The secret of Tbilisoba’s popularity

 

Georgia’s former leader Eduard Shevardnadze seems to have been a wise politician. Some of his decisions were in fact remarkable. For instance, it was Shevarnadze who introduced the holiday of the Georgian capital, or Tbilisoba.  The holiday is still popular even though Shevardnadze is long gone.

The holiday was first celebrated in 1979 and at first seemed a bit artificial. However eventually its has become as popular as the New Year. Before that the day of Tbilisi was never celebrated, the only city that had its own holiday was Mtskhet, the ancient capital of Georgia.

According to the common belief, the modern capital of Georgia was founded in the first century AD.  At the turn of the XIX – XX centuries Tbilisi became a country’s main city due to its rapid growth. Urbanization continued during the Soviet period and Tbilisi became a big cultural and industrial center.

Since 1979 only one annual celebration was cancelled. It happened in 1992, when the city was struck by civil war. Since then Tbilisoba has been observed annually. Each year resident of Tbilisi celebrate the day of their city cooking shashlyks and kababi, and drinking wine.

Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively for VK.