International Morality Day is a holiday that is so young that many people to this day do not know about its existence. The memorial date, calling for a big and open heart, was established by the UN General Assembly in July 2019. The purpose of the international holiday is to celebrate the importance of morality and ethics in a sustainable world, for which the main thing is to be far from wars, violence and inequality. On July 25, 2019, the UN signed a resolution aimed at adding to the number of significant international holidays, such as the Day of Tolerance, the Day of Non-Violence and the Day of Peaceful Existence. This resolution became a kind of reminder that moral values ​​are the basis of all international documents. All civilized countries, their commonwealths and socially important organizations are obliged to join its annual celebration, namely on April 5th. Speaking about significant international documents, we are talking about the most important among them – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following the principles embedded in its foundation contributes to the formation of a sustainable world, where peace and harmony can only be achieved if one does not rely on political and economic agreements alone. On the one hand, morality is a subjective concept and can be interpreted differently by each of us. On the other hand, there are principles common to humanity, the significance of which there is not a single doubt. The main principle is the equality of rights of all people. A person should not be discriminated against on the basis of race, gender, religion or other objectionable differences. Everyone is equal in rights and before the law. The second principle states that a person is allowed everything that does not infringe on the interests and rights of others. This includes both issues that are controlled by law and those that remain within the moral and ethical framework. For example, deceiving or betraying a loved one is not a crime and such actions are not punishable by law, but any immoral act can cause him suffering, which goes against morality. Similar principles have been illuminated from time immemorial by religion, which was the first regulator of human actions. It is important to note that moral principles are important not only for individuals, but also for society as a whole. Otherwise, their neglect will provoke chaos - eternal values ​​will disappear, and gradual but massive degradation will occur. In order not to go astray from the moral path, it is enough to be guided by the good old rule, which calls for doing unto others as you would like them to do unto you. In other words, it is important to respect the rights, feelings and beliefs of others. In today's world, the problem of human culture is quite acute. Summing up what has been said, we can emphasize the main thing: the quality of life of a society is directly proportional to its morality. In a society where understanding and respect reign, a person is truly protected and free. The UN General Assembly calls on everyone to celebrate the holiday, which takes place on April 5th - individual states, civil society structures, international as well as local organizations. To become part of a cultural society, you just need to congratulate others on the holiday, do at least one good deed and do not forget that without tolerance and mutual respect, humanity has no chance for a bright future.

On April 5, in honor of the victory of Alexander Nevsky’s squad over the knights of the Livonian Order, Russian Nation Day is celebrated. Hundreds of soldiers of the Novgorod and Vladimir-Suzdal principalities died in the Battle of the Ice. The initiative to celebrate the victory belongs to representatives of the National Bolshevik Party under the leadership of E. Limonov. Members of the NBP began celebrating the Day of the Russian Nation in 1996. After a while, the holiday became all-Russian - every year on April 5, rallies and other events are held to commemorate the victory in the battle of 1242 on Lake Peipus. Do you know that... The famous phrase of A. Nevsky “On this the Russian land stood and will stand” does not belong to the Novgorod prince? The chronicles do not mention anywhere that the great commander ever used this now popular expression. The phrase, which very aptly reflects the essence of the main character of the 1938 film by S. Eisenstein "Alexander Nevsky", belongs to the pen of screenwriter P. Pavlenko. The Battle of Lake Peipsi at the Crow (Black) Stone took place on April 5, Saturday, 6750 years from the creation of the world. Russian soldiers adopted the traditional “eagle” formation, the German ones - “pig”. Ahead of A. Nevsky’s squad was a rifle regiment, heavily armed infantry and cavalry were located on the left and right flags. The Livonians placed the most combat-ready part of the army - the heavy bollard knights and Chudins (representatives of the Finno-Ugric tribe) - in the middle of the army. According to chroniclers, the German army crushed the first ranks of Nevsky's squad and stopped in the center of the lake on fragile ice. The Livonians could not move due to the fact that they were surrounded by Russian soldiers on both flanks. The thin spring ice began to crack under the Germans dressed in heavy armor, and they began to sink to the bottom. The other part of the crusaders began to retreat in a hurry. Did you know that... The activities of the National Bolshevik Party were recognized as extremist in 2007 and banned on the territory of the Russian Federation? Its leader E. Limonov was arrested several times, and in 2003 he was sentenced to 4 years in prison. Despite this, the tradition of celebrating the Day of the Russian Nation, begun at the initiative of the NBP, continues to be adhered to by many patriotic organizations of the Russian Federation. The battle on Lake Peipus is mentioned in only a few sources, and then very briefly, in contrast to the detailed description of the Neva Battle of 1240. The most complete picture of the Battle of the Ice is given by the Novgorod first chronicle of the senior edition (edition). It glorifies the courage and military prowess of the prince’s squad. Other sources written by eyewitnesses talk about help coming to A. Nevsky from above. A certain “regiment of God everywhere,” a mirage that arose over the battlefield, determined the outcome of the battle. Representatives of alternative chronology A. Fomenko and G. Nosovsky draw attention to the inconsistencies that exist in official history when covering the events of April 5, 1242. Thus, the place of the battle is called differently in ancient sources. In some - Lake Peipus, located in the Pskov region, in others (for example, in the Vologda Chronicle) - Lake Ladoga. Both bodies of water are far from each other, at a distance of almost 200 kilometers. In European sources, the Battle of the Ice is called the Battle of Lake Peipus. The Synodal list says that after the battle, Russian troops pursued the fleeing crusaders for about 7 miles. Information that the Germans were falling through the ice appeared much later. A number of historians believe that we owe the origin of the myth about the sinking crusaders to the director S. Eisenstein and his film about Nevsky. The more time passes from the moment of the epoch-making event, the more disputes and disagreements arise among researchers. And in this sense, the Battle of the Ice is no exception. The myths and legends that surround the battle with the crusaders do not in the least detract from its historical significance. And therefore, paying tribute to their ancestors, their descendants celebrate Russian Nation Day on April 5.

The Night of Power and Predestination is a special date in the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. The Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon, so the significant night falls on a different date each year. Theologians calculate the most appropriate time - as a rule, this is the last ten days, but a distinctive purpose is assigned to the night of the 27th of Ramadan (but not categorically). Usually, night falls on odd-numbered days. Since Ramadan itself occurs not only in summer, but also in winter, annually shifting 10 or 11 days back relative to the regular calendar, there is not even a fixed month for the special Night. An interesting fact is that the vague wording “last 10 days”, when it is allowed to catch this night, is very wise. It encourages believers to worship diligently throughout the entire period of time. It is also determined by external signs - quiet, calm weather without precipitation. On this night the stars do not fall, and the sun rises without rays. Another name, Laylatul-qadr, reflects the fact that the first of the 114 suras of the Koran was sent that night. This happened in the early years of the mission of Muhammad, an Arab preacher considered a prophet in the fairly young religion of Islam, but who currently has more than 1 billion followers. In 610, according to legend, when the prophet was in the cave of Hira (an area near Mecca), an angel appeared to him. This was one of the four closest to Allah, Jabrail. He appeared to the prophet for almost 23 years and this is how the Koran arose, which became a faithful guide for Muslims, and in some Islamic countries it also became quite active legislation. The 97th sura, revealed to Muhammad, consists of 5 revelations called verses. It is presented briefly, expressively and emphasizes the significance of Al-Qadra. It says that the Koran was revealed on this night, and Allah determines the affairs for the next year and the destiny of each person. This is a night of goodness and tranquility, characterized by the absence of evil, and angels descend from heaven in groups until dawn. Power manifests itself in increased mercy towards its followers during this period. A true believer spends the night in prayer and repentance. A special prayer for the forgiveness of sins is tawbah, which is expressed in the tongue but fixed in the heart. Sincere action gives hope for forgiveness. You can take an example from Muhammad: spend the dark time of day in a mosque. Reading the Koran on this night can give up to 30 thousand blessings for each letter read. It is very beneficial that the wise Koran makes it possible to receive so many benefits. Muslim public figures try not to leave this night unattended, coinciding with the release of books on the topic of religion. In 2016, on a significant date, a new mosque was opened in Istanbul with the largest complex in the history of Turkey. Millions of believers gather annually at the main mosque in the closed city of Mecca. To spend the last ten days of Ramadan with dignity, observing all the recommendations and commandments, means trying to achieve perfection and gain the mercy of the Almighty. In Laylatul Qadr, you can ask for a good future for yourself and hope that Allah will definitely hear.

Papamochani Ekadashi in India

The word “soup” evokes its own associations for each of us - someone remembers situations from childhood when their parents forced them to eat the first thing, and someone thinks about traveling to France - where he had the opportunity to try traditional French onion soup for the first time. It is believed that soup is a French dish, because the word itself came to us from France, however, as it turned out, every nation, every country, every continent has its own traditional soups. If you think about it, soup is a broth with pieces of vegetables, meat, fish, mushrooms, seafood or bread. There is even coffee-based soup, there are soups made from mud - in short, there are all sorts of first courses. Rightfully, this liquid nutritious food is recognized as one of the most useful of every person’s daily diet. Actually, “soup”, literally, is a stew in which bread is soaked, but cooking has come far ahead and this tasty and healthy dish for any person’s body is not prepared from anything nowadays. By the way, many doctors believe that during illness, chicken broth or any other made from dietary meat is very useful. But for those who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it would be better to eat vegetable broth. In short, for each individual case there is a liquid food that will help the body feel healthy. There are types of the former - for example, borscht or cabbage soup - that can be kept in the refrigerator for several days without losing their beneficial properties, even enriching their own taste during the infusion process. Thus, this food can save time - it does not need to be prepared daily. It is interesting that, among other things, soup is also a very financially economical dish, where there were problems with food - families who suffer from a lack of money all over the world know very well that the easiest way to saturate the body is with broth, based on vegetables or cooked on the bone. Many housewives or cooks, when preparing the first course, boiling potatoes, mushrooms or meat, leave the broth for it, and use the meat or mushrooms or vegetables in the preparation of other dishes. The whole world is so accustomed to soups that this food even has its own holiday - International Soup Day. It is celebrated on April 5 - you can start a unique tradition, on this day you can eat this dish, which is prepared according to a new recipe. There is no end to the variety of this first liquid dish. Whatever it is made from, there are about 200 types of soup in the world and several thousand recipes for making them. Try to prepare unique soups, changing the recipe each time you prepare them - and your family will be grateful to you for the variety in your diet.

The term “Steppe Code” first appeared thanks to Iakinfu Bichurin. This traveler, orientalist, historian and part-time archimandrite of the Russian Orthodox Church, among his other works, was engaged in translations of ancient literary monuments of the Kalmyk and Mungal peoples. The primary source of his works is called succinctly, “Their Tsaaz” (Yeke сaaji) and the most accurate translation would be “The Great Code”. But Bichurin did not dare to call this document “Great”; in the context of the Russian Empire it would sound absurd. We were talking about the peoples (Oirats, Mungals, Kalmyks) who originally occupied the steppe lands of the Empire and based their laws on the peculiarities of living and living in the steppes. That is why the epithet “steppe” was used, as denoting territorial and partly ethnic affiliation. Kalmyks were clearly associated with these grassy plains. So much so that Pushkin boldly called the representative of this people “a friend of the steppes.” On his way to the Caucasus in 1829, Alexander Sergeevich spent several days with a Kalmyk family, lived in a tent, drank the famous Kalmyk herbal tea made with lamb fat, saw ceremonies, rituals and knew what he was talking about. Since the majority of Kalmyks were then illiterate and could not challenge the accuracy of the translation, the term “Steppe Code” easily and quickly took hold and came into use in those circles where it was of interest. The people themselves considered their charter to be the Basic Law, an analogue of the Constitution, lived by it and did not know what it was called outside of their lands. When Kalmykia belonged to the USSR, there could be no talk of its own constitution. However, with the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Kalmykia, having acquired the status of a federal subject, becoming a republic within the Russian Federation, received the right to adopt its own Basic Law. This is what was done in 1994, on April 5th. Since then, this date has been celebrated as the Day of Adoption of the Steppe Code (Constitution) of the Republic of Kalmykia. On the territory of the republic, this day is a holiday and a day off; during it, ceremonial events are held, both at the formal and at the everyday level. The region is the only one in Russia and Europe where Buddhism is officially practiced. Representatives of over eighty nationalities coexist peacefully on its territory. People of different traditions, cultures and religions. Such tolerance towards one's neighbor and such peacefulness confirm the efficiency of the Basic Law of the Republic, its original effectiveness and rationality. The steppe code corresponds to the realities of the territory where the document is applied. It defines aspects of life, designates the rights of every citizen, allows you to realize yourself without causing harm to either society or the state. Such a Basic Law can safely be called workable, protecting the interests of the people subordinate to it, and the tradition of the holiday in honor of its adoption must be solemn.

On April 5 of each year, Migration Police Day is celebrated in the Republic of Kazakhstan. However, the holiday is not included in the official list of professional holidays of the Republic. As a general rule, this day and month were chosen for a reason, but are timed to coincide with a historical event. Thus, in 1993, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic adopted Resolution No. 256, called “Regulations on the passport system in the Republic of Kazakhstan.” With this act, the Cabinet made changes to the organization of the passport and visa service of Kazakhstan. Innovations in the system were not introduced due to the radical views of the then authorities, but the time demanded it. Although the founding date of the migration police, by all accounts, falls on 1993, in fact, only six years later did this service receive its modern name. Changes followed not only in the name, but also in the tasks, structure and functions of the body. Such innovations were caused by the high influx of foreign citizens into the Republic and, accordingly, the need to regulate the legal status of citizens and the procedure for their stay on the territory of Kazakhstan. It was necessary to resolve important issues facing the state. Such as: registration of citizenship, temporary registration, issuance of passports, registration of residence and many others. Particular attention was paid to citizens who were natives of the Republic and returned to their historical homeland. This order was received from the President himself. The regulation of the activities of the migration police is carried out by the norms of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and a whole array of its laws, which include the Laws “On Internal Affairs Bodies”, “On Citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, “On Migration of the Population”. Sources of norms include interdepartmental and interstate acts, as well as departmental instructions. Changes in the structure of the organization continue to this day. Thus, in April 2002, a platoon of the Rubezh single barrier system was created. Its main directions are the fight against illegal migration, drug and weapons smuggling by crossing the borders of the Republic. Although the Day has not received official recognition, traditionally police officers receive not only congratulations from colleagues and management, but are also encouraged by awards and bonuses in all departments of the service.

On April 5, fans of the ancient Iranian religion celebrate the holiday of Daena - the guardian of faith and religion. The religious teaching of Zoroastrianism is based on the victory of good over evil. This can only be achieved by standing on the side of good, when a person has good thoughts (humata), good words (hukhta) and good deeds (hvartsha). The Daena holiday is a time when a person must and can make the right choice that will help him take the path of the righteous. Dreams are of particular importance at this time, because, according to fans of this religion, dreams can be used to judge a person’s spiritual purity. The Great Daena plays a serious role in Zoroastrianism; it is she who meets the souls of the dead and evaluates their words and deeds. And then he decides what this soul deserves: heaven or hell. In human form, Daen is given the opportunity to be seen only three times: the first time before death, the second time at the moment of death. For the third and very last time, Daena meets the soul “on the Chinvat Bridge,” through which she will help the soul move to the world of the dead. After death, everyone sees “their” Daena. For those who have lived a worthy, sinless life, it comes to them in the form of a beautiful young girl. Sinners will see a terrible, ugly old woman, from whom a grave-like cold emanates. In both hands there are caskets containing everything that a person has done during his earthly life. Daena takes the soul by the hand, leads it across the very narrow, sharp Chinvat Bridge, and only pure, sinless souls can cross it to get to the House of Praise. Daena will drag the rest into the underworld of Dujahve, to Ahriman. How is this day going? Firstly, in honor of Daena, 11 ritual candles should burn in the house all day long, because the number “11” is considered the sacred number of this holiday. In addition, special ritual food is consumed, namely green onions and garlic, lettuce leaves and other similar plant foods.

South Korea's annual Arbor Day is celebrated on April 5th. There are few public holidays in the country; they are often not declared days off. Tree Planting Day ceased to be a non-working day in 2006, but remains a solemn and beloved holiday. The territory of South Korea after the Japanese occupation and the Korean War was like a barren desert. Even grass did not cover the rocky mountains. A third of all forests were barbarically cut down, destroyed by insect caterpillars and burned. The country was facing an environmental disaster. The disappearance of forests would lead to the final impoverishment of the population. The first president of the republic, Rhee Syngman, set the day April 5, on which every citizen had to contribute to the greening of their native spaces. Since then, more than 11 billion trees have been planted in South Korea under a special reforestation program since 1949. The republic's forest service was established. This service rated mountain pine, honey locust and alder as the most promising species for heathland planting. In the 60s, the head of government, Pan Jeong Hee, introduced harsh laws criminalizing deforestation. Through joint efforts, forests were restored on an area of ​​almost 2.5 million hectares, fertile soils were saved, and their erosion was prevented. If the year is not a leap year, then April 5 falls on the 105th day after the winter solstice, the day of Hansika (Cold Food Festival). On this day, Koreans give the fire a rest so that it can be reborn to a new life. Any food should be served cold. All residents of South Korea go to cemeteries to visit the graves of their relatives. People take young tree seedlings with them and use them to plant trees around their burial grounds and surrounding area. Then they remove the garbage, straighten the graves and lay out tablecloths with refreshments for the living and the deceased on the burial mounds. It is believed that on this day the sky clears and a new spring is coming. By planting trees near tombstones, Koreans combine both holidays - Hansik and Green Day. Cold Food Day has Chinese roots. In China, there is a legend about a faithful servant who chose to burn in a fire with his mother, hugging a willow tree, rather than serve a ruler who had not fulfilled his duty. The servant was buried under a burnt willow, and the next year the willow came to life, the ruler wove a wreath from its branches and ordered the fires in all hearths to be extinguished in memory of the dead. In Korea, people go to Hansik with willow branches in their hands and do not light a fire.

Nikon's day in the folk calendar is celebrated on April 5 (or March 23 - according to the old calendar style). The holiday is named after Saint Nikon of the Pechersk, an 11th century Kyiv abbot revered by Orthodox believers on this date. It is known that Nikon was the first student of the mentor of the Kiev Pechersk Monastery. His duties included tonsuring new arrivals as monks. However, Nikon was drawn to a solitary life, he went to the Kerch Strait and settled there completely alone. The brethren were drawn to the wise monk, then he created a monastery in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos. Years later, Nikon was invited to take the position of abbot at the Kiev Pechersk Monastery. Among the Nikonov people, the day was spent putting things in order in the household. In the morning they cleaned the sleeping places and replaced the old straw in the mattresses with new ones. In the rooms they wiped dust from the shelves and washed the floors, and instead of detergent, a tincture of steamed mint was added to the water. It not only gave the room a fresh smell, favorable for sleep, but also had antiseptic properties. The peasants believed that mint could ward off evil spirits. They also drove out evil spirits by cleaning and painting the stove with lime. Dry mint branches were placed in it before kindling. In the barns they cleaned and removed manure, and then laid straw bedding for the cattle, adding some mint branches. Mint was popularly valued for its smell and was often added to drinks or as a spice in baked goods. They prepared tools for gardening work, repaired them if necessary, and then collected last year's leaves and branches from the plots. On Nikonov's day, they had already begun replanting garden trees in order to catch up before the period of sap movement in them. In order to protect the trees from insect pests, birds were invited into the garden. To do this, grains and bread crumbs were scattered around the area. In the evening, the peasants went to the bathhouse to wash off the dirt. Residents believed that its steam could cure diseases, wash away sinful deeds and protect against evil spirits. On Nikonov's day, infused mint was added to the bath steam. If the weather was warm on Nikon's day, and a light frost fell at night, the peasants predicted a fine April. A thunderstorm with unmelted snow foreshadowed a cool summer season. Clear stars at night meant there would be frost in the morning. A squirrel was seen jumping along the branches as the weather warmed up, and the sneezing of a cat promised rainy weather.

Meltwater Day is celebrated on April 5th. The annual holiday occurs during the period when the earth warms up, the snow melts, and streams flow. Legends mention living and dead water. Melted ice and snow are truly like a fairy elixir. The liquid has a healing and rejuvenating effect. Why do healing properties appear? The freezing-thawing process resets the “memory” of molecules. The structure of the liquid becomes similar to the protoplasm of the cells of the human body. Based on its origin, liquid is divided into two categories: natural and artificial. Natural sources include glaciers, ice floes, icebergs, and snow. Artificial melt water is obtained from frozen liquid. In winter, you can freeze water on balconies or loggias. According to scientific research, melt water has optimal pH, hardness and mineralization. When the state of aggregation changes, intermolecular bonds are destroyed. Therefore, the size of melt water molecules turns out to be smaller than the pores of cell membranes. The liquid you drink is easily absorbed by the body. As a result of regular use, metabolism is significantly accelerated. Due to its balanced composition, thirst is better quenched and the body’s water balance is restored. Regular intake of melt water is useful for cleansing blood vessels, kidneys, and liver. Reduces sugar and cholesterol levels. The functioning of the immune system improves. Slags and toxins are removed from the body. Allergies go away, the condition of the skin normalizes. Cells are saturated with active oxygen. Cellular regeneration processes are stimulated. Improves performance, memory, and concentration. Sleep phases are normalized. If you drink melt water, intestinal motility and nutrient absorption improve. Therefore, attacks of uncontrollable “eating” occur. Melt water is considered an important ingredient in sports nutrition, protein shakes, vegetable and fruit smoothies, and is used for brewing expensive teas. To achieve maximum effect, healthy drinking must be combined with proper nutrition and healthy walking. The required amount of fluid can be obtained by drinking a glass in the morning and evening half an hour before meals, and another 6-7 glasses during the day. It is better not to add any substances to the water. As a rule, a lasting effect appears after 3 months of regular use of melt water. In cosmetology, melt water is successfully used for washing, wiping the skin, washing, and rinsing hair. Cubes of frozen melt water are used to massage the face, neck, and décolleté areas. The contrast procedure improves skin elasticity. Wrinkles and age spots disappear. Regular washing of hair leads to increased growth rate, improved volume and thickness. Rinsing teeth protects against inflammation, prevents the development of periodontal disease and stomatitis. Tap water must be settled and filtered. The plastic bottle is filled 3/4 full and placed in the freezer. First, remove the ice crust that appears. Then, when most of the liquid turns into ice, the unfrozen part is drained. This fraction contains dangerous impurities. Defrosting is done at room temperature. Overheating above 42 degrees eliminates all the beneficial properties of the liquid. Humans are 70 percent water. Therefore, maintaining optimal water balance is very important for health. You can read more about the benefits of water, including melt water, in the books of Fereydon Batmanghelidj. Use all the available opportunities and you will be healthy and beautiful.

Orthodox holidays on April 5:

Memorial Day of the Venerable Martyr Nikon of Sicily

Memorial Day of St. Nikon of Pechersk, abbot