Krasnaya Gvozdika – Red Carnations
When I was young I learned that the Second World War started on September 1st, 1939 as the result of the German invasion of Poland. (For the record, it was a joint invasion by both Germany and the Slovak Republic, a small “puppet” state created in March that year. The Slovak Republic contributed 50,000 to a campaign.)
Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later in accordance with their treaty obligations to Poland, (along with members of the British Commonwealth at that time: Australia, India and New Zealand).
However, nothing in life is simple, and there are a number of other dates which have been suggested.
I remember sitting in the back of a History Lesson when I head of Information Technology back in Britain, attending to a computer problem and hearing the teacher point out to the class that the idea that the war began in September 1939 was a very chauvinistic one, representing a parochial view. This event, he went on to say, represented a European perspective – a European War. If we had been Americans, then we would probably date the start of the war as, Sunday December 6th, 1941, when Japanese forces attack Pearl Harbour, in Hawaii.
I can’t remember if it was Albert Steptoe or Alf Garnett who put down an American character in an episode of their respective comedy shows, who would insist on talking about the “1917-18 war” and the “1941-45 war” with the line “Late, as usual”. As is often the case, however, there is an element of seriousness in the humour. As far as the American’s were concerned these were the dates of the First and Second World War … when seen from the perspective of the United States.
In fact, the teacher continued, there was a case to say that the war started much earlier, as some of the nations who were to be combatants in the global conflagration on one side or the other, were, in fact, already in combat with each other. He suggested that was an argument that the hostilities in the conflict actually began on September 13th, 1931, with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.
The British historian, AJP Taylor argued, however, that there were in fact two independent conflicts, (a Sino-Japanese War in East Asia, and a Second European War involving European nations and their colonies), which merged together in 1941 to become a single, global, conflict
Kyrgyzstan was at that time a constituent republic of the USSR. In keeping with the countries of the former Soviet Union, although they know the title “Second World War”, they refer to the “Great Patriotic War”. Like their long time rivals as a Super Power, the United States, the Great Patriotic War started in 1941, on 22nd June, when German forces, (including troops from her allies, Hungary, Italy, Romania, the Slovak Republic and small, anti-Bolshevik units from throughout the Nazi occupied territories), launched Operation Barbarossa and invaded the Soviet Union.
Generally speaking, the start of the war is not commemorated here, but the end of the was is. Dehn Pobeda, (Victory Day), is commemorated on May 9th.
In Kyrgyzstan, the day is usually marked by a parade in the centre of Bishkek. The President issues a proclamation congratulating veterans on the holiday and announcing special awards or bonuses for pensioners. In the days surrounding the holiday a number of events, such as concerts and festivals, (gatherings of veterans) are arranged and for those who watch local television, all the channels tend to show war films.
One of the veterans’ festivals is known as Krasnaya Gvozdika – “Red Carnations” and we, the Celestial Mountains Tour Company, have been one of their sponsors for several years.
To be honest, our connection with the festival is an accident of geography. The Choir who host the festival used to be based in the Music School which is, literally, “in our back yard”.
Because they are our neighbours, we have gotten to know each other over the years. Their staff and ours greet each other each other as we pass on our way to school or office. It was all very polite and cordial, then one day the school’s Deputy Director came to see me. They had an event planned and, at the last moment, one of the sponsors had to pull out of the event and that had “left them in the lurch”. She asked if it was at all possible for us step into the breach and help them out. It was as simple as that.
One thing led to another and, unfortunately, as time went by more sponsors found that they had other demands on their company’s “sponsorship fund” and so they found our modest contribution a vital lifeline, and we became one their main sponsors.
One of the main reasons a company undertakes to sponsor an event is for advertising. Our contribution is no value to us in terms of advertising. Our clients are not here in Bishkek and wouldn’t really ever hear about it. Let’s be frank, you probably wouldn’t know anything about it if you weren’t reading this. Another reason, of course, is for public relations within the local community. The fact that they were based in the next door building to our office gave us a chance to be “good neighbours”, and I suppose that is one reason why I agreed initially to help them out in a time of crisis.
Last year, the choir moved its base from the neighbouring school, and so we lost that particular connection with it and the festival. Despite this, I am happy to continue our relationship with them, not because it brings us any particular advantage, but simply because “it is a good thing to do”.
The festival takes the form of a competition which usually lasts two days and then there is a gala concert where the winners perform.
I am always impressed at the gala concert how the participants dress up, some in their old uniforms, many displaying medal ribbons, and nearly all wear the ribbon of St. George, with three black stripes on an orange background. (The Order of St. George was an old heraldic order in the Tsarist empire which was abolished in the early days of the Soviet Union, but reintroduced as the medal commemorating the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War. Almost 15,000,000 medals were awarded to those who were involved in combat action during the war.)
The participants perform with gusto and clearly derive pleasure from the festival, whether the pieces are songs from the period, modern works or examples of traditional music, (such as Cossack, Tartar, Russian, and Kyrgyz). There is also a category for reciting poems and monologues.
Due to the nature of the target group, veterans of the war, whether combatants or workers on the “Home Front”, (Labour veterans), most of the participants are sexagenarians, and their numbers are, sadly, dwindling year by year. Of course, veterans are held in high regard, receive many concessions and are greeted with congratulatory message from the president on Victory day. May 9th, Victory Day, is their day.
They suffered greatly during the privations of the war. The Soviet people suffered huge losses during the four years of war, and the population of Kyrgyzstan was literally decimated. They gave so much, that a little assistance in organizing a festival seems so little in return.
There is one question that has intrigued me over the years, ever since that first visit: Why is the festival called “Red Carnations:?
Carnations several symbolic meanings associated with them. Although white carnations represent a pure love and good luck and a pink carnation is the symbol of of a mother’s undying love, (indeed, in some parts of the world, the carnation is the flower that symbolizes Mothers’ Day), the flower is often associated with less positive notions. Although a purple carnation is thought to indicate capriciousness, it also serves one of the traditional “funeral flowers” in France, given to express condolences on the death of a loved one. Indeed, in France and other Francophile countries, the flower is commonly associated with misfortune and bad luck. Variegated carnations represent regret that a love cannot be shared. Apparently, because they were favoured by Oscar Wilde, green carnations became a symbol representing homosexuality, although I am not sure how on earth he got green carnations. The carnation is the national flower of Spain and a scarlet carnation is the State flower of Ohio.
Red carnations also have particular meanings or symbolism associated with them: If purple carnations are one of the funeral flowers in France, then so are red and white carnations throughout the countries of the Soviet Union. Laying an even number of red carnations on a grave or war memorial signifies mourning and remembrance. Light red carnations represent admiration and respect, while dark red ones denote a deep love and affection. In some countries they are worn on May Day as a symbol of the labour movement, and it is the symbol of the Portuguese Carnation Revolution in 1974. In Oxford, undergraduates traditionally wear white carnations to their examinations, but this is replaced by a red one on the occasion of their final examination.
None of these, however, are the reason they decided to call this festival after this particular flower.
The carnation was the national flower chosen to symbolize the Soviet Union, whilst the colour red is the colour of blood, symbolizing the “blood red flag” of the Soviet Union under which had fought in the defence of the motherland.
Bishkek