From Religious Celebration to Marine Feast

15 August is commemorating the death of Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ in the Orthodox Church, and it’s the Assumption of Virgin Mary in the Catholic theology. It’s not a public holiday in Romania, not in the sense that all offices close and people celebrate with their families, but it is, nevertheless, an important mark in our calendars. For the children of the sea this day brings another event in the spot lights: the Marine Day and this is what I am going to write about today.

Virgin Mary is also the spiritual protector of the Navy, so August 15 was naturally chosen as the Day of the Navy or the Marine Day. It was first celebrated onboard of Elisabeth cruiser by all the Sea Division officers August 15, 1902.

There’s not much information available about the history of the event. We do know that the first festivities took place in 1902 and that the celebration became more and more popular as time went by.

In 1925 the sailors onboard of vessel Mircea – now the school vessel of the Romanian Military Maritime Academy of Constanta – celebrated the Navy Day in harbor Cuda of Crete.

In 1928 the festivities had special guests: Polish sailors from the vessel Lwow. It was the first time when a foreign crew participated in this national event. New sailor games were added, some with amusing names like The Black Sea Whale, The Old Man’s Fleet, etc.

1933 added to the program various contests (boating, swimming, swimming horses, etc) and fun activities (like ducks chasing). Basically each year brought something new and fresh in the program. Theatrical representations were included after the World War II, in 1956, when actors from the Naval Academy put in stage comedy sketches like “The Wedding Attacked by Pirates.” Neptune himself joins the festivities in his boat-chariot in 1958 and he never left them ever since.

Many things have changed since 1958: the celebration became richer, new games were added and new traditions emerged. The most spectacular part of the event takes place in front of the Casino in Constanta, which is situated in the immediate vicinity of the harbor.

If you visit Romania in August and you happen to be at the Black Sea shore on the 15^th, you will probably watch in wonder the military parades, the fireworks and the sea games. Neptune riding the waves on the back of a whale is not a daily occurrence - it happens just once a year, on August 15.

Each year a flower anchor is thrown into the sea in memory of the heroic sailors who died in battle protecting Romania. Each year on August 15 the National Hymn resounds at the shore followed by 21 artillery salvos.

Games and challenges complete the naval and air parades. The festivities continue till late at night with music, dance and fireworks. The Constanta Harbor (or Tomis Harbor) becomes the main attraction of the season on this day, despite the fact that similar festivities are organized in other harbors as well for example Mangalia, Tulcea, Orsova and Galati.

This year however, the celebration in Galati will only feature military and religious ceremonies, as all civilian entertainment has been cancelled at the initiative of major Dumitru Nicolae who decided to use the funds to help the victims of the floods that took place in the north of the country.