior

Often people who wonder why the Airborne Forces bathe in fountains think of it as an unnecessary and ugly tradition. Indeed, the behavior of some paratroopers or people who have never served in the Airborne Forces, but simply put on a vest and beret (no matter how shameful it may sound), casts doubt on the strength and dignity of the “blue berets.”

However, no one wants the authority of such important troops to fall in the eyes of the nation, so the Union of Russian Paratroopers even created a list of recommendations for the paratrooper to celebrate the Airborne Forces Day, which includes the following provisions:

1. August 1, coordinate with friends the place and time of the gathering, prepare the uniform, because the paratrooper should look neat.
2. Rise on August 2 to accompany with exercises. Don't forget to take your documents with you.
3. On the way to the collection point, buy flowers to be laid at the memorials.
4. Congratulate all familiar and unfamiliar paratroopers on the holiday.
5. If you find "disguised" as paratroopers, drunks or brawlers, hand them over to the police.
6. If it is planned to march in formation, take a seat and participate in the march and all commemorative events.
7. Don't miss out on a holiday show or concert, because it's done primarily for you.
8. Participate in the competitive program, demonstrate your strength exactly there (lift the weight, do push-ups, etc.)
9. Visit with fellow paratroopers a cultural institution where alcohol can be limited to 3 toasts: 1st - for the Airborne Forces, 2nd - for commanders, 3rd- for those who are not with us.
10. Be sure to sing "The Blue Splashed" in chorus
11. Bathing in the fountains is not forbidden, but it must be done with dignity.
12. Escort a friend home if necessary.
13. Arrive at your home, put your uniform in order and put it away for careful storage until the next holiday.
14. August 3 to arrive at the place of work without delay and in a tidy condition.

Some recommendations seem frivolous and comic, but there is some truth in every joke.

Why do airborne troops bathe in fountains? Because it is a tribute to tradition. A real paratrooper will not dive there with a "behemoth", but simply make a bath with cold water. The rest are not even worth mentioning.