Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945
You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Ukrainian. (May 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 (Ukrainian: День па́м'яті та перемо́ги над наци́змом у Дру́гій світові́й війні́ 1939 – 1945 ро́кі́в, romanized: Den pamiati ta peremohy nad natsyzmom u Druhii svitovii viini 1939 – 1945 rokiv) is a national holiday and non-working day in Ukraine established in 2023.[1] Its first celebration was in 2024.[2][1] The holiday is celebrated on May 8 and has replaced Victory Day over Nazism in World War II that was previously celebrated on May 9, from 2015 to 2023.[3][1]
Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 | |
---|---|
![]() The official symbol for the holiday is the Remembrance poppy. | |
Official name | Ukrainian: День пам'яті та перемоги над нацизмом у Другій світовій війні 1939 – 1945 років |
Also called | Day of Remembrance and Victory |
Observed by | ![]() |
Date | May 8 |
Next time | 8 May 2025 |
Frequency | Annual |
First time | 8 May 2024 |
Related to | Ukraine during World War II |
History
editAccording to opinion polling by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, in 2010, almost 60% of Ukrainians considered Victory Day (the holiday that commemorated the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945) one of the biggest holidays.[4] In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, only 13% of Ukrainians were ready to celebrate May 9.[4]
On May 8, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree according to which Ukraine celebrates Europe Day on May 9,[5][6] 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.[7] In a speech that day Zelenskyy stated that "We are returning to our state an honest history without ideological admixtures."[4] He also stressed that "It was on May 8 that the Act of Unconditional Surrender of the Wehrmacht entered into force."[4]
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.[1][8]
On June 12, 2023, President Zelenskyy signed this law.[9]
On 8 May 2024 the new holiday was first celebrated.[2]
Symbols
editThe official symbol of celebration of both Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 and the Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for the Fallen 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 official motto is "1939—1945. We remember, We prevail!" (Ukrainian: 1939-1945. Пам’ятаємо. Перемагаємо: "Pamiataiemo. Peremahaiemo")
Public opinion
editAccording to a study conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in February 2024, 11% of Ukrainians celebrate Victory Day as the most popular holiday, while Christmas is 70%, Easter is 68% and New Year is 47%. Sociologists note that in 2010, Victory Day on May 9 was one of the most important holidays, as 58% of Ukrainians thought so. However, already in 2021, only 30% of Ukrainians considered it an important holiday. The decline in the popularity of Victory Day in Ukraine is explained by the fact that this day is very actively celebrated in Russia as a militaristic holiday.[10][11][12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Victory Day Celebration On May 9 Canceled In Ukraine". Ukrainian News Agency. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
"Rada sets Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism on May 8". Ukrinform. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023. - ^ a b "Ukraine hit by 'massive' attack on energy grid". BBC News. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
"The airstrikes came on the day Ukraine commemorates victory over Nazism in World War Two, something that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy emphasised in an address on Telegram along with the February 2022 invasion". The Guardian. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
"Zelenskyy presents awards to families of fallen Heroes of Ukraine on Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism – video". Ukrainska Pravda. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
"Zelenskyy calls Putin a Nazi after Russia launches over 50 missiles and 20 drones in nighttime attack". Ukrainska Pravda. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024. - ^ Ukraine celebrates Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation (Video), UNIAN (8 May 2017)
- ^ a b c d 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 повертаємо нашій державі чесну історію: Зеленський звернувся до українців у День пам'яті та примирення. Відео]. Obozrevatel (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-05-30.
- ^ "Україна щорічно 9 травня відзначатиме День Європи - 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. 8 May 2023. 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 Україні відзначатимуть День Європи, 8 травня - День пам'яті та перемоги над нацизмом у Другій світовій війні - Зеленський". Інтерфакс-Україна (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. 8 May 2023. 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'яті та перемоги над нацизмом зробили офіційним вихідним". 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.
- ^ Свобода, Радіо (2024-05-08). "Важливість Дня перемоги серед українців знизилась на майже 50% за останні 10 років – КМІС". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ "Прес-релізи та звіти - СТАВЛЕННЯ УКРАЇНЦІВ ДО СВЯТ 1 ТРАВНЯ (ДЕНЬ ПРАЦІ) І 9 ТРАВНЯ (ДЕНЬ ПЕРЕМОГИ) З 2010 ДО 2024 РОКУ". www.kiis.com.ua. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ "KIIS: The importance of Victory Day among Ukrainians has decreased by almost 50% over the past 10 years". Odesa Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
External links
edit- Media related to Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 at Wikimedia Commons