Medovukha from the rector and gala concerts – how Tatyana’s Day is celebrated at Moscow State University

From January 25 to 27, ceremonial events dedicated to the Day of Russian Students are held at the Lomonosov Moscow State University. The festive date appeared on the calendar precisely due to the opening of Moscow University in 1755.

On Thursday, January 26, in the building of the Fundamental Library of Moscow State University, the traditional ceremony of bottling festive mead was held by the rector of Moscow State University, Academician Viktor Sadovnichy. The event turned out to be really popular among students – the queue for a glass of a festive drink stretched along the entire lobby. It took more than 20 minutes to get to the rector with the cherished keg.

The production and bottling of mead on Tatyana’s Day is a good long-term tradition of Moscow University. It reflects the same spirit of Moscow State University, democratic relations between representatives of various university corporations.

The recipe for the drink was personally compiled by the rector as a tribute to the traditions of a similar production in the city of Suzdal, Vladimir Region, which he visited in his youth.

The final event on January 26 was the gala concert of the participants of the International Festival of Student Creativity “Tatiana’s Day”. Among them are students from other countries, as well as students of foreign branches of Moscow University. The guys presented their brightest numbers, which were greeted by the guests of the holiday with a storm of applause.

An important part of the festive event was the presentation of the public award “Star of Moscow University”. This token of special gratitude from the student community was invented by the university youth and has been awarded for many years. This award is given to outstanding scientists and teachers of Moscow State University, as well as to people who have made special contributions to the university. In accordance with the statute of the award, the medal and diploma are presented personally by the rector of Moscow University. This year, the title of “Star of Moscow University” was awarded to an analytical chemist, teacher, Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences on Analytical Chemistry, laureate of the USSR State Prize Yuri Alexandrovich Zolotov.

“The ancient Greek philosopher Plutarch is often quoted, who wrote that a student is not a vessel to be filled, but a torch to be lit. Usually this is considered a parting word to teachers, teachers. But torches are also different. Students are different. One – lights up like gunpowder. It doesn’t last long, alas. Another – you will not light immediately. But a good student lights up, burns for a long time, sometimes – burns all his life. And his life in this case is filled with energy, meaning, and he feels happy, because he sets himself tasks and strives to solve them. For example, Moscow University, it seems to me, produces high-quality flare products. I wish you not only to catch fire, but also to burn for a long time and as brightly as possible, ”Yuri Alexandrovich congratulated the students.

Ulyana Lekarkina.

Author’s photo