The 25th of January most probably is the favorite day of all Russian students. By this date exams are usually passed, holidays begin, but the main thing is that all Russian students celebrate their holiday.

KFU students celebrated this happy event in their Alma mater. The celebration began in the Culture and Sport Complex “Unix” in the daytime with songs and dances. They congratulated each other, had a good time, regaled themselves with pancakes and waited for a wonderful show, which was supposed to begin in the evening.

The rumour about a concert devoted to Students? Day intrigued many people in KFU this year.  According to the event?s organizers – representatives of the Department for Youth Policy and Student Club of Kazan University, a lot of pleasing surprises were prepared for spectators this year. Students from other regions studying in North Caucasian Federal University, Ulyanovsk University and Tula University came to Kazan to felicitate their fellow students.

By tradition, the Rector of Kazan Federal University, Mr. Ilshat Gafurov, opened the concert. He congratulated students and thanked them for their active participation in the most important events relating not only to the University, but to Kazan, as a whole.

The Rector reminded that 4000 KFU volunteers worked at Universiade 2013. “These hearty thanks come from me and the mayor of Kazan, Mr. Ilsur Metshin, who asked me to congratulate you on his behalf from this stage.”

The Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan, Ms. Larisa Sidorova, also congratulated the students.

The Secretary General of the Russian Olympic Committee, Mr. Marat Bariev, wished the students a good holiday and reminded them about another important forthcoming sporting event – the Olympic Games in Sochi. “Seven athletes from Tatarstan will defend the honour of our country during these competitions. Let?s wish them success and support them during the Winter Games!”

After the cordial congratulations an outstanding show began. The students had been preparing for this day for many months and performed their best tricks on the stage: dances, songs, sketches, KVN ("Club of the Quick-Witted and Smart").

KFU graduates also came to KFU on that day in order to recall past memories of their student life and perform before the spectators. The winner of the musical show “Golos” (The Voice), Ms. Dina Garipova, the former participant of Kazan KVN team and Director of the musical enterprise “Festival program Directorate”, which organizes such holidays as Sabantuy, the 9th of May, the City Day,  Mr. Marat Zakirov, were among the graduates.

Tricks in which students, graduates, Rector and Vice-Rectors of KFU took part gave rise to a storm of applause.

Traditionally, congratulations on the Students? Day were also offered to all the women of our country bearing the name Tatyana. All the beautiful Tatyanas from KFU defiled on the stage dressed in magnificent evening gowns.

The Assistant to the President of the Republic of Tatarstan for Social Affairs, Ms. Tatyana Larionova, greeted all Tatyanas from the stage: “Today I?m congratulating all the women bearing the named Tatyana (Tanechka). We have a wonderful name! It means “organizer”. Let?s take control of our fortunes and that of our relatives, friends and our University!”

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors of African countries in the Russian Federation also attended the concert. The Ambassador of the Republic of Benin, Mr. Gabriel Kotchofa, thanked students and professors of KFU for their kind attitude towards students from Africa. Then he read the poem “Confession” by Pushkin in honour of Tatyana?s Day.

After the Students? Day concert many students said that it had been a success. “Cool”, “impressive”, “brilliant”, “unforgettable”, “enchanting” – those were the words used by many KFU students when recalling the show.

Translated by Selenia Corsi, Erasmus Mundus intern, Bologna University