Valentine's Day in Japan is celebrated in a completely unique style - it is women who give gifts to men. Exactly one month after Valentine's Day, namely on March 14th, White Day is celebrated. They are inseparable like Yin and Yang, and there is no point in celebrating one without the other. So what is White Day and how did it come about?
Tropic Day
On June 29, the UN system of international days marks International Tropical Day. Its main goal is to raise awareness of the tropics and the special difficulties of these regions.
The tropical zones and their corresponding climate zones are located south and north of the equator between the Tropic of Capricorn in the south and the Tropic of Cancer in the north. The tropics are characterized by a hot climate, predominantly arid inland and more humid on the coasts, where moisture is brought from the ocean. The tropics as a region occupy 40% of the world's total area, where about 80% of all biological species on Earth are concentrated, as well as a significant part of languages and cultures. Although tropical countries have made significant progress, they still face different challenges in the area of sustainable development.
International Tropical Day was established by the UN General Assembly to raise awareness at all levels of the special challenges faced by tropical regions and the far-reaching consequences of problems affecting this area of the world. It also aims to highlight the important role that tropical countries will play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and area.
Valentine's Day symbol
The symbolism of a romantic celebration is known to everyone. The most popular items are those in the shape of a red heart, especially Valentine's cards. The attributes of the day of love can be made in various designs: heart-shaped chocolates, balloons, decorative pillows, gift wrapping, refrigerator magnets, plush toys holding a heart in their paws.
Another symbol of the holiday is red roses, symbolizing passion and fiery feelings. However, flowers can be given in a different color, depending on the meaning the giver has invested in them.
Chocolate heart
Red roses
Wedding rings are exchanged by those couples who are ready to legitimize their relationship and register their marriage. Traditionally, many engagement parties are held in churches in honor of Valentine's Day.
An equally popular symbol of Valentine's Day is Cupid, whose image can be found everywhere. The mischievous Sagittarius seeks to impress with his weapon, giving instant love.
Wine battle
Every year in Haro, a small Italian town, a festival takes place, which until recently was unique - in terms of location and customs. Namely, at this event people pour red wine on each other. This battle is known as the Battle of Wine and takes place on June 29th every year. However, today the Italians enjoy the national pastime so much that now the same festival is held by Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, Malta, Peru, Rome, Sao Paulo and Chile. Even in the strict papal Vatican they do not shy away from pouring “little red” on their neighbor on this day, and who knows, maybe the holiday will be appropriate in Ukraine.
There are quite a few stories about how the battle began. One of the legends says that the festival is associated with a conflict that began between the inhabitants of Aro and a neighboring village back in the 10th century. Then the residents of the two villages could not divide the mountain range. According to the second legend, the battle is associated with the celebration of Peter and Paul Day.
In general, the wine festival lasts three whole days, starting on June 27th. For two days before the battle, people just have fun. This is when the wine flows like a river! But, despite everything, everyone is not in a very festive mood. Everyone is saving their strength for the last day.
The holiday begins at 7 am, when everyone who wants to take part in the holiday gathers in a procession. Important! – everyone is dressed in a white T-shirt, and ties a red scarf around their head or neck. People are holding bottles, cans and buckets of red wine. Many also carry water pistols and homemade bombs. All this will come in handy! Then the participants in the battle return, and no one changes clothes, despite the fact that the clothes are wet and have a strong smell of wine.
Also in the evening there are bullfights, which are organized for young people. By the way, it is not bulls, but young heifers, who are released for fighting.
Wine that visited the ISS will be sold at auction
What is celebrated in other countries on June 29:
- NKR - Day of the Fallen for the Motherland
- Russia – Day of Partisans and Underground Workers
- Seychelles – Independence Day
White Day
A month later, on March 14, it is the men’s turn to distribute chocolates to their girlfriends and colleagues. Many other countries in East Asia celebrate White Day, although it originated as a Japanese holiday in 1978, giving men an opportunity to show appreciation for the gifts they received on Valentine's Day. It's a popular day in Asia for romantic dates or just having a special dinner together at home.
And on White Day, various events are held, including strange ones: for example, in 2021, the company Soft on Demand organized the replenishment of electricity to a glowing heart with the help of pedaling virgins. You can read more here.
What is today's Orthodox church holiday?
June 29 is known as Tikhonov Day. The fact is that according to the Orthodox church calendar, on June 29, three saints with the name Tikhon are remembered.
Saint Tikhon lived in the second half of the 4th – beginning of the 5th century in the city of Amafunta on the island of Cyprus. For his excellent knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and a godly life, Christians first elected him archpastor, and later bishop. With his sermons, Saint Tikhon converted many pagans of Cyprus to Christianity. Around his city, he destroyed all the idols and destroyed the temples of the pagans. The saint died peacefully at a ripe old age in 425.
Tikhon Medynsky was born in Kyiv, but took monastic vows at the Moscow Miracle Monastery. After a while, he left the monastery and retired to a deserted place not far from Kaluga. The hermit settled in a dense forest in the oak of a large oak tree, where he placed icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. The monk ate forest plants and drank water from a well he built with his own hands. Later, many people received healing from this water. Tikhon founded a monastery in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and became its first abbot.
The Monk Tikhon Lukhovskoy was born in the Principality of Lithuania and served in military service there. Not wanting to accept Uniateism, in 1482, he gave away all his property and moved to Kievan Rus, where he became a monk. The saint withdrew into the forests, where he built a cell. The Monk Tikhon died on June 16, 1503. At the site of his death, a monastery was soon erected in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Signs and traditions of this day
Translated from Greek, Tikhon means “happy.” The name has nothing to do with the word “quiet”. And yet, it is on Tikhon that the songbirds become quiet and stop singing. This is due to the fact that the hatched chicks require food and the parents have no time to sing at this time. Only cuckoos and nightingales continue to voice their voices - as a rule, until Peter's Day on July 12.
On Tikhonov Day in Kievan Rus they organized a cleanup - a feast for workers who helped transport manure to the fields. They were treated to dinner and wine, and after the meal there were songs and dances.
On this day, the late sowing of spring grain, which began on Midsummer's Day on June 7, necessarily ends.
- The fern folds its leaves in the morning - the next day will be sunny and hot.
- Field bindweed, dandelion or carnation have closed their flowers - for rain.
- If the reeds, bullcutter and holly seem to be crying, then precipitation will soon fall.
- The colored rainbow turns white - the bad weather will end soon.
- The fewer drops of rain, the longer it will fall.
- The Milky Way is clear - for sunny weather.
- Early dew means a clear day.
- If water bubbles in puddles when it rains, the rain will increase.
The history of the origin of Valentine's Day
There are several versions of the origin of the holiday. According to one of them, the origins of Valentine's Day originated in the distant times of the power of the Roman Empire, when the stern Emperor Claudius ⅠⅠ forbade marriages, since bloody wars were fought in those years. According to the ruler, the soldiers did not want to join the ranks of the legions because they could not be separated from their loved ones.
The priest Valentin decided to challenge the cruel taboo, and conducted the marriage ceremony in secret from the emperor. When Claudius the Hard-hearted learned of the violation of the ban, he ordered Valentine to be taken into custody. The cleric remained in captivity for the rest of his life, until he was beheaded on February 14; Valentine's Day was named after him and this event.
Roman Emperor Claudius ⅠⅠ
Priest Valentin
Who was born on this day
- 1897 – Pavel Volkov, actor.
- 1900 – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, French writer.
- 1934 – Lyudmila Sosyura, “Born of the Revolution” actress.
- 1947 – Mikhail Ilyenko, Ukrainian actor, director and screenwriter.
- 1948 – Ian Paice, drummer for the English rock band Deep Purple.
- 1957 – Maria Conchita Alonso, American actress and singer of Cuban origin.
- 1964 – Olga Mashnaya, actress.
- 1972 – Samantha Reed Smith, American schoolgirl who wrote a letter to Andropov.
- 1978 – Nicole Scherzinger, American singer and actress from the Pussycat Dolls.
History on this day
- 1174 – Poltava was first mentioned in the Ipatiev Chronicle, under the name Ltava. The name Poltava appeared only in 1430.
- 1900 – the illegal All-Russian Congress of Students opened in Odessa.
- 1911 – the first Russian battleship Sevastopol was launched (pictured).
- 1916 - First flight of a Boeing aircraft.
- 1945 - The USSR and Czechoslovakia signed an agreement on the accession of Transcarpathian Ukraine to the Ukrainian SSR.
- 1954 - after the famous Robert Oppenheimer (pictured) refused to participate in the creation of the hydrogen bomb, he was denied access to secret developments.
- 1957 – removal of V. M. Molotov from power.
- 1958 – Brazil became world champion in football for the first time.
- 1985 – John Lennon’s former Rolls-Royce was sold in New York for $2,229,000.
- 2000 – The Ukrainian Security Service registered its website on the Internet.
Reform of the SBU: shoulder straps will be removed and “secret prisons” will be banned
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