On September 29, 2019, the Phoenix Fund took part in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Tiger Day holiday. Traditionally, residents of the city, representing educational institutions, public and commercial organizations, marched in a grandiose festive procession along the main street of Vladivostok. Throughout the history of the holiday, the number of procession participants increased every year. According to IA PrimaMedia more than 12 thousand people took part in the carnival procession this year.
The Phoenix Fund invited friends and supporters from Vladivostok school No. 28 with in-depth study of foreign languages to join with the column. At the head of the column, the “Tiger” merrily walked with first-graders and young actors in animal costumes from the “Green Whirlwind” eco-theater. Chants and slogans in defense of the Amur tiger supported the festive mood of the entire column. A huge bird, the Phoenix, hovered above the beasts, protecting them with its wings from any threats. As you know, the Phoenix is a mythical bird reborn from the ashes, a symbol of eternal revival. The staff of the Phoenix Fund is trying to build back and preserve the unique nature of the Russian Far East. In this regard, we came up with the idea to create a composition of a fairy-tale-ish bird and local forest dwellers for a festive procession.
“It’s good to see how big the Tiger Day holiday has become by its 20th anniversary,” comments Sergei Bereznuk, director of the Phoenix Fund. “In 2000, when we marched to the central square for the first time there were no more than 200 people, we could not dream of such a scale. Although initially, from year to year preparing for the holiday, the Phoenix Fund, together with the Far-Eastern Fund for the Development and Support of Culture, Education and Social Programs “AzArt”, sought to give the holiday a carnival-like procession format similar to the Brazilian one. Now we see that the citizens are proud of the Tiger Day and attend it with their friends and relatives. Tiger Day has become a highlight of our city. The Phoenix Fund is grateful to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and the WildCats Conservation Alliance for helping us make the holiday bright and colorful.”
After the carnival procession, the holiday guests were presented with a festive program in the central square. Welcoming speeches were made by the Chief of Staff of the Government of the Russian Federation Konstantin Chuychenko, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Gordeev and Governor of the Territory Oleg Kozhemyako.
Entertainment sites worked on the central square of Vladivostok throughout the day, and at 7 p.m. a free concert of the popular bands Serga and Uma2rman took place.
Earlier, the holiday was already held in Kirovsky, Luchegorsk, Novopokrovka, Arsenyev.
We thank the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and WildCats Conservation Alliance for the long-term support of the Festival!
