Published on: 2026-09-04
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On the eve of City Day, which Moscow will celebrate on September 5–6, experts from the “Moscow. Traditions. People” project spoke about the holiday’s traditions and key dates in its history.
From February to September, thanks to the project, city residents and tourists get acquainted with the history of the capital through free lectures and excursions across 12 districts. This provides an opportunity to see the neighborhoods through family archives, old photographs, and neighbors’ memories, as well as to learn about the traditions of the main city festival.
1847: the first City Day
“For the first time, Moscow Day was celebrated 179 years ago, but the holiday almost fell through. The initiators planned three days of festivities in honor of the city’s 700th anniversary, however, Emperor Nicholas I considered the Slavophiles’ idea unfeasible and postponed everything from spring to January 1, 1847. Metropolitan Filaret read a prayer at the Chudov Monastery in the Kremlin, the bells of Ivan the Great rang, and the city center was decorated with tallow dishes — and Moscow shone in evening illumination. However, a strong January wind quickly extinguished part of the lights,” recounts Mari Chizhova, a guide for the tours “Masterpiece of the Industrial Era — Alekseevskaya Water Tower” and “Soviet Moscow Projects in the South-Western District.”
The tradition of celebrating City Day originated thanks to patriotic Muscovites led by the publisher of the magazine “Moskovityanin” Mikhail Pogodin and the ideologist of Slavophilism Konstantin Aksakov. The question of Moscow’s founding date remained open for a long time: years ranging from 880 to 1156 were mentioned. They settled on 1147, when the city was first mentioned in the Ipatiev Chronicle, which formed the basis of Nikolay Karamzin’s “History of the Russian State.”
The first celebration took place without much fanfare and did not become a tradition. At the end of the 19th century, historian Nikolay Bocharov proposed celebrating the “three quarters of a millennium,” or the 750th anniversary, but the project did not receive support. Everything succeeded only 100 years after the first City Day, already in Soviet times.
1947: “eight Stalinist sisters”
Tour guide, television journalist, and author of books about the capital Darya Bulgakova gave a lecture titled “Round Houses and Dacha Settlements: Paradoxes of the Western Administrative Okrug.”
“For Moscow, dates ending in seven are very important — according to the official, annalistic founding date of the city in 1147. And we can only imagine what our grandmothers and grandfathers felt on the eve of 1947. Only two years had passed since the Soviet Union defeated the main plague of the 20th century with colossal losses. A destroyed, hungry, disfigured Moscow, yet with a triumphant spirit of victory. And Stalin, for the round date, decided to place a ‘stone crown of skyscrapers with spires’ on the birthday girl — eight high-rises,” notes Darya Bulgakova.
The idea of the eight Stalinist skyscrapers originated as a symbolic gift to Moscow for its 800th anniversary: one skyscraper for each century of its history. The main one was supposed to adorn Zaryadye, but the project was revised. The unfinished stylobate was later used in the construction of the Rossiya Hotel. As a result, by the city’s 810th anniversary, the “seven Stalinist sisters” appeared on the city map by 1957.
On September 7, 1947, Moscow celebrated its 800th anniversary: the city was decorated with portraits of leaders and flags, and orchestras played in the streets and parks. The celebration, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, became a memorable event. For the jubilee, a monument to Yuri Dolgoruky was erected opposite the Mossovet building, and the Museum of the History and Reconstruction of Moscow, the future Museum of Moscow, was reopened after reconstruction, along with the establishment of the first city excursion bureau. In the Northern Administrative District, the street named 800th Anniversary of Moscow commemorates this date.
The next large-scale city day celebration took place only 40 years later — in 1987, for the 840th anniversary of the capital. A colorful carnival procession took place on the Garden Ring, and a spectacular performance on barges unfolded on the Moscow River. These events were remembered by Muscovites as a symbol of the return of the city holiday.
1997: a grand post-Soviet celebration
The lecture “Science City as Part of Moscow: The Phenomenon of Troitsky Administrative District” as part of the project “Moscow. Traditions. People” was given by Alexander Usoltsev — a tour guide, local historian, and author of the project “Walks around Moscow.” He spoke about how, in the post-Soviet period, the tradition of annually celebrating City Day was revived. The most grand celebrations of this period took place in 1997, when Moscow’s 850th anniversary was commemorated. At that time, one of the skyscrapers once again played a key role in the festivities: visual effects were projected onto the building of Moscow State University during Jean-Michel Jarre’s concert on Sparrow Hills. Almost everyone who witnessed this important event on the eve of the 21st century remembers it.
The scale of the celebration of Moscow’s 850th anniversary, according to Moscow experts, was so grand that it was remembered in various regions of the country and abroad. The city prepared thoroughly for the jubilee: on the capital’s birthday, Muscovites saw the restored Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the first object of “Moscow-City” — the Bagration Bridge, and the architectural and fountain ensemble on Manezhnaya Square. To the east, the Moscow 850th Anniversary Park appeared.
2017: “Zaryadye”
The lecturer of the project, Daria Bulgakova, shared personal memories of celebrating the city’s anniversaries. She recounted that in 1997 she was a little girl, and for Moscow’s 870th anniversary, she was already an accredited tour guide. The most significant reminder of that event for her became “Zaryadye.” It is more than just a park; it is no coincidence that the Mayor of Moscow calls it a public space. She noted that it is an interesting historical, archaeological, landscape, and modern site with a floating bridge, a media center where one can “fly” over Moscow and all of Russia, a scientific and educational center called the “Reserved Embassy,” an art space named “Parking Gallery,” street amphitheaters, restaurants, and parking lots.
Thematic exhibitions, scientific experimental workshops, and a multi-level aeroponic complex “Florarium” are held here. Visitors can not only stroll around but also participate in educational and entertaining events. “Zaryadye” is open year-round.
2027: The next anniversary
The City Day is changing along with the capital, noted Alexander Usoltsev, a lecturer of the project “Moscow. Traditions. People.” Whereas in the past, celebrations were held mainly on Tverskaya Street and Okhotny Ryad Street, now the holiday is observed in various districts of the city. Increasing attention is drawn to districts formed in the 20th century: each has its own, albeit not so long-standing, but rich history. Thanks to this, on the memorable day, one can see a completely different Moscow.
In conclusion, Darya Bulgakova said that she wants to look ahead to the year 2047, when Moscow will celebrate its 900th anniversary. She noted that such jubilees are prepared for decades, and she does not know how to surprise Muscovites, considering that the metro, digitalization, and construction pace are impressive. Darya Bulgakova is confident that plans already exist for creating new sites and landmarks that will adorn the capital.
A large-scale feature appeared on the portal mos.ru special project, dedicated to the development of key sectors of Moscow. These include transport, industry, healthcare, education, sports, and construction. The special project helps to learn how the capital has changed in recent years, what initiatives aimed at making the lives of citizens even more comfortable are currently being implemented, and what awaits Moscow and its residents in the near future.
On the project page “Culture, Heritage and Leisure Industry” you can learn about how architectural monuments are preserved in the capital. Moscow is the cultural life center of the country and ranks among the leading megacities in terms of the number of museums and exhibition halls. The city has established a film cluster that unites the Moskino film factory on Ryazansky Prospekt, the Gorky Film Studio, and the Moskino film park.
Quickly get the main news on the official channels of the city of Moscow in messengers “Max” and “Telegram”.
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