23 august - Ziua Națională a României comuniste
23rd of August – National day of Communist Romania

Summary/Abstract: Each and every communist anniversary follows the some pattern. The differences come from the details. The fact that the communist obtained the political power without the popular support and that the population remained loyal to their old political convictions (the historical parties and the monarchy) forced the communist leaders into finding new ways to control the population. Propaganda played an important role in frightening the masses. For instance, every each communist manifestation came with a well-prepared plan where every participant played his rehearsed part. The free-will disappears when the speaker is told by the higher authorities what to say, what slogans he should enchant, when to applaud or what portraits he should bring on meeting. Starting from 1944, The Communist Party tried to assimilate the Declaration of the 23rd of August, taking merits that were not rightfully theirs. In June, at the meeting for the leaders of the district committees` “Agitation and Propaganda” resorts, Iosif Chişinevschi, already offered a mystified version of the 23rd of August Declaration, baying the events took place „due to the heroism and the liberating fight of the Red Army” and „the Romanian democracies forces, lead by the Communist Party” and „in spite of Maniu`s will”. Changing the perception about the events from 1944 didn’t occur only on reversing the forces ratio but also on the way they called the events on the 23rd of August. From “the national day of the Romanian People”, “the Act of the 23rd of August” or “the historical act”, the communist` changed the name to “the day of liberation from the fascist oppression” (after the Mihai`s abdication) or “antifascist army insurrection” (after 1964) and “anti-imperialist” (after 1977). Changing the national day to the 23rd of August took place in 1949 and it was suggested by Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej. From a close analyses of the development of the communist celebrations (for the 1st of May, the 7th of November, the Party’s day the Army’s Day, the communist leaders` anniversaries and commemorations) we can draw some conclusions.

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