A frosty January presents us a merry day filled with the spirit of spring. This is the 25th January (12 January in Old Style), Tatiana's name day and the day of all students. The day is well-known and unofficially celebrated in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

This holiday has an interesting historical background. Originally, the 25th of January was he day of the Saint Tatiana, and in 1755 Russian empress Ekaterina (Catherine the Great, 1729-1796), signed a decree according to which Moscow State University had to be found.

At first the holiday was pompously celebrated in Russia in Moscow only and consisted of the official ceremony in the university and a big outdoor party, in which the whole capital took part.

With the time this day became a holiday all over Russia and people considered Saint Tatiana the patron saint of all Russian students.

Nowadays this is still a name day for all Tatiana and a widely celibately Russian student's holiday.