The great Russian classic, poet Alexander Pushkin, was born in the Russian Empire during the reign of Emperor Paul the First. The date of birth of Pushkin in historical sources is indicated in two ways: May 26 and June 6, 1799. So which one is true? The thing is that May 26th is Pushkin's birthday according to the Roman (old) calendar, and June 6th is according to the modern Julian calendar. In any case, today all fans of the talent of the ingenious Russian poet annually celebrate his birthday on June 6th. The place of birth of Pushkin is the current capital of our country, the
city of Moscow. However, in those years, it was considered the second city in the country after St. Petersburg.
1799 for Russia
The end of the 18th century was very difficult for Russia. The people did not really like the current emperor Paul the First. In the short time of his reign, he was so disgusted with his people that on the day of his death, people did not grieve for him, but congratulated each other. However, during his reign, Russia was able to expand its borders, and all thanks to the great commanders. By the way, on the birthday of Pushkin, Russian troops won and took the city of Turin. And in general, this year was the most successful for the Russian troops, it was full of high-profile and valiant victories and attacks, as well as serious conquests for Russia. So, the year of birth of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin - the last year of the 18th century - was marked by the victories of the Russian army and the birth of a great genius - the most talented of all Russian poets.
Pedigree
A.S. Pushkin is a nobleman by origin; his roots go from the unpopular, branched Pushkin family, which, according to legend, goes back to Ratsha - “an honest husband,” who was a contemporary of Alexander Nevsky. The great-great-grandfather of the poet's mother was African Abram Petrovich Hannibal - a pupil of Peter the Great, who later became a general. His paternal grandfather, Lev Pushkin, was a colonel in artillery, but his father was far from military life. He was a secular man, an amateur poet and was known as a great wit. Another rather famous poet in the family was his paternal uncle, Vasily. However, on Pushkin’s birthday, his relatives probably didn’t assume that they had a “luminary of Russian poetry” born in their family - a poet whose works will be known by heart in many countries of the world, even several centuries after his death.
Childhood
Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin's birthday is May 26, 1977. In the metric book of the Elkhov Epiphany Church on May 27, that is, a day after the future poet was born, a record was made that Sergei Pushkin had a male child, who was named Alexander. 10 days after this, the boy was baptized in the same church. Little Sasha usually spent summer at the estate of his beloved grandmother Maria Alekseevna Hannibal. The venerable lady lived in the suburbs, near the town of Zvenigorod. Already at the age of 14-15, Pushkin began to compose his first poems: “The Monk” and “Bova”; in 1915, 16-year-old Pushkin wrote the poem "Message to Yudin", and a year later - "Dream".
Youth
Pushkin studied at the
Lyceum in Tsarskoye Selo for about 6 years, during which his gift of the poet was subsequently revealed. Here he also made loyal friends and like-minded people. During this period, French poetry served as his inspiration. He especially liked the works of Voltaire and the Guys. Of Russian poets, he idolized Zhukovsky and Batyushkov. The lyceum period includes many poems of the great poet. Later, when his poetry acquired a socio-political color, Derzhavin became interested in his works. Each year on Pushkin's birthday, his classmates arranged creative evenings and recited poems in honor of him.
After the lyceum, which he graduated in 1817, Pushkin began to serve in the
College of Foreign Affairs. During these years, he joined the theatrical art, did not miss a single performance. Pushkin also visited the literary society "Arzamas" and the literary and theatrical community "Green Lamp". Here he became friends with many of the Decembrists, although initially he did not suspect their main activities.
Adulthood
Further in the life of the poet begins a period of exile and persecution. And all the fault of his freedom-loving disposition and desire for justice. Many of his works are imbued with a wrestling spirit, an unwillingness to put up with the state of affairs that was inherent in Russia during the reign of Nicholas the First. Related to this is the poet’s proximity to many Decembrists, his freedom-loving poems and poems. And it was because of this heightened sense of justice that his death occurred.
The death of the poet
In the winter of 1836, a rumor passed around the connection between Pushkin's wife Natalia and the emperor. And then, in order to avert suspicions from the royal person, they were already gossiping about the love affair between Natalia and the courtier, Baron Dantes. Pushkin had no choice but to intercede for the honor of his wife and challenge the baron to a duel. Their duel took place on February 27, 1837, four months before the 38th anniversary of the poet. After all, the date of birth of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin is May 26 (June 6), 1799. As a result of the duel, the writer was mortally wounded. He died two days later, and Russian literature was orphaned, having lost the ingenious poet and prose writer at such a young age. Alexander Sergeyevich was buried at Svyatogorsk cemetery, near his native Mikhailovsky.
As Pushkin’s birthday is celebrated today
Today in Russia there is no such city where there would be no school bearing the name of the great Russian classic. In front of the facade of these schools are monuments to Pushkin. And in all of them, traditionally twice a year - on the poet's birthday and on the day of his death - there are creative evenings or matinees dedicated to these memorable dates. Events traditionally begin with laying flowers at the writer’s monument, then everyone goes to the assembly hall, and the solemn part begins. Pupils recite memorized poems, passages of poems, fairy tales written by Pushkin, there are even theatrical performances based on the works of the great poet. In addition, on memorial days, events are held in libraries, also bearing the name of the writer. Students of philological faculties also do not bypass these days. At universities, interesting lectures and seminars are held, during which students, together with teachers, talk about the life and work of the great classic - the star of Russian literature.
Pushkin's birthday celebration outside of Russia
They are familiar with Pushkin’s work not only in Russia, but also abroad. His works are highly esteemed in the countries of the former USSR: Armenia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, etc. In many cities of the post-Soviet space there are schools bearing the name of the great poet and prose writer. And they also annually mark memorable dates associated with the name of Alexander Sergeyevich. Representatives of Rossotrudnichestvo operate in some of the former Soviet republics. The contribution of this organization to the development of socio-cultural interaction between Russia and these countries is simply invaluable. For example, thanks to her, evenings dedicated to the memory of great Russian poets and writers, including Pushkin, are held annually in Yerevan, Baku, Minsk and Astana, Chisinau and other capitals. So, for example, in the city of Yerevan, at school number 8, bearing the name of A.S. Pushkin, on June 6 very meaningful events are organized. Probably few know that not far from the capital of Armenia there are mountain passes, which are called "Pushkin passes." It was here, according to legend, that Pushkin met the lifeless body of Griboedov, which was transported from Persia to Russia. In the same place, among incredibly beautiful nature, buried in verdure of oaks and elms, there is a monument to the great poet. Here, on the birthday of Alexander Pushkin, schoolchildren from different schools of Armenia come together, lay flowers, recite poems at the foot of the monument, read lines from stories, exchange opinions, etc.
Other great people born on the birthday of Pushkin
On the same day that the great Russian poet was born, only exactly 200 years before him, the Spanish artist, representative of the Baroque, Diego Rodriguez Velazquez, was born. But almost 100 years later, the world-famous Armenian composer, the author of such works as the ballet Spartak and Gayane and many others, Aram Khachaturian, was born. On the same day, the Russian poet and translator Nikolai Ushakov was born.