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- January 25 - Tatiana's Day and Student's Day: how the holidays are connected, customs and omens
January 25 - Tatiana's Day and Student's Day: how the holidays are connected, customs and omens
On January 25, Russia celebrates two holidays at once - Tatiana's Day and Student's Day. Both of them combine secular and religious features and in 2025 fall on Saturday. History and traditions of Tatiana's Day, as well as important customs and omens in the Day of the student - in the material "Izvestia".
Tatiana's Day: history and essence of the Orthodox and student holiday
Tatiana's Day on January 25 (January 12, old style) has deep historical and religious roots. This is an Orthodox holiday that is dedicated to the holy martyr Tatiana of Rome. During her life, she became a symbol of faith and self-sacrifice. According to researchers, Tatiana lived approximately in the 3rd century AD.
St. Tatiana was born in Rome into the family of a wealthy and pious Christian. He secretly professed the faith, because in these years the adherents of Christianity were subjected to severe persecution. Tatiana, like her father, decided to devote her life to the service of God, taking a vow of chastity and becoming a deaconess. She helped the poor, cared for the sick and prisoners, and spent all her time in prayer.
During the time of Emperor Alexander Severus (222-235), new persecutions against Christians began. Tatiana was captured and severely tortured for refusing to worship pagan gods. According to legend, angels protected her. She was later beheaded, accepting martyrdom.
In the Orthodox Church, St. Tatiana began to be honored shortly after her death, and January 25 became the day of her memory. Tatiana's Day was closely associated with Russian students in the 18th century, during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. This day gained special significance due to the establishment of Moscow University (MSU).
Count Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov, the patron of sciences and arts, proposed in a petition to the Empress to establish a university of his own in Russia. Elizaveta Petrovna signed the decree on the establishment of Moscow University on January 25, 1755, the day of the memory of St. Tatiana. Count Shuvalov's mother, Tatiana, in whose honor this day was chosen, was considered the unspoken patroness of the event.
Soon St. Tatiana came to be considered the patroness of students. The university church consecrated in her honor is still located on the territory of Moscow University at the corner of Mokhovaya and Bolshaya Nikitskaya Streets.
Gradually, Tatiana's Day became a holiday of all students and teachers. Initially it was an official church holiday, but over the years it acquired more secular features. After the end of classes, students organized merry festivities.
After the revolution of 1917, Tatiana's Day was no longer celebrated, as well as other religious holidays. However, student traditions continued to exist in an unofficial form. In Soviet times, Komsomol evenings and cultural events dedicated to youth and education replaced Tatiana's Day.
In January 2005, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree: "To establish the Day of Russian Students and celebrate it on January 25", from that moment the Day of Students was officially recognized.
On January 25, Orthodox churches hold liturgies dedicated to the memory of St. Tatiana of Rome. Believers pray at her icons and ask for, among other things, success in their studies, protection from troubles and spiritual help. In Russia, the saint was honored as an intercessor for all students. Her icon is kept at home to protect the family and help in difficult situations.
Student Day exists in different countries, and its celebration is associated with several events, not always related to Tatiana's Day. For example, in Bulgaria, students are honored on December 8, the day of the foundation of Sofia University. In Spain and Latin America, the event falls on December 21 in honor of the patron saint of students, St. Thomas Aquinas. In the United States, student holidays vary, most often associated with the end of the school year.
Traditions of celebrating Tatiana's Day
In 1855, after celebrating the centennial of Moscow University, there was a tradition to organize an annual meeting of its graduates on Tatiana's Day. At the end of the XIX century, Emperor Nicholas I issued a decree approving January 25 as an official holiday - the Day of Students of Russia.
According to the descriptions of contemporaries, before the revolution, the celebration of Tatiana's Day as a university holiday was an impressive event for the whole of Moscow. Galina Sundukova, associate professor of the Department of Theory and Organization of Management at GUU, told Izvestia about it.
- First, an official ceremony was held in the assembly hall of the university. Professors, members of the administration, students and graduates who came from all over Russia gathered there. After the prayer service, the academic report and the rector's speech, everyone would stand up and sing "God Save the Tsar!". Then began the unofficial part, which often lasted until morning: a folk party. In Russia, students have always celebrated their holiday in a big way," said the expert.
Anton Chekhov recalled how on January 25, 1884, students "drank everything except the Moscow River, and that only because it froze". Students were allowed a lot on their holiday - even the quartermasters and policemen did not touch the tipsy revelers. There was another tradition: in many educational institutions on this day anyone was allowed to enter the university, to look around the classrooms, to visit libraries and museums.
In Russia on Tatiana's Day it was customary for people to bake loaves in the form of the sun. This was the tradition: to call spring, inviting the heavenly luminary to come back to people as soon as possible and chase away the frosts of Baptism. Each member of the family would eat a piece of the loaf, believing that the sun would give him some of its warmth and energy. Vasily Efremov, head of the sales department of the brand "Tyrolese", told about it in a conversation with the publication.
- Later there was a belief that on this day you should definitely eat something sweet, so that the whole year was easy and carefree. Such a ritual symbolizes the sweetness of life and well-being that will accompany a person throughout the year, - said the expert.
Now each university has its own traditions for the Student's Day. For example, the Moscow State University (MSU) celebrates the birthday of the university on January 25, so every year students are treated to mead. It is brewed according to an ancient monastery recipe and insisted on for 40 days, and on the holiday itself, the rector personally pours it into mugs and treats students, said Sundukova.
Folk and student omens on Tatiana's Day
Young people have their own omens and traditions associated with this holiday. For example, to be lucky in studies, a student is recommended to go to church before the fun, pray to St. Tatiana, and after that have a good time, so that the study later was easy. It is also customary to congratulate familiar Tatiana on her name day.
- Students should not take the garbage out of their room on this day, so that together with it they do not throw away their knowledge. There is a well-known ritual: if there is an exam on Tatiana's Day, then exactly at midnight on the eve you should open a window, look out, shake your report card and shout "Come, come, come" three times," Galina Sundukova said.
According to weather omens, a frosty sunny day on January 25 promises an early spring and a good harvest in the future. Snowfall or blizzard on this day can also portend a rich grain harvest. If a person finds change on this day, it promises financial success. To see a sparrow in the snow - to family prosperity.
If a girl on this day will be joyful and cheerful, the year will pass easily, and her life will be filled with happiness. It is believed that the one who first congratulates the girl with the name Tatiana, will be her faithful friend.
The meaning and mystery of the name Tatiana
The name Tatiana is of ancient Greek origin. It is based on the Greek and Roman names Τατιανός (Tatianos) and Tatius (Tatius). In Roman mythology, Tatius was a legendary king of the Sabines who became an associate of Romulus, the founder of Rome.
The meaning of the name remains a matter of debate. Some researchers translate it as "organizer" or "founder", which is related to the Latin verb tacere ("to manage"). There is also a version that it could mean "belonging to the Tatian family".
The name Tatiana became widespread in the Christian tradition thanks to the holy martyr Tatiana.
The name symbolizes strength, steadfastness and inner harmony. It combines aristocratic nobility and spiritual devotion. Traditionally, it is associated with leadership qualities, the ability to organize, wisdom and subtle perception of the world.
Women with the name Tatiana are multifaceted personalities. They are characterized by resilience, endurance and determination. They are able to achieve their goals, even if the path is long and difficult, are able to inspire others, organize teams and find a way out of difficult situations.
Thanks to a fine inner sense Tatiana often make the right choice and find unexpected solutions. Bearers of the name are able to think outside the box, create something new and extraordinary. Despite the inner strength, Tatiana is often characterized by benevolence, the desire to help others.
Sometimes Tatiana is too confident in their rightness, and this prevents them from listening to the opinion of others. In difficult situations, they can hide their true feelings, which makes them mysterious to others. Sometimes the desire for perfection prevents them from enjoying the result they have achieved.
Tatians often achieve success in a variety of spheres thanks to their talents and perseverance. They can be excellent organizers, leaders, teachers, doctors, artists or writers. Often choose professions where it is possible to show care for people.
In their personal life, Tatians usually strive for harmony and stability. They value honesty and fidelity, which makes them faithful life companions. However, in a partner it is important for them to see an equal - a strong, intelligent and understanding person. In the family Tatiana show themselves as caring wives and mothers, able to create a warm and cozy atmosphere.
In Russian literature, the name Tatiana became especially popular thanks to Alexander Pushkin's poem "Eugene Onegin". Tatiana Larina is a symbol of the Russian soul, femininity, simplicity and inner dignity. In the XIX century, the name was considered quite commonplace, but later acquired a romantic and elevated status. In the XX-XXI centuries, Tatiana remains popular in Russian-speaking countries, although in Europe it is much rarer.
