Miner's Day Date in the current year: August 25, 2024

Alexey Stakhanov was a Soviet miner who worked in a Donbass coal mine in the city of Kadievka (which was later renamed Stakhanov in his honor). He became a celebrity on August 31, 1935, after having mined a record 102 tones of coal in a 6-hour shift.

This record set an example for all workers across the country and sparked the Stakhanovite movement. The term Stakhanovites referred to workers who overachieved at work and exceeded production.

In 1947, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union established Miner's Day to commemorate Stakhanov's record and recognize the significant contribution of the Soviet miners to the development of the country's industry. The first celebration of the holiday was held on August 29, 1948.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, some former Soviet republics discontinued the holiday. However, some republics with well-developed mining industry continued to celebrate it. They include Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.