Ukrainian national holiday and day off
Victory Day over Nazism
in World War II
|
---|
|
Official name
| Ukrainian
:
День перемоги над нацизмом у Друг?й св?тов?й в?йн?
|
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Observed by
|
Ukraine
|
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Date
| 9 May
|
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Frequency
| annual
|
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First time
| 9 May 2015
|
---|
Last time
| 9 May 2023
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Victory Day over Nazism in World War II
(
Ukrainian
:
День перемоги над нацизмом у Друг?й св?тов?й в?йн?
,
romanized
:
Den peremohy nad natsyzmom u Druhii svitovii viini
) was a national holiday and a non-working day in
Ukraine
from 2015 to 2023.
The holiday was first celebrated on 9 May 2015 and followed the
Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation
on 8 May (which paid tribute to
the victims of World War II
and was also first celebrated in 2015).
[1]
The holiday replaced
Victory Day
, which is celebrated in other
post-Soviet states
.
On May 8, 2023,
Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
submitted to the
Verkhovna Rada
(Ukraine's national parliament) a bill establishing May 8, the
Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 ? 1945
. On May 29, 2023, parliament made the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 ? 1945 on May 8 as a public holiday, canceling the Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on May 9.
History
[
edit
]
On April 9, 2015, the
Ukrainian parliament
approved a set of
decommunization
laws which included the annulment of the
Soviet
law commonly cited as the "Law of Perpetuation of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945", which had established
Victory Day
as a Ukrainian holiday. The holiday was replaced with a new holiday, officially named "Victory Day over Nazism in World War II".
[2]
According to Ukraine's decommunization laws, both
Communist
and
Nazi
symbols
have been prohibited in Ukraine
since May 15th, 2015,
[3]
which means that
Soviet
symbols may not be used during the celebration of this holiday. The term "
Great Patriotic War
" was itself removed from all official
Ukrainian legislation
shortly after the change of holiday,
[4]
[5]
and, while not illegal, the phrase "Great Patriotic War" is rarely used due to its frequent use by the USSR, and later, the Russian Federation, with Ukrainian institutions preferring the phrase "World War II".
Ukraine has also worked to shift the narrative of the holiday away from a glorification of war and conflict and instead to "celebrate personal histories", with an aim to "honor, rather than celebrate" the events of the war, in a manner more similar to the
United Kingdom's
Remembrance Day
than to Russia's Victory Day.
[6]
On May 8, 2023,
Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
signed a decree according to which Ukraine celebrates
Europe Day
on May 9,
[7]
[8]
and submitted to the
Verkhovna Rada
(Ukraine's national parliament) a bill establishing May 8, the
Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 ? 1945
, as a day off instead of Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on May 9.
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
On May 29, 2023, the Verkhovna Rada made the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 ? 1945 on May 8 as a public holiday, canceling the Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on May 9.
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
On June 12, 2023, President Zelenskyy signed this law.
[17]
According to opinion polling by
Kyiv International Institute of Sociology
, in 2010 almost 60% of citizens considered Victory Day one of the biggest holidays while in 2022, only 13% of Ukrainians were ready to celebrate May 9.
[18]
9 May as a triple anniversary
[
edit
]
While 9 May is the general commemoration of the termination of the Second World War and the allied victory in Europe and North Africa, in Ukraine it is in recent years a triple anniversary aside from Europe Day being marked on said date - 9 May being the date of the
1920 Kyiv Polish-Ukrainian victory parade
during the
Ukrainian War of Independence
, the first ever military parade in modern times to be held in the capital following the Polish-Ukrainian
Kyiv offensive
. No major commemorations of the parade have been held so far, however.
Celebrations by year
[
edit
]
2015
[
edit
]
The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory have published teaching materials in advance and recommended the holiday be celebrated in a new format. Despite the fact that the law "About perpetuation of the victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 - 1945" officially did not came into force, the holiday in Ukraine officially was celebrated in a format different from Russian formats of celebration of "
Victory Day
". On this day there were ceremony of laying flowers at monuments to unknown soldiers of the
Red Army
, in
Kyiv
- a peace march involving military brass bands from Ukraine,
Estonia
,
Jordan
,
Lithuania
,
Poland
, and
Serbia
. It was after the ceremony of oath of cadets in the presence of the
President of Ukraine
Petro Poroshenko
.
[19]
[20]
The day before, Poroshenko delivered a speech to a
Verkhovna Rada
filled with veterans of the Red Army, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army,
Anti-Terrorist Operation
veterans, as well as former presidents of Ukraine (
Leonid Kravchuk
,
Leonid Kuchma
and
Viktor Yushchenko
) and
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Ban Ki-moon
.
[21]
For this memorable day the
President of Ukraine
established a state award by his order - the anniversary Medal "70 Years of Victory over Nazism".
[22]
2016
[
edit
]
2016 was the first year that the holiday was celebrated as an official holiday (although the first celebrations took place the year before, the law establishing the holiday was adopted a couple days after 9 May).
[23]
2017
[
edit
]
More than 30,000 police officers were deployed to monitor holiday marches. The 72nd anniversary celebrations coincides with the ceremonies for the
Eurovision Song Contest
in Kyiv.
[24]
2019
[
edit
]
President-elect
Volodymyr Zelensky
arranged a meeting in
Zaporizhia
of a veteran
Red Army
Captain and a veteran of the
Ukrainian Insurgent Army
.
[25]
2020
[
edit
]
The 2020 celebrations in honor of the
diamond jubilee
were cancelled by order of Prime Minister
Denys Shmyhal
in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
.
[26]
On 7 May,
Mayor of Kyiv
Vitali Klitschko
announced the organization of a planned event in the Park of Eternal Glory with a high security presence.
[
citation needed
]
President Zelensky went on a working visit to the
Luhansk Oblast
where he visited an urban settlement that is divided by the border between Ukraine and
Russia
. In the settlement, he visited the memorial complex "Ukraine to the Liberators".
[27]
He also visited the
Zakarpattia Oblast
, where he also laid flowers at the "Hill of Glory" memorial complex.
[28]
During his holiday address on 9 May, he paid tribute to Ukrainians who fought during the war, including
Crimean Tatar
Amet-Khan Sultan
, American military personnel
Alex M. Diachenko
and
Michael Strank
, as well as
Hero of the Soviet Union
Ivan Kozhedub
.
[29]
Zelensky also announced the creation of memorial project, which would involve the placement of bells in the four corners of Ukraine.
[30]
2023
[
edit
]
To mark the 78th anniversary of Victory in Europe, President Zelensky stated that from 2023 onwards, May 8 will be the new date of the formal commemoration of victory over Nazism in World War II, in line with celebrations of
Victory in Europe Day
in the European Union and with commemorations in the USA and Canada, with May 9 being earmaked as
Europe Day
in its stead as a commemoration of the 1950 formation of the EU ? all as a reaction to the Russian invasion the previous year, a break of the former precedence, and a show of gratitude to the countries that have helped Ukraine resist Russia and its allies. May 8 will remain, though, as the date of the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation and thus the two holidays were to be merged as one. A Presidential Decree to formalize the transfer of Victory Day to May 8 and renew the Europe Day holiday on May 9 was signed in
Kyiv
that day.
Symbols
[
edit
]
The official symbol of celebration of both Victory Day over Nazism in World War II and
Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation
is the
red poppy
(
remembrance poppy
) flower, which is the common symbol of the memorable days of
Second World War
all over the world (more recognizable in the British Commonwealth of Nations). It has been used in Ukraine in its own styling developed by
Kharkiv
designer Serhii Mishakin. The motto of both days is "
1939?1945. We remember. We prevail
" (
Ukrainian
:
1939-1945. Пам’ята?мо. Перемага?мо
: "Pamyataemo. Peremahaemo").
[6]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Ukraine celebrates Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation (Video)
,
UNIAN
(8 May 2017)
- ^
Ukraine celebrates Day of Victory over Nazism in World War II
,
UNIAN
(9 May 2016)
- ^
Poroshenko signed the laws about decomunization
.
Ukrayinska Pravda
. 15 May 2015
Poroshenko signs laws on denouncing Communist, Nazi regimes
,
Interfax-Ukraine
. 15 May 2015
- ^
≪Велику В?тчизняну в?йну≫ зам?нили на ≪Другу св?тову≫ ? закон
(in Ukrainian)
. Fakty.
ICTV
. 09.04.2015
- ^
Депутати врегулювали питання про в?дзначення в Укра?н? перемоги над нацизмом
(in Ukrainian)
.
The Ukrainian Week
. 09.04.2015
- ^
a
b
День Перемоги в Укра?н? в?дзначають за новою традиц??ю
. ОГО. 09.05.2015
- ^
"Укра?на щор?чно 9 травня в?дзначатиме День ?вропи - указ президента"
.
www.eurointegration.com.ua
(in Ukrainian)
. Retrieved
2023-05-08
.
- ^
"President's Decree declares May 9 as Europe Day in Ukraine"
.
www.ukrinform.net
. Retrieved
2023-05-08
.
- ^
Piper, Elizabeth (2023-05-08).
"Ukraine moves day to mark Nazi surrender in shift towards West"
.
Reuters
. Retrieved
2023-05-08
.
- ^
"9 травня в Укра?н? в?дзначатимуть День ?вропи, 8 травня - День пам'ят? та перемоги над нацизмом у Друг?й св?тов?й в?йн? - Зеленський"
.
?нтерфакс-Укра?на
(in Ukrainian)
. Retrieved
2023-05-08
.
- ^
Service, RFE/RL's Ukrainian.
"Zelenskiy Declares May 9 'Europe Day' Ahead Of Russia's World War II Anniversary"
.
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
. Retrieved
2023-05-08
.
- ^
"Zelensky Makes Pointed Putin Move Ahead of Russia's Victory Day Parade"
.
MSN
. Retrieved
2023-05-08
.
- ^
Service, RFE/RL's Russian.
"Ukrainian Lawmakers Move Victory Day From May 9 To May 8"
.
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
. Retrieved
2023-05-29
.
- ^
"In Ukraine, May 8 officially to be Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism"
.
english.nv.ua
. Retrieved
2023-05-29
.
- ^
"Rada adopts law on Day of Remembrance, Victory over Nazism in Second World War"
.
Interfax-Ukraine
. Retrieved
2023-05-29
.
- ^
"День пам'ят? та перемоги над нацизмом зробили оф?ц?йним вих?дним"
.
espreso.tv
(in Ukrainian)
. Retrieved
2023-05-29
.
- ^
"Zelenskyy signs law recognising 8 May as Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism"
.
Ukrainska Pravda
. Retrieved
2023-06-12
.
- ^
Ганюкова, Ольга (2023-05-08).
"
"We are returning an honest history to our state": Zelensky addressed Ukrainians on the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation. Video"
[
Ми поверта?мо наш?й держав? чесну ?стор?ю
: Зеленський звернувся до укра?нц?в у День пам'ят? та примирення. В?део].
Obozrevatel
(in Ukrainian)
. Retrieved
2023-05-30
.
- ^
Наша кра?на в?дзнача? День Перемоги у Друг?й св?тов?й в?йн?
(in Ukrainian)
.
Dzerkalo Tyzhnia
. 09.05.2015
- ^
Як Укра?на в?дзнача? 70-р?ччя перемоги над нацизмом. Марафон
(in Ukrainian)
.
Espreso TV
. 09.05.2015
- ^
"Ветерани Червоно? арм??, УПА та геро? АТО разом на Дн? пам'ят? та примирення"
.
Рад?о Свобода
(in Ukrainian)
. Retrieved
2020-10-28
.
- ^
УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРА?НИ № 249/2015 Про встановлення в?дзнаки Президента Укра?ни ? юв?лейно? медал? "70 рок?в Перемоги над нацизмом"
.
President of Ukraine
(in Ukrainian). president.gov.ua. 29 April 2015. Archived from
the original
on 7 June 2015
. Retrieved
29 May
2015
.
- ^
"Ukraine celebrates Day of Victory over Nazism in World War II | UNIAN"
.
www.unian.info
.
- ^
"Ukraine police arrest dozens at tense Victory Day events"
.
www.irishtimes.com
.
- ^
"A meeting of a LIAISON UPA and a veteran of the Soviet army was arranged in the city of zelensky - PHOTOS"
.
www.061.ua
. May 8, 2019
. Retrieved
2020-10-28
.
- ^
"Ukraine To Skip This Year's WWII Victory Day Celebrations Amid Pandemic - Prime Minister"
.
UrduPoint
.
- ^
"On the Ukrainian-Russian border, President honored the memory of those killed in World War II"
.
Official website of the President of Ukraine
.
- ^
"Zelensky honors memory of fallen soldiers who liberated Ukraine from Nazi invaders (Photo)"
.
www.unian.info
.
- ^
"Address by the President on the Day of Victory over Nazism in the Second World War"
.
Official website of the President of Ukraine
.
- ^
"Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces memorial project: bells-symbols will be placed in four corners of Ukraine"
.
Official website of the President of Ukraine
.
Sources
[
edit
]