March 16 — Day of Housing and Communal Services workers: history, greetings in prose, postcards

On the third Sunday in March, Russia celebrates the Day of Public Service Workers and Housing and Communal Services, also known as the Day of Housing and Communal Services Workers. In 2025, it falls on March 16. Izvestia tells about the history of the holiday and shares congratulations for the culprits of the celebration.

March 16 — Russian Housing and Communal Services Workers' Day: history and traditions

From time immemorial, the improvement of cities and other settlements has worried not only ordinary citizens, but also the state. Nevertheless, the year 1649 is considered to be the starting point of the Russian housing and communal services system. At this time, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich issued a decree "On the city Deanery", which described in detail the duties of officials to ensure order in the territories entrusted to them. In particular, the document prescribed to have a janitor in every house to maintain cleanliness in the yard and preserve household property.

In 1721, Peter the Great transferred all issues of urban economy to the jurisdiction of local police departments. And in 1802, when forming the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Alexander I assigned these functions to the new department. Since then, until the end of the 19th century, the Ministry of Internal Affairs remained the main economic body in the country. There was even a so-called economic police responsible for urban improvement.

In the 20th century, the housing and communal services sector came under state control. In 1946, the Ministry of Public Utilities was established, later renamed the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services of the RSFSR. And in the late 1950s, offices began to open on the lower floors of new buildings, which residents could contact if they needed the help of an electrician, plumber, gas man and other specialists. This is how the first housing and maintenance offices arose.

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In the 1950s and 1970s, the housing and communal services industry was booming. The value of specialists who were able to improve the life of an apartment building and quickly eliminate possible accidents became more and more obvious. Finally, in 1966, a new professional holiday appeared on the calendar — the Day of Trade Workers, Public Services and Housing and Communal Services. It was celebrated every fourth Sunday in July. In 1980, the celebration was fixed by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

For almost half a century, specialists in consumer services and housing and communal services shared one professional date with trade workers. However, in 2013, the President of Russia issued a decree that "separated" these holidays. Now the Day of Trade Workers is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of July, and the Day of Housing and Communal Services Workers is celebrated on the third Sunday of March.

On this holiday, the management of management companies and other organizations related to housing and communal services organizes corporate parties for employees and sends out official congratulations. In some regions, award ceremonies are held for veterans and outstanding industry workers. They are awarded honorary titles, certificates and letters of appreciation.

Concerts and exhibitions are dedicated to housing and communal services workers in large cities. For example, the Museum of Urban Economy at VDNH in Moscow will host a whole range of festive events. Quizzes, lectures, workshops and themed board games are waiting for guests.

Happy Housing and Communal Services Workers' Day: beautiful greetings and postcards

Today, the housing and communal services sector is one of the most significant and rapidly growing. More than 2.27 million people work in this industry in a wide variety of professions: electricians, locksmiths, elevator operators, dispatchers, janitors, gas workers, plumbers and others. Thanks to them, there is always heat, light, water and gas in our country's homes, and clean courtyards, safe playgrounds, well—maintained parks and bright lanterns on the streets. Therefore, it is worth congratulating everyone involved on the holiday. Here's how it can be done:

"Congratulations on the Day of the Housing and Communal Services worker! Let the light bulbs in the entrances always be on, the lawns grow smoothly, the elevators run smoothly, and the water runs freely through the pipes. I wish you good health, patience, optimism and career growth!"

"Dear employees of public services and housing and communal services! Congratulations on your professional holiday! Thank you for keeping our homes cozy, our streets clean, and our squares and parks beautiful day after day. We wish you fruitful work, professional success and grateful clients!"

"Congratulations to all workers of consumer services and housing and communal services on their professional holiday! Every day you give us light, warmth and water, without which our homes would not be so cozy. Therefore, on your day, we wish you to glow with happiness, warm up in the love and attention of your loved ones, bask in the benefits of life and enjoy every day!"

"Today we congratulate the specialists, without whom it is difficult to imagine our life, the workers of consumer services and housing and communal services! We sincerely wish you good health, optimism, inspiration, mental and physical strength. May your work always be appreciated, and may your efforts be rewarded not only with praise, but also with money!"

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of World Consumer Protection Day.