To attract attention of Veliky Novgorod population to the hanseatic past and present, in May 2006 the first celebration of The Day of Hansa was organized in Veliky Novgorod. Our city supported the idea of Hanseatic cities to celebrate this day in May yearly on the eve of the large traditional June festival «Hanseatic Days of Modern Time», which is held every year in one of the cities-members of the Hanseatic Union.

Veliky Novgorod is the first Russian town which got the opportunity to organize this large festival. In 2009, in its 1150-th anniversary, Veliky Novgorod will meet guests from 15 European countries. It will be the main event in the cultural life of modern Europe and North-West Russia. That’s why preparing and propaganda of knowledge about Hansa is very important today.

The main event of The Day of Hansa was the conference «Veliky Novgorod and The Hanseatic Union: history and modern life», which was organized at the Novgorod State University.

At the conference students and teachers of the Novgorod State University with representatives of the City Administration discussed historical questions as well as development of new hanseatic movement.

Collaboration in the context of the new Hansa Union is one of main branches in the international connections of Veliky Novgorod and Europe.

The principal question was perspective of Hansa movement’s development and creation of youth public coordination group, called «Youth Hansa - Veliky Novgorod» at the committee of culture and youth policy. Youth Hansa must become the main assistant of Novgorod’s Administration in the organization and carrying out of the 29th International Hanseatic festival in Veliky Novgorod. This group can be the motive power of youth projects in culture, creation, education, social work, youth tourism and youth employment. Curators of Youth Hansa work are: the youth affairs department and the Department of organization and carrying out of 1150 Anniversary of Veliky Novgorod events.

In July of 2006 members of the Youth Hansa coordination group will organize the first international youth Hansa camp, which is called «Youth: intercultural communication».

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