Holodomor Memorial Day
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Holodomor Memorial DayorHolodomor Remembrance Day(Ukrainian:День пам'яті жертв голодоморів,romanized:Den pamiati zhertv holodomoriv,lit. 'Day of memory for victims of the holodomors') is an annual commemoration of the victims of theHolodomor,the 1932–33 man-made famine that killed millions inUkraine,falling on the fourth Saturday of November. The day is also an official annual commemoration inCanada,and observed byUkrainian diasporacommunities in other countries.
Traditionally, on this day Ukrainians attend memorial services and put up symbolic vessels of grain and light candles in memory of the victims of the Holodomor and other deadly famines in Ukraine. Ceremonies at the Candle of Memory monument at theNational Museum of the Holodomor-Genocidehave been attended by Ukrainian and foreign national leaders, diplomats, representatives of governing bodies, international organizations, and faith communities, and witnesses of the Holodomor. Before 2009, ceremonies took place at the Holodomor monument in the square in front ofSt. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery.
Commemorations include a national minute of silence at 16:00, followed by the lighting of the candle. Participants set candles at memorials, or place them in their window at home.
The name in plural, with "holodomors", is not universally accepted, as it can be perceived to consider the Holodomor of 1932–33, which isrecognized as a genocidein Ukraine and several other states, as equivalent to the famines of the 1920s and 1940s, which are not.[1]
History
[edit]The official Day of Memory for Victims of the Holodomor on the fourth Saturday of November was established by presidential decree ofLeonid Kuchmaon November 26, 1998.[2]In 2000, it was renamed Day of Memory for Victims of the Holodomor and Political Repressions,[3]and in 2004, Day of Memory for Victims of the Holodomors and Political Repressions,[4]also recognizing the famines of 1921–23 and 1946–47.
In 2006, the Holodomor Memorial Day took place on 25 November. Ukraine's PresidentViktor Yushchenkoissued Decree No. 868/2006, calling for the observance of a minute of silence, beginning at 4:00 in the afternoon of the next Saturday. The decree also provided thatthe nation's flagshould be flown athalf-staff,a sign of mourning, and that entertainment events would be restricted. Television and radio broadcasts were also to be adjusted.[5]
In 2007, the holiday's name was shortened to Day of Memory for Victims of the Holodomors, as a separateDay of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repressionswas established on the third Sunday in May for victims of theGreat Terrorof 1937–38.[6]That year, the 74th anniversary of the famine was marked in Kyiv over a period of three days (23 to 25 November) on theMaidan Nezalezhnosti.As part of the event, video testimonies of the Soviet regime's crimes in Ukraine were shown. Documentaries made by famous Ukrainian and foreign movie directors were also played, and experts and scholars offered lectures on the topic.[7]The National Bank of Ukraine released a set of commemorative coins commemorating the Holodomor on November 23.[8]
Canada observes this day as Ukrainian Famine and Genocide ( “Holodomor” ) Memorial Day, since 2008.[9]The legislation was introduced in parliament as a private member's bill byJames Bezan(representingSelkirk–Interlake), and achieved royal assent on May 27.[10]
Beginning in 2009, Ukrainian schoolchildren were taught a more extensive course on the history of the Holodomor.[11]
TheParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europepassed a resolution welcoming the establishment of the Ukrainian day of commemoration in April 2010.[12]
In 2023 the memorial of Holodomor genocide was publicly commemorated by a number of politicians includingRoberta Metsola;European Parliament President; US AmbassadorBridget Brink,Ingrida Šimonytė;Lithuanian Prime Minister; Latvian PresidentEdgars Rinkēvičs;Katarina Mathernova, EU Ambassador to Ukraine; UK Ambassador Martin Harris; German Embassy in Ukraine; French Ambassador Gaël Veyssiere.[13]
References
[edit]- ^Нова назва Музею відтепер - Національний музей "Меморіал жертв Голодомору"[New Name of the Museum Going Forward: Memorial to the Victims of the Holodomor National Museum].Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.2015-08-03. Archived fromthe originalon 2017-11-25.Retrieved2021-11-27.
- ^"Про встановлення Дня пам'яті жертв голодоморів"[On the establishment of a Memorial Day to Victims of the Holodomors].Official Web Portal of the Parliament of Ukraine(in Ukrainian). 1998-11-26.Retrieved2021-11-27.
- ^"Про внесення змін до Указу Президента України від 26 листопада 1998 року N 1310"[On amendments to Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 1310, November 25, 1998].Official Web Portal of the Parliament of Ukraine(in Ukrainian). 2000-10-31.Retrieved2021-11-27.
- ^"Про внесення змін до Указу Президента України від 26 листопада 1998 року N 1310"[On amendments to the Decree of the President of Ukraine of November 26, 1998, No. 1310].Official Web Portal of the Parliament of Ukraine(in Ukrainian). 2004-07-15.Retrieved2021-11-27.
- ^"Про відзначення у 2006 році Дня пам'яті жертв голодоморів та політичних репресій"[On the 2006 commemoration of the Memorial Day for Victims of the Holodomors and Political Repressions].Official Web Portal of the Parliament of Ukraine(in Ukrainian). 2006-10-12.Retrieved2021-11-29.
- ^"Про заходи у зв'язку з 70-ми роковинами Великого терору - масових політичних репресій 1937-1938 років"[About measures related to the 70th anniversary of the Great Terror: mass political repressions of 1937–1938].Official Web Portal of the Parliament of Ukraine(in Ukrainian). 2007-05-21.Retrieved2021-11-27.
- ^"Ceremonial events to commemorate Holodomor victims to be held in Kyiv for three days".Ukrainske Radio.2007-11-23. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-02-16.Retrieved2021-11-29.
- ^"Commemorative Coins" The Famine - Genocide of the Ukrainian People "".National Bank of Ukraine.2007-12-17. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-01-08.Retrieved2021-11-28.
- ^"Consolidated federal laws of canada, Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (" Holodomor ") Memorial Day Act".Justice Laws Website.Government of Canada. 2008-05-29.Retrieved2021-11-28.
- ^"2008: The Year in Review"(PDF).The Ukrainian Weekly.2009-01-11. pp. 5–37.Retrieved2021-11-28.
- ^"Schoolchildren to study in detail about Holodomor and OUN-UPA".Unian.2009-06-12.Retrieved2021-11-29.
- ^"Commemorating the victims of the Great Famine (Holodomor) in the former USSR".Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.2010-04-28.Retrieved2021-11-27.
- ^"European leaders and ambassadors commemorate Holodomor victims on 90th anniversary".Ukrainska Pravda.Retrieved2023-11-25.
External links
[edit]- Holodomor Remembrance Dayat the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide
- Holodomor Memorial Day 2021at the Holodomor Research and Education Consortium, University of Alberta