Putin's New Year Message to Russians

The Kremlin readout specifically says “Russian Citizens,” but I chose to shorten it to Russians. In Russian, the words for Fatherland, Motherland and Homeland are essentially interchangeable, and I don’t see any grounds to suspect Putin addressing Russians from a patriarchal POV. Some, like Mother Russia, Матушка Россия, are specific, but родина is general and could mean all three plus nation. In the third paragraph, we have Fatherland and Motherland used as bookends, with the first rendered as Отечества, the second as for the Motherland, за Родину, although if you play around with the word ordering you could get for the Homeland. I mention this because of a question raised several weeks ago as to the usage of those terms and how to discern which one is proper at what time. As I answered at the time, it would be best to ask a native Russian speaker to explain. I know there’re a few subscribers from Russia; perhaps they’ll provide an answer in the comments. One new point Putin adds that I haven’t read from him until today is within his specific words to Russia’s troops that I chose to emphasize. I’d like to think that’s a message to all of us involved in that pursuit. And in that vein, I say большое спасибо! Всех с наступающим Новым годом! Happy New Year to all!

Vladimir Putin: Dear citizens of Russia, Dear friends!

We are seeing off the year 2023. Very soon it will become a part of history, and we will have to go forward, create the future.

In the past year, we have worked hard and done a lot. We were proud of our common achievements and enjoyed our success. And we were firm, defending our national interests, our freedom and security, our values, which were and remain an unbreakable support for us.

And the main thing that united us and unites us is the fate of the Fatherland. Deep understanding of the highest significance of the historical stage that Russia is going through, the large-scale goals that society is facing, and the colossal responsibility for the Motherland that each of us feels.

We are acutely and distinctly aware of how much depends on ourselves during this period, on our attitude to the best, our desire to support each other in word and deed.

Working for the common good has brought society together. We are united in our thoughts, in work and in battle, on weekdays and holidays, showing the most important features of the Russian people – solidarity, mercy, and resilience.

Today I would like to appeal to our servicemen – to all those who are on the frontline of the struggle for truth and justice. You are our heroes. Our hearts are with you. We are proud of you and admire your courage.

I know that now you feel the love of your closest, dearest, and dearest people, the powerful and sincere support of millions of Russian citizens, and the support of the entire nation.

We have repeatedly proved that we can solve the most difficult problems and will never back down, because there is no force that can divide us, make us forget the memory and faith of our fathers, and stop our development.

Dear friends!

At any time, the New Year's celebration is both bright hopes and a sincere desire to please your loved ones.

The coming year of 2024 has been declared the Year of the Family in our country. And a real big family is, of course, one where children grow up, where attention, warmth and care for parents, love and respect for each other reign.

It is precisely from this kinship of all generations, love for the father's home, that loyalty to one's Fatherland is born and nurtured.

In the coming year, I would like to wish all Russian families the best. After all, from the history of each family, the history of our vast, beautiful and beloved Homeland is formed. Its fate is decided and created by all of us-the multinational people of Russia.

We are one country, one big family. We will ensure the confident development of the Fatherland, the well-being of our citizens, and become even stronger.

We are together. And this is the most reliable guarantee of the future of Russia.

Happy holidays to you, my dears! Happy New Year, 2024!

Now if Humanity can just grow the Family Idea that we may be diverse but we all constitute one family our planet will become a more peaceful, joyful place to live out our one and only priceless life.

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