September 6
WHAT’S IN A NAME DAY
The original name of Russia’s second largest city was restored on this day in 1991. The city of St. Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, hence the name, St. Petersburg. But it wasn’t always that simple.
In 1914, at the beginning of World War I, Russian leaders felt that Petersburg was too German-sounding. So they changed the name of the city to Petrograd -- to make it more Russian-sounding.
Then, in 1924, the country’s Soviet Communist leaders wanted to honor the founder of the Soviet Union, Vladimir I. Lenin. The city of Petrograd became Leningrad and was known as Leningrad until this day in 1991 when the new Russian legislators -- no longer Soviet Communists -- wanted the city to reflect their change of government.
What’s in a name? Well, it seems that if it’s a city’s name, it has a lot to do with the politics of the times. Just think, the Russians could have renamed their city, Yeltsingrad, rather than St. Petersburg. Kinda has a nice ring to it...
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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