What day is it?

Ukrainian national holiday, celebrated annually on November 21, starting from 2017. The date is significant for every Ukrainian and began to be celebrated instead of Freedom Day (November 22), proclaimed in 2005 and canceled in 2011. The holiday is designed to confirm the aspirations of Ukrainian citizens for democracy, freedom and justice and to approve the movement towards a European future. Although the Day of Dignity and Freedom received the status of a public holiday, it remains a working day.

How the idea to celebrate came about Day of dignity and freedom?

The holiday was declared on September 30, 2017 by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 300/2017 “On celebrating the Day of Dignity and Freedom in 2017”.

This day is a symbol of the creation of the latest history of the state and a memorable date honoring the courage and patriotism of citizens who defended the values ​​of freedom, democracy and the people’s choice regarding the European development of the state.

The holiday marks two fateful events for the Ukrainian people: the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2013-14.

Under orange flags

The protests, known to the average Ukrainian as the “Orange Revolution”, began in response to gross violations during the election process and falsification of the results of the presidential elections in November 2004. It was on November 21 that the CEC announced the preliminary results of the 2nd round of voting, according to which Viktor Yanukovych became the winner of the race.

Ukrainian society was dissatisfied and outraged by massive falsifications and the desire to seize power by deception, carried out by pro-government forces. Supporters of Viktor Yushchenko, the opposition candidate, began to go to rallies.

Protests took place simultaneously in all cities of Ukraine. The largest rally took place in the capital, on Maidan Nezalezhnosti. The actions were of an exclusively peaceful nature and made it possible to achieve a second round of voting, which led to the victory of Viktor Yushchenko.

A year later, in honor of these events, the newly elected president announced a holiday with the resounding name “Freedom Day”.

However, it did not last long and was canceled 6 years later by the next president – Viktor Yanukovych. This was done under the pretext of combining the holiday with the “Unity Day of Ukraine”, which was celebrated on January 22.

History repeats itself

Exactly 9 years after the Orange Revolution, Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv was again flooded by tens of thousands of protesters. This time, citizens’ dissatisfaction was caused by the actions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, namely, the fact that Azarov’s government unexpectedly stopped preparations for signing the Association Agreement with the EU, which was announced throughout the year.

On November 21, protesters supporting the course of European integration began to take to the central streets of Kyiv. In a few days, a small action turned into a multi-thousand rally. And on November 24, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Kyiv.

On November 29, activists began to demand the dissolution of the government and the holding of early elections to the Verkhovna Rada at Maidan Nezalezhnosti. In response, the authorities used force. Such behavior caused even more indignation of citizens. After all, the principles of democracy stood on the scales, and they tried to replace them with authoritarianism, contempt, arbitrariness, and repression.

Protests flooded all regional centers of the country and demanded the immediate resignation of the current President and the government. For almost the entire winter of 2013-14, the protesters did not leave the Maidan and did not surrender their positions, even despite the authorities’ efforts to suppress the protests by force.

However, February 18, 19 and 20, 2014 were forever marked in the Ukrainian calendar as bloody events. As a result of skirmishes in the government quarter, a fire in the House of Trade Unions in Kyiv, and sniper shots, dozens of Euromaidans, who were later proclaimed the Heavenly Hundred, were killed.

Citizens of Ukraine once again proved that they are capable of protecting their rights, freedoms and European choice, even at the cost of their lives. In November 2017, a memorial was erected that united the two battles of the Ukrainian people for freedom, dignity and justice.

Historical facts

• All the dead protesters were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine or Knight of the Order of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.
• Subsequently, after the Revolution of Dignity, Russian armed aggression against our state began. In February-March, the annexation of Crimea took place, and on April 12, 2014, hostilities began in Donbas, which continue to this day.
• As a result of the investigation of the tragic events, 448 persons involved in the case received a notice of suspicion, 298 incriminating acts were submitted to the court, and 57 sentences were handed down by the court.

Day of dignity and freedom in history

• 2004
  November 22

  Protest actions known as the “Orange Revolution” begin.
• 2005

  In honor of the events of the Orange Revolution, the newly elected President Viktor Yushchenko announced a holiday called “Freedom Day”.
• 2011
  December

  President Viktor Yanukovych cancels the decree of his predecessor and introduces a new holiday – the Day of Unity and Freedom, which was celebrated on January 22.
• 2013
  Nov. 21

  The beginning of the Revolution of Dignity.
• 2017
  September 30

  Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 300/2017 declared the holiday “Day of Dignity and Freedom”

Interesting Facts

• Correspondents of the ICTV channel filmed the film “Black Shadows of the Maidan”. In the tape, they tried to reveal the secret of the shooting of the Heavenly Hundred, when 49 civilians were killed in just one day. For more than five years, the masterminds of this crime have not been identified, and the investigation continues.
• On the night of November 30, security forces dispersed a group of students on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, who went to a rally against the order of then-President Yanukovych to end negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. Already on the first of December, half a million Ukrainians gathered at the All-Ukrainian Day, under pressure from whom the law enforcement officers were forced to retreat.
• Since 2014, the main tradition of the Day of Dignity and Freedom is a memorial prayer at the memorial of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. Also on this day, thousands of people lay flowers here to show their respect for their feat.
• The first wave of protest on November 21, 2013 took the form of posts on social networks. The then journalist Mustafa Nayem, who later became the deputy chairman of Ukroboronprom, openly called on people to go to the Maidan in order to organize a demonstration.
• On November 21 at 10:00 p.m., protests against the authorities took place in Lviv, Kharkiv, Lutsk and some other cities of Ukraine.

Postcards for the Day of Dignity and Freedom

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How to celebrate Day of dignity and freedom?

On this day, many patriotic events are held in Ukraine.

1. The memory of the heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and those who sacrificed and continue to sacrifice their lives for the independence of the country, its peace and tranquility is honored.
2. Every year on November 21, a procession with the laying of flowers is organized to the memorial of tragically killed heroes.
3. On this day, the opening of memorial plaques to those who died in ATO/OOS is appointed.
4. Numerous exhibitions and promotions are organized.

Why is it important? this event?

The holiday combines memories of two important events of Ukrainian statehood, which became for every Ukrainian a symbol of defending the rights and freedoms of every citizen. These events forever changed the course of the history of our country.

The Day of Freedom and Dignity provides food for thought, because these natural human values ​​must be fought for both on a personal and national level.

And although the struggle for freedom and dignity cost Ukraine numerous losses and aggression, encroachment on territorial integrity, our citizens proved to the whole world that they will continue to fight for their independence.

When will we celebrate Day of dignity and freedom?