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Born simultaneously with one of the most famous symbols of Soviet life, “Khrushchev”, the Builder’s Day has been celebrated in our country for more than six decades. We tell why this holiday appeared and how it is celebrated in 2022.
Khrushchev on the Volga and in the apartment: when they started celebrating Builder’s Day
It is believed that the idea to establish a Builder’s Day came to the then First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Nikita Khrushchev during a visit to the Zhigulevskaya hydroelectric power station under construction. The Soviet leader was allegedly so impressed by the scale and pace of its construction that he decided to honor the work of the people who create such colossus. At the same time, in those years, there was something to be impressed with besides the hydroelectric power station – the USSR embraced a real construction boom. Hundreds of enterprises were commissioned, work was underway at the BAM, the country began to develop virgin lands. Moreover, the authorities finally began to think seriously about the sector that had been sagging until then – housing construction. “By 1980, every Soviet family should meet communism in a separate apartment” – under this slogan, the legendary “Khrushchev” began to grow throughout the Union, which in the future was destined to become a real symbol of the era.
In general, it is clear that there is nowhere without a holiday. The Builder’s Day was first celebrated on August 12, 1956. “Celebrated today, from now on it will enter the calendar as a national holiday,” the newspapers wrote then and were not mistaken, the Builder’s Day really entered the calendar firmly. By the way, it was in that first year that a significant event for Moscow was timed to coincide with the new holiday – the opening of the Luzhniki stadium. There was even a poem in his honor:
The area became beautiful and bright.
Here at the bend of the river
We are builders as a gift
Gave “Luzhniki”.
The opening of the Moscow stadium marked the beginning of a good tradition – to celebrate the Builder’s Day not only with folk festivals, but also with the commissioning of some significant city facilities.
Brick on a helmet: traditions and customs of the holiday
Everything is clear about concerts, ceremonial speeches and awards to the foremost workers – even now not a single Builder’s Day can do without this (as well as other professional holidays, by the way). But the celebration also has rather unusual traditions. For example, there was a custom of initiation of newcomers into the profession. Experienced builders offered the “young” to bite off a piece of bread with salt – this meant “a pood of salt”, which you need to eat in order to master your specialty. The next test is to hold your hands over a bowl of fire, so you can feel how the future work is “burning”. Well, at the end of the ritual, the new convert recited the builder’s oath. At the same time, a helmet was put on his head, which was sometimes hit with a brick – fortunately, only symbolically.
In some cities, parades of construction equipment are held today in honor of the holiday. In recent years, various “production” master classes have also begun to spread at folk festivals. Those who wish, for example, are offered to try themselves as a painter or a tiler-finisher. Well, what, and respect for the profession falls a chance to show, and in the economy the acquired skill can then come in handy.
The head of a rat and no elderberry: signs of builders
Charm under the first crown of the house
This is one of the oldest building signs. It was believed that the object left under the first crown would protect the building from cataclysms, and bring prosperity to its inhabitants. A silver ruble, sometimes grains, often acted as a talisman. Of the completely exotic options, a duck’s wing or a rat’s head was placed under the log house. Now, of course, they don’t hide rats in the foundation, but the tradition of celebrating the start of construction has remained. So, starting a new series of houses, a bottle of champagne is broken on the first stove – just like when ships are launched.
Build on Tuesday, but not on the day of the holy martyrs
Even among the Slavs, it was believed that the best day to start building a new house is Tuesday or Thursday. Christianity left its mark on this belief: it is important that the construction does not fall on the date of the memory of the holy martyrs (otherwise the housing will not be completed). Well, it’s better to start work on a full moon so that the building comes out stronger.
Avoid elderberry and road crossing
It was also important to choose the right place for future housing. According to signs, this, firstly, in no case should have been a crossing of roads (otherwise happiness will leave the house), a place of someone’s grave or murder (promises the death of household members). And the ancient builders did not like elderberry. It was believed that if you cut down a house next to the thickets of this shrub, all subsequent life will be bitter.
Feed the worker
Probably the most pleasant sign for builders. The owners tried their best to appease them: they started to treat them before the start of construction, and then, in the process, arranged generous feasts several times. It was believed that if the carpenters and the stove-maker were badly treated, then it would be bad to live in the house they built.
Builders under the bridge
And this sign is already quite modern and not about residential buildings. It’s about responsibility. After the construction of the bridge, the builders working on the object gathered under it and waited for the first train or column of cars passing over this bridge. This meant that they were ready to answer for the reliability of the design in the literal sense of the word with their heads. Such “acceptance” of bridges is still alive in some places.