Victory Day over Nazism in World War II

For other uses, see Victory Day.
Victory Day over Nazism
in World War II

Official symbol is Remembrance poppy
Official name Ukrainian: День перемоги над нацизмом у Другій світовій війні
Observed by  Ukraine
Date 9 May
Next time 9 May 2016 (2016-05-09)
Frequency annual

Victory Day over the Nazism in World War II (Ukrainian: День перемоги над нацизмом у Другій світовій війні) or Victory Day (Ukrainian: День перемоги) is a national holiday and a day off in Ukraine. It was first celebrated on 9 May 2015. The holiday replaced the Soviet "Victory Day", which was celebrated in the Soviet Union and in Ukraine until 2014 inclusive.

Differences of "Victory Day"

Approved set of laws of decommunization cancels the Law of Ukraine "On perpetuation of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945." Due to changes in legislation Soviet symbols can not be used during the celebrating of the holiday. Because since 15 May 2015 Communist and Nazi symbols are prohibited in Ukraine.[1] Besides, the term "Great Patriotic War" was removed from Ukrainian legislation.[2][3] Also in new holiday there is a bias from history of hostilities to histories of certain people and in result honoring instead of celebration.[4]

Celebrating

2015

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 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 - peace march involving military brass bands from Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia. It was after the ceremony of oath of cadets in presence of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.[5][6]

For this memorable day the President of Ukraine established state award by his order - the anniversary medal "70 Years of Victory over Nazism".[7]

Symbols

The official symbol of celebration of Victory Day over nazism in World War II and Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation is red poppy (remembrance poppy) flower, which is the world common symbol of memorable days of World War II. It is used in Ukraine in its own styling developed by Kharkiv designer Sergei Mishakin. The motto of both days is "1939—1945. We remember. We win" (Ukrainian: 1939-1945. Пам’ятаємо. Перемагаємо).[4]

See also

References

Sources

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