December 18 - Day of Civil Registry Officers: history and traditions of the holiday

Every year on December 18, employees of civil registry offices celebrate their professional holiday. This service helps Russians to document the most significant events: births, family formation and passing away. In 2024, the holiday falls on Wednesday. On the history of the creation of the agency and the traditions of the celebration read in the material "Izvestia".

History of the Day of civil registry workers, celebrated on December 18

The festive date is timed to an important event - December 18, 1917 was signed a decree "On civil marriage, children and on the maintenance of state books", which laid the foundation for the state system of civil registration in Soviet Russia. This structure is considered to be one of the oldest and most important in our country - in 2024 the Civil Registry Office will celebrate 107 years since its foundation.

Before the October Revolution of 1917, all civil status acts were conducted by churches. Parish priests recorded data on believers, their births, marriages and deaths in metric books, which served as official documents. Records included information about parents, godparents, place of residence, and other details. The reliability of the information was controlled by diocesan offices, and in case of problems or lost documents, the church mediated the recovery of the data.

After the revolution of 1917, the state began to actively push the church out of all spheres of public life. In December of the same year, the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR created a system of civil registry offices that did not depend on religious institutions. Registration of marriages and divorces, records of births, deaths, adoptions and name changes, and the keeping of official statistics on acts were transferred to their jurisdiction.

In the Soviet Union, civil registries had a strict vertical structure and also performed certain ideological work. Registration of marriages was part of the state policy of family protection, but getting a divorce was much more difficult.

After the collapse of the USSR, the civil registry offices remained structural subdivisions of the executive authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation. Each region was given the right to determine individual features of work.

In modern Russia, civil registry offices continue to perform their basic functions: they issue certificates of birth, marriage and death, make changes to the records, restore lost documents, maintain huge archives with historical and genealogical value. Today, this work is done using digital technology. Most applications, from registration of marriages to obtaining repeated certificates, can be submitted via the Internet on the portal "Gosuservices".

Traditions of celebrating the Day of Civil Registry Officers in 2024

On December 18 in many regions of Russia are held solemn meetings, concerts and festive receptions, where employees of the civil registry office are honored. The best workers are awarded with certificates of honor, certificates of appreciation from the executive authorities.

Also on this day there are thematic events, such as ceremonies of simultaneous registration of marriages or births, charity events. In a number of Russian cities civil registration departments organize open days, exhibitions of archival documents and photographs.

Congratulations on the Day of Civil Registry Officers

On December 18, congratulations are extended to all citizens employed in the civil registry system - from heads of regional offices to ordinary employees who work in the field every day. Here are some examples of how it can be done:

"Dear employees of civil registry offices, we congratulate you on your professional holiday! You keep and create history, record important moments in people's lives. Let your labor brings only joy and satisfaction!"

"We congratulate you on your professional holiday, the Day of Civil Registry Officers! Your work is a huge responsibility and service to people. Thank you for your dedication and professionalism. We wish you good health, happiness and success in your important work!"

"Dear employees of the civil registry office! Please accept sincere congratulations on your professional holiday! Your labor is an important part of every person's life: you accompany in the most important moments. Thank you for your responsibility and attentiveness".

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