All those who speak Russian or study this language have an extra holiday on November 22nd, which is Dictionary Day. It is celebrated annually and commemorates the birthday of the great Russian lexicographer and writer Vladimir Dal (1801-1872), the maker of Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language. This is the largest and most outstanding dictionary in the Russian lexicography. The author worked on it for 53 years all in all and it was the living, spoken Russian language, the language of the people that formed the bedrock of the dictionary. In spite of the fact that the dictionary was made in 19th century it is not merely a ‘memorial’ to the Russian language – people use it even today!

The people behind this holiday initiative encourage everyone to use the Russian language dictionaries more actively. Because a dictionary is not just a book. It is the ‘Universe in the alphabetic order’!