Penza, 4 November 2012. PenzaNews. The festive meeting dedicated to the Day of National Unity was held in the square named after Lenin in Penza on Sunday, November 4. At the beginning of the celebration, columns of representatives of leading enterprises and institutions of the city paraded there, then the authorities, representatives of trade unions, council of veterans and youth congratulated the people of the region on the occasion.

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“This is a young but proper holiday. Let every one of us today look back to the history of their family and remember those who defended the independence of our country in XVII, XIX and XX centuries,” said the chairman of the government of the Penza region Yuri Krivov.

He stressed that national unity emerges not at the festivals but during daily, complex and honest work on the formation of values and strengthening the family institution.

“True national unity is brought up in family. If there is no agreement between close people, there will not be agreement in the society. This is a systematic work on the creation of territorial self-government, different types of cooperation – between industry and science, education and business,” Yuri Krivov added.

The Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Penza region of the fifth convocation Ivan Belozertsev stressed that this holiday is rooted in the history of Russia, where in 1612 the forces of Minin and Pozharsky united and defeated the Polish invaders.

“This was a victory. But its significance is stronger: when Russia was torn by strife and discord, militia men were bigger than that and were able to unite. After that Russia always won – in 1812, in the terrible years of World War II and then in the era of economic reconstruction,” Ivan Belozertsev said.

According to him, this tradition also helps now when the country needs to modernize its industry, health and education systems, develop small and medium businesses.

In turn, the head of administration of Penza Roman Chernov reminded that Penza would celebrate its 350th anniversary.

“All these years, our city has been growing and flourished, and this is due to the fact that each resident worked hard. And today I can see here people who love their city, family and neighbors,” said the head of the administration.

In addition, Roman Chernov noted that there is still stratification in the society, and it is necessary that the people who have become successful were assistants to those who are yet weak, that young people have great respect for the veterans, and they, in turn share their experience with the younger generation.

At the end of the rally, there was a concert of Penza band C-Club. There was a field kitchen and trade pavilions of agricultural producers from the Penza region located in Moskovskaya Street.

The Day of National Unity is Russian national holiday.

On November 4, 1612 militia men led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky took by assault China Town, freed Moscow from Polish invaders and demonstrating heroism and solidarity of all people regardless of their origin, religion or social status.

The day is also the feast day of the Russian Orthodox icon of Our Lady of Kazan.

In the recent history of Russia the holiday is celebrated as the Day of National Unity since 2005.