Program of the XXIX Hanseatic Days of the New Times in Novgorod the Great

(approved by the Oblast Organizing Committee on the preparation for and carrying out of the 1150th anniversary of Novgorod the Great on December 1st, 2006; approved by the Federal Organizing Committee on the preparation for and carrying out of the 1150th anniversary of Novgorod the Great on December 13th, 2006)

XXIX  International Hanseatic Days of the New Times in Novgorod the Great
June 18-21, 2009

“Expanding borders……”

Over a period of several centuries Novgorod the Great served as a connecting link between medieval Europe and Russia, as sort of a door to Europe, the center of international cooperation and trade. Meanwhile, the medieval Hansa is generally viewed as a prototype, an ancestor of the modern-day single European market. Its traditions were used as the foundation for reestablishment of the Hanseatic League of the New Times in 1980 – an alliance currently comprising more than 160 cities from 15 European countries. One of the member cities of the medieval Hansa was Novgorod the Great acting as a central post for export of Russian goods to the West. Nowadays, with the geography and principles of international economic cooperation having undergone considerable changes, the ideas of respect remain unchanged and that important as does the revival of traditions forming the basis of the management systems, the economy and culture of the modern European cities. These traditions are a linchpin of the Hanseatic League of the New Times putting much value on the development of cultural and economic relations between municipalities of European countries.

In 1993, Novgorod the Great became the first official representative of Russia in the Hanseatic League of the New Times. Since then it has participated on its own behalf and on behalf of other Russian member-cities in all the international Hanseatic days held annually in one of the League cities. Host cities for the international Hanseatic Days have been predefined up until 2030. And, Novgorod the Great is the only Russian city considered eligible to receive delegations from over 100 European cities (all in all more than 2 000 foreign guests are expected to come), and to become a host city for the XXIX Hanseatic Days in 2009.

The representatives of European cities will come together in order to present individualities of their traditions to the fellowship, to show respect to the significance and diversity of cultures in the modern unified Europe, and finally, to discuss variants of cooperation between municipalities in the fields of culture, history, economy and tourism.

The foremost task on the agenda of the XXIX Hanseatic Days is to present Novgorod, one of the most ancient Russian cities, to Europeans in the best light possible, for as many other cities of comparable significance it contributes to the image of the modern-day Russia.

Forums and conferences provided for by the program of celebration will help Novgorod the Great and Russia establish themselves in the global arena and set possible lines of perspective international cooperation with other countries.

Successful celebration of the Hanseatic Days will play its part in creating a favorable image of Novgorod the Great. It will prove Novgorod to be a European city possessing all the necessary resources for attracting and receiving tourists as well as for developing international relations in the fields of economy, culture and tourism. That’s why the phrase “…….expanding borders” has been chosen to be the motto of the XXIX Hanseatic Days in Novgorod the Great.

Events related to the international forum “XXIX Hanseatic Days of the New Times” 
June 18-21, 2009

By tradition, the Hanseatic Days in Novgorod the Great will last 4 days. During this time events of a great cultural and entertainment program as well as the Youth Hansa events, an economic congress, a historical conference and an assembly of the delegates of the Hanseatic League will take place in the city. The ceremonial opening of the Hanseatic days will be one of the most spectacular moments in the celebration. It will be held in the Yaroslavovo Dvorische where the Governor and the Mayor of Novgorod the Great, the President of the Hansa, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs and The Minister of Economic Development of Russia will officially declare the festivities of the Hanseatic Days begun. On this solemn occasion thousands of the city’s guests will be introduced to the audience. These are delegations and cultural groups of the Hanseatic cities which will become the main heroes of the celebration program. A laser show and fireworks will culminate the opening ceremony and the guests will be invited to participate in manifold events staged in the cultural venues all over the historical part of the city.

Other, absolutely indispensable, events of the Hanseatic Days will be a Hanseatic fair (presentations of modern European cities) and a Historical Medieval Market. They will bring the ambiance of the Middle Age back to the Novgorod Kremlin, the Yaroslavovo Dvorische and the streets of the historical center, as will they present the public a variety of European and Russian cities, their traditions, the culture, the history and the modern-day life. Visitors of the Hanseatic fair will have the opportunity to receive comprehensive information concerning any modern Hanseatic city of Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Great Britain, Poland, Holland, France, Sweden, Russia and other countries. The Historical Market will enable visitors to make a journey to the Middle Age. With the help of peddlers, handicraftsmen, artists and “common” citizens, the market will restore the spirit and attributes of everyday life and culture of the medieval city.

While the markets are open to the public, different creative and artistic companies from more than 100 Hanseatic cities will present their performances. Traditional European cuisines, national dances, songs and dramatic performances will add more color, flavor and multinational spirit to the occasion.

The International Festival of Historical Restoration “Lord Novgorod the Great” will gather together European and Russian clubs of restoration, medieval everyday life, culture and military art. As traditions of the Hanseatic Days demand, a special inner program will be designed for official delegations mostly headed by city Mayors. According to this obligatory program of the forthcoming visit three cities are supposed to give formal receptions. On the first day of the forum delegates will be greeted by the Governor of Novgorod Oblast, the Mayor of Novgorod the Great and the President of the Hansa who will give a solemn reception in the Nobility Assembly hall. The evening of the second day will be dedicated to the recognized capital of the modern-day Hansa — Lübeck. On this day the reception will be given by the Mayor of Lübeck, who is also the President of the Hansa. On the third day delegates will be received by Parnu – an Estonian city which will host the Hanseatic Days after Novgorod. And, the last in this succession of formal events will be a Hanseatic Party – a general festive meeting of delegates providing an opportunity for another informal discussion of acute problems, possible projects as well as the establishment of new friendly relations for the sake of future cooperation.

Like all the other guests and participants, delegates will have the opportunity to go on a variety of sightseeing tours provided for by the celebration program. During such excursions they will be able to get to know more about the history of the city and, besides, to evaluate tourism riches of the Novgorod land. Novgorod museums and art centers will have a lot of exhibitions organized. Museum displays will unveil the secrets hidden in the walls of the Novgorod Kremlin – the most ancient fortified structure in Russia. And at last, the St. Sophia Cathedral – the first stone church in Russia located at the very heart of Novgorod the Great, — the magnificent collection of ancient icons and art works by Russian and foreign masters will put the finishing touches to the portrait of the city.

No less significant than those described above are events of the Youth Hansa – an active group created by the youth. The mission of this group is to maintain traditions of the Hanseatic Days celebration and to carry out activities aimed at implementing international youth projects and extending the scope of cooperation in the fields of culture, creative and social activities, education, youth tourism and entrepreneurship. Usually, each Hanseatic city is represented by two members of the Youth Hansa aged from 16 to 25 years. All of them will participate in a special Hanseatic program for the youth organized by the “young” Hansa of Novgorod the Great. 

A thrill-packed children’s program will appeal not only to small Novgorodians, but also to their parents and the rest of the city’s guests. Along with pageants representing the life of the medieval city, small “Hansians” will have the opportunity to take part in different historical games and mastery exhibitions.

One of the most important occasions of the Hanseatic days will be the international economic congress “Steady development of the economy of the city”. The congress is planned to involve participation of representatives of the European Commission (if mutually agreed), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia (if mutually agreed), the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Russia (if mutually agreed), the Ministry of Regional Development of Russia (if mutually agreed), chambers of industry and commerce as well as representatives of small and medium business community of the North-West of Russia. The economic congress will provide plenty of room for a fruitful dialog related to development of the economy of Russian and European cities, cooperation between small and medium business enterprises of Hanseatic cities and the role of municipalities and chambers of industry and commerce in creating an environment conducive to business and economy growth.

Among things on the agenda of the congress are reports, discussions, visits to the enterprises of Novgorod the Great with foreign investments, the international industry-and-commerce exhibition and the display of investment proposals.

Novgorod the Great is a city with a rich historical heritage and a well-established system of history research and development. Traditionally, the city hosts international historical conferences of different levels. During the Hanseatic days the city will become a scene for the conference on fortresses relevant to the history of many Hanseatic cities.

A traditional procession of all participants and guests will become a spectacular and colorful climax of the XXIX Hanseatic Days in Novgorod. In front of thousands of viewers, representatives of Hanseatic cities, workers of the fair and the historical market, cultural and artistic companies will go in a festive procession across the historical center of the city to Sophia square. Finally, in the presence of the President of the Hansa, the Mayor of Novgorod the Great will pass over the torch of the Hanseatic days to the Mayor of Parnu.

For Novgorod the Great the celebration of the XXIX Hanseatic Days is a unique chance to become aware of its significance as a city with the Hanseatic history, and moreover, to open up opportunities for all-embracing cooperation with modern European cities.

The fact of the city hosting such a large-scale international forum will spotlight one more time the historical and cultural appeal of Novgorod the Great which maintains traditions of centuries-long partnership relations between Europe and Russia.

Development of the city’s tourism potential, partnership cultural and economic relations, both national and international, will provide an impulse for the economic development of the Novgorod the Great and the Oblast.

Thorough preparation for and successful carrying out of the XXIX International Hanseatic Days of the New Times will become another building block of the positive image of the modern-day Russia.

Program of Hanseatic Days