Russian firefighters traditionally celebrate their professional holiday on April 30. On this day, it is customary to reward workers in the field with medals, certificates, letters of gratitude, as well as promotions and new titles. The indispensable attributes of the holiday are public congratulations, concerts and memorial evenings. The first fire watch went into service back in the 16th century, during the reign of Ivan III. Tsar Ivan the Terrible obliged every resident of the country to have available means at home to extinguish fires. “Combat” fire brigades appeared under Peter I. Their “working” tools included buckets, pipes, hooks, spears and axes. April 30 is the date of publication of the “Order on the City Deanery,” the author of which was Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. In the 17th century, he established a round-the-clock duty of firefighters, and clearly defined their functionality - to immediately extinguish fires and strictly monitor compliance with the fire safety code. Firefighters had the right to take harsh punitive measures against violators and initiators of “fiery bacchanalia.” The arsonists faced criminal liability for their actions. The royal order imposed a number of taboos: it was forbidden to heat baths in the summer unless absolutely necessary, and to light fires in wooden buildings. Cooking food was only allowed in the courtyards. During a fire, houses close to the fire were to be demolished. However, the law had a loophole for the rich: if they were willing to pay, firefighters were obliged to protect houses from fire. It was done like this: the archers placed shields made of bull skin around the house and continuously poured water on them. The first fire brigade appeared not in a large city, but in the Tver province. Until the middle of the 19th century, fire patrols included only staff members of the military department. However, after the introduction of compulsory military service, any citizen could become a firefighter. Moreover, his new professional path freed him from military service. In 1918, Lenin signed a decree “On the organization of measures to combat fire.” Among the main objectives of the document was the adoption of measures to prevent fires. At the turn of the millennium, Yeltsin signed a decree officially establishing Firefighter Day, which was set for April 30. • In Ancient Rus' they firmly believed that the place where lightning struck and a fire broke out was sacred. Therefore, it was forbidden to extinguish it with ordinary water; it was allowed to extinguish the fire only with milk. • The first fire truck appeared in St. Petersburg. The emergency service, consisting of 10 people, moved around the city in a miracle car at a speed of 15 km/h. • The first fire brigade appeared in England. Its “father-creators” were insurers who were interested in reducing damage from fires. For personal financial gain, they created the first fire extinguishing services. • Who and when invented the hydrant is unknown. The patent for it burned down in a fire. • Frenchman Muron received the most severe punishment for a series of arson attacks. A 16-year-old teenager who turned out to be a long-liver spent 100 years and 1 day behind bars. The time it takes for a firefighter to assemble for departure is exactly 1 minute, the volume of “water reserves” in the fire truck is about 2,300 liters. The best parting advice before going on duty is “dry sleeves!”

This holiday has a short but colorful history. In November 2011, the UN General Conference decided to establish International Jazz Day. The date of its annual celebration was determined to be April 30. One of the main initiators and permanent organizers of this musical festival was the Thelonious Monk Jazz Institute. Since 2012, this non-profit music organization has played a leading role in holiday events. And the venue for the bulk of such events alternately became Paris, Istanbul, Osaka, Washington and other major cities of the world. It is noteworthy that the final concert of the very first Jazz Day took place in the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York. One of the traditions of the holiday is that it is always opened by UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova and world jazz legend Herbie Hancock, Goodwill Ambassador of the same organization. Each year, the annual jazz festival brings together millions of fans of this musical style, becoming a symbol of unity and peace. Hundreds of concert halls and outdoor venues become one large stage space provided for leading jazz artists. And it is no coincidence that the holiday has such a colossal response among representatives of most world cultures. It is based on a symbiosis of European and African-American musical styles. The improvisational component, bewitching rhythm and special language have an attractive effect on the listener, and on the musicians themselves. All this requires the utmost professionalism and virtuosity from the performers. In Russia there is another remarkable holiday associated with this amazing music. On October 1, 1922, the first jazz concert took place in the then young Soviet state.

Widespread electrification has led to a decrease in the production and consumption of wax and paraffin candles. The process began in the 80s of the 19th century. However, despite Benjamin Franklin's discovery of the connection between lightning and electricity, candles remain popular in the 21st century. continue to play an important role in people's lives. They are used for meditation, religious ceremonies and room decoration. Therefore, starting in 2017, April 30 is celebrated as International Candle Maker Day. This is interesting: The idiomatic expression “The game is not worth the candle” has a historical basis. Based on the duration of their burning, experienced gamblers assessed the income received at the end of the card game. The small winnings did not allow the participant to recoup even the cost of the candles that illuminated the gaming table. The date of the celebration is dedicated to the day of Zosima Solovetsky, the patron saint of bees, whose wax has been used since ancient times to make candles. The holiday pays tribute to ancient traditions and candlemakers. According to tradition, on April 30, beekeepers must take the hives outside to check whether the swarm has weathered the winter well. If the weather is warm on Zosima's day, the bees are released to fly. In case of cold weather, they are fed with sugar syrup to strengthen their strength. Since ancient times, beekeepers rejoiced on April 30th when their bees were stung. Although in ordinary life it was believed that a good person would avoid this fate. According to popular beliefs, a bee that bites a beekeeper on the day of Zosima Solovetsky is ready to die for its owner. This is interesting. In 1992, the Guinness Book of Records included the largest candle in the world, with a height of 36 m. It is located in Germany, in the state of Hesse, and is lit on Christmas Eve. On top of the candle there are 140 light bulbs, which when turned on create a flame effect. According to ancient tradition, in the center of the beehouse, among the flying insects, a table covered with a white tablecloth was placed with bread, salt and water. A candle left over from the Easter service was placed on it. With her, sprinkling everything around with water, they walked around the apiary. This ritual guaranteed the beekeeper to receive a large amount of honey throughout the season. Father Fedor from the famous “Twelve Chairs” by Ilf and Petrov dreamed of his own candle factory. The rector of the Church of the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian on Maroseyka believed that the manufactory would provide him with a stable income. And although we are talking about the 20s of the 20th century, candle production is still a profitable activity today. Products made from paraffin and wax are no longer used to illuminate rooms, but this has not diminished their importance. This is interesting: Since 2005, the largest candle in the world is considered to be 73 meters long and weighing 3 tons. Its production by the Society of Arts of the Kingdom of Bahrain was dedicated to the Day of Ashura, an ancient Shia holiday. The lighting of the candle with 14,000 wicks, according to the Chairman of the Society, should tell the world that Islam is a religion of love, brotherhood and tolerance. Paying tribute to the talent and hard work of craftsmen, on April 30, Russia and other countries around the world celebrate International Candle Maker Day. Products of various sizes and shapes made of paraffin and wax, to which aromatic oils and other ingredients are added, are produced by small private enterprises and large factories. Exquisite and sophisticated creations of masters have not only utilitarian, but also cultural value. That is why every year on April 30, master classes, promotions and other events are held in honor of International Candle Maker Day.

The traditions of this custom are rooted in the Vedic holidays of the Eastern Slavs. Sacrificial offerings were made to ancestral deities and deceased relatives on the burial mounds of ancient temples, so that the souls of the deceased could rejoice at the veneration that the living showed them. These holidays were called Triznas or Radavanitsa. Later, after the baptism of Rus' into Christianity, the Orthodox Church fully supported this custom, linking it with the Easter celebration “in the name of the joy of the Holy Resurrection.” From now on, everyone could share this celebration with their deceased relatives, friends and all deceased Christians with faith in the resurrection and eternal life. On this day, the whole world visited cemeteries, tidied up graveyards and decorated them with flowers. Funeral tables with traditional kutya and pancakes were set right on the graves. In some areas, it was customary to heat a bathhouse for the dead and leave clean linen and brooms in it. At the same time, they themselves did not enter the bathhouse until the morning, but at dawn they went to look for traces of “guests” in the ash specially scattered on the floor. In the houses, food was placed on the tables for the deceased with three courses - for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Today, the church condemns the custom of bringing colored eggs, food and drink to graves, calling it “pagan.” Much more important is the spiritual meaning of this holiday, aimed at honoring one’s ancestors and the inextricable connection of times. And although tribute to the memory of the dead is carried out everywhere by the Orthodox Church on special dates - Parents' Days, Rodonitsa is a special holiday, sanctified by the kind light of memorial prayers. There is no place for despair, grief and sadness, only deep faith, supported by the very fact of the resurrection of Christ. Celebrated in the spring, when nature awakens and the earth is filled with vitality, it resonates in the hearts of people with the bright joy of victory over Darkness. It is worth recalling that the Orthodox Church Radonitsa (Radunitsa, Radavanitsa) is the Day of All-Church Remembrance of the Dead, celebrated on the ninth day after Easter, on Tuesday in St. Thomas week following Bright Week.

Walpurgis Night is celebrated on April 30 in Scandinavia, Central and Northern Europe. This ancient festival comes from ancient pagan customs and superstitions, when it was believed that the arrival of spring warmth, the fertility of the land and the birth rate of livestock depended on rituals that helped ward off all evil spirits. But the holiday got its name from a completely different source. In the 8th century In Germany, the monastery of Heidenheim was built, the abbess of which was a nun named Walburga. She was an educated woman, knew several languages, wrote books, treated people, struggled with ignorance and superstition all her life, and after her death she was canonized on May 1, 799. Since the celebration of the holiness of Walburga and the ritual rites of the pagans coincided in time, a mixture occurred over many years pagan and Catholic traditions, and the night of April 30 began to be called Walpurgis. And although the nun’s holiness was not in doubt, on some frescoes she was depicted with pagan attributes, hinting that she, too, was afraid of meeting with evil spirits. According to ancient beliefs, on the night from April 30 to May 1, spring awakens, and all evil spirits gather for the Sabbath to arrange wild dances and unbridled orgies. In the old days, it was believed that this is the time when the line with the other world is erased, and the forces of evil walk the earth, trying to harm people as much as possible. Therefore, measures were taken to protect the house and livestock from witchcraft: blessed bells were hung on the cows’ necks, and sprigs of rowan, hawthorn or juniper were hung on the barn and poultry house. Doors were tightly locked and sealed with three crosses, and houses were decorated with palm leaves and sprinkled with holy water. To ward off evil witches, people believed that the best way was to make as much noise as possible. On Walpurgis Night they burned huge bonfires, beat bells, beat drums, hit the ground with whips, and a little later they began to use technological advances - they fired firearms into the air. Particularly dark days came in the Middle Ages, during the period of witch hunts, when thousands of innocent people suspected of witchcraft were burned at the stake. When the witch hunt subsided, the importance of Walpurgis Night waned, but in 1808 J. Goette published his immortal Faust, and the holiday became popular again. The program for celebrating the most mysterious night has not changed over the years: ancient games, round dances, singing and dancing, performances by student choirs, traditional bonfires and fireworks. In many countries, this night is intended for fun mischief and practical jokes: mummers walk through the streets, pretending to be evil spirits and, scaring passers-by, firecrackers are set off, door handles are smeared with toothpaste, shoe laces are stolen, etc. A straw effigy is burned at the stake - a symbol of all troubles and misfortunes, and old things and worn clothes are thrown into the fire to get rid of troubles and problems.

Every year on April 30, America celebrates an important date - Vietnam Veterans Day. For any local resident, this event is a separate page in the history of the country, which is permeated with bitterness and suffering from the death of loved ones. According to various information, 56-58 thousand Americans died during this armed conflict, and after its end, another 129 thousand people died from prolonged depression and suicide. Official casualties of the war are 2-2.5 million citizens. On April 30, 1975, the last US Army soldier left Vietnam. It is for this reason that the holiday is celebrated on this day. Two years earlier, the procedure for signing an agreement to end hostilities and conclude a truce took place in the French capital. In 1975, the withdrawal of American soldiers and their allies from the southern part of Vietnam was successfully completed. Even before the outbreak of World War I, Vietnam was a French colony. But already from the first half of the last century, an increasing number of supporters of an independent country began to appear on the territory of the state. Already in those years, armed conflicts took place, initiated by the Vietnamese who wanted to gain independence. Along with this, closed circles began to appear everywhere, and starting in the 40s, large-scale movements began to appear, which later became known as the Viet Minh. Literally it translates as Vietnam Freedom Organization. The League included opponents of the colonialists, and later adherents of communist principles under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh. Of course, the United States, as the main island of independence on the planet, could not ignore the struggle of a state with a rich history for independence. America's direct involvement in the military conflict began in 1965. It was then that the Americans organized and carried out large-scale operations in southern Vietnam. But after a couple of years, the US Army suffered one setback after another, and the number of casualties and material costs increased significantly. This provoked a flurry of indignation on the part of ordinary Americans, and in May 1968, at the Paris conference, the American authorities decided to sign a peace agreement. The following year, Nixon drafted an executive order calling for a partial withdrawal of American soldiers from Vietnam. But after some time, bombing by the Americans began again. This was a response to Vietnam's non-compliance with the agreement in France. In January 1973, an agreement was drawn up to end the war, and by the end of the first month of spring, the last US serviceman left Vietnam. Thanks to America's actions, Vietnam today has complete independence. Initially, the capital of the state was Saigon, and later Hanoi. This event alarmed American citizens and for the first time attracted the interest of the American people to problems of an international nature. Thanks to this conflict, the well-known “hippie” subculture advocating peace arose in America. And the most significant event of the Vietnam War era was the movement called “March on the Pentagon” - a resistance action in Washington, which was attended by about 100 thousand civilians opposing the war. During the annual celebration of the date, almost all states hold solemn events in memory of past events. People also visit the graves of their relatives who died during the war. Today there is a large amount of controversial literature and film works, however, this is a separate topic for discussion.

Vietnam Holidays - Victory Day (Reunification Day)

Mexican Holidays - Children's Day (Dia del Nino)

Armed Forces Day in all republics of the USSR was celebrated on February 23. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, states began to set their own holiday dates to honor their own army. The Georgian Armed Forces were formed in April 1991 after the republic left the USSR. Their prototype was the National Guard created a year earlier under the Ministry of Internal Affairs by decision of the Supreme Council of Georgia. The conscription of citizens for military service started on April 30, 1991. In honor of this important event for the country’s defense capability, Army Day is celebrated annually in Georgia. The military received its baptism of fire in 1991-1993, when they fought with supporters of the ousted first president of the country, Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Units of the regular Georgian army participated in the Ossetian and Abkhaz conflicts of the 90s and were present in various peacekeeping missions. The military served in hot spots during the conflicts in Kosovo and Iraq, and today they serve under UN supervision in the Central African Republic and Mali. In 2004, the army was present in the Tskhinvali region, and in 2008 it took part in the war with Russia. In 1994, Georgia began to cooperate with NATO. The first steps towards rapprochement were the country's participation in the Partnership for Peace program. A year later, an agreement was signed on the deployment of military bases of the North Atlantic Alliance on Georgian territory. Subsequently, with the help of NATO, the country's army was rearmed and modernized. In 2002, the US-funded Train and Equip program began, worth $64 million, under which American instructors trained 2,000 Georgian military personnel. As a result, Georgia received well-trained soldiers who received salaries for their work and considered military service prestigious. This is how the first units of contract soldiers appeared in the country. According to an agreement between the two countries, concluded in 1995, Russian military bases were supposed to be in Georgia for 25 years. But in 1999, a statement was written about their liquidation by 2001. The complete withdrawal of the Russian army and equipment from Georgia took place in 2007. And a year later, an armed conflict occurred between the countries on the territory of South Ossetia, known as the Five-Day War. Today, the Georgian Armed Forces are represented by the Ground Forces, the National Guard and the Special Operations Forces. The army includes both counter-soldiers and personnel officers, as well as conscripts who enter compulsory service at the age of 18-27. The Georgian army is considered the smallest in the South Caucasus. In 2021, the strength of the Defense Forces did not exceed 37,000 people. Despite this, the military is proud of the mission entrusted to them to protect the country and celebrate their professional holiday, Georgian Army Day, annually on April 30.

Zosima the Pchelnik is celebrated on April 30 (April 17, old style) according to the folk calendar. Zosima holiday is named after Saint Zosima of Solovetsky, revered by Orthodox Christians on this day. The history of Zosima began in the 15th century in the Novgorod region in the village of Tolvue. After the death of his parents, he distributed property to the poor, and he himself took monastic vows. The monk met the Monk Savvaty and went with him to the Solovetsky Islands. There they created a monastery, which later became the Solovetsky Monastery, and Zosima became its abbot. The saint lived to old age, and after his death his relics were transferred to the Transfiguration Cathedral. One day, Zosima and Savvaty traveled to Athos (modern Greece), and on the way back they brought home a queen bee, thus marking the beginning of beekeeping in Rus'. Since then, saints have been considered the patrons of the bee swarm. That’s why people called the day Zosima the Beekeeper. On Zosima Pchelnik, beekeepers (as well as on Pudov Day - April 28) removed the hives from the omshaniks and checked the safety of the swarm after wintering. If the weather was favorable, the bees were released to fly around. In case of cold weather, their release was delayed, but the bees were fed with sugar syrup so that the insects gained strength after the winter. Among beekeepers there was a ritual with beehives. They were taken out into the fresh air, and a table was placed in the middle of the apiary, covered with a tablecloth and salt and freshly baked bread were laid out on it. The owners lit a candle, consecrated in the temple, and walked around the hives with it, reading a prayer to the patron saints for the successful growth of the bee colony and a large collection of honey. Then the hives were sprinkled with holy water, and the honeycombs were taken to the temple for consecration. Also on this day you should try a spoonful of honey. People used honey in tea, in baking, and in Christmas kutya. It was also considered an important ingredient in the production of mead, mash, and beer. In addition, honey, propolis and pollen collected by bees were used as medicine. People loved bees and believed that bees do not sting good people. On Zosima Pchelnik the peasants watched their flight. If a bee landed on a flowering tree, it foreshadowed its increased fertility. If the bees passed any plant, then there was no harvest expected from it.

Swedish holidays - King's Birthday

Orthodox holidays on April 30:

Memorial Day of St. Alexander of Svirsky

The memory of the icon of the Mother of God "Deliverer" is celebrated on April 30. It depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary. She holds in her arms the Divine Infant, in one hand he holds a scroll, and the other is raised in a blessing gesture. This image is glorified by many miracles that were performed through prayer before it. The first of these miracles occurred back in 1841. Then the Greek province was subjected to an invasion of locusts, which threatened to turn into real famine. Prayers before the image of the Mother of God made it possible to avoid this. The origin of the icon dates back to the 17th century. According to legend, at the turn of the 18th-19th century she was located on Holy Mount Athos. There it was hidden by the ascetic Constantine Theodulus, who then handed the shrine to Elder Martinian. This schema-monk kept the holy image there for 20 years, and then took it with him on a trip to Greek villages and cities. He preached and called on believers to pray in front of the icon. During such trips, the miracle of getting rid of the locusts happened, as well as many others. Many sick people (even those near death) and those possessed by demons were healed through prayers. In 1889, the “Deliverer” icon was transferred to the New Athos Simon-Kananitsky monastery that was opening in the Caucasus. That’s how it ended up in Russia, where it remains to this day. It was this image that Emperor Alexander III took with him on one of his trips. It is believed that it was thanks to him that the emperor and his family were not injured in the train accident that happened then. During the first celebration in honor of the icon of the Mother of God, there was a storm and more than a ton of fish washed ashore near the monastery. Orthodox Christians can pray before the icon of the Mother of God "Deliverer":• for health (their own and that of their loved ones);• for liberation from addictions (alcohol, drugs, gaming and others);• for healing from any spiritual infirmities and sorrows;• for the resolution of complex situations; • about salvation from threatening danger. To pray at the “Deliverer” icon, it is not necessary to visit the Cathedral, located on the territory of the New Athos Simon-Kananitsky Monastery. Since 1992, an ancient icon similar to the original has been in the Pochaev Lavra. The elderly nun Gabriela took her there. And she received the image in 1970 from a priest of the same Lavra with the instruction to “let it go with the flow of the Dnieper.” This was an attempt to save the shrine, since the threat of ruin loomed over the Pochaev Lavra. But the nun did not dare to do this and kept the icon at home.

Memorial Day of St. Akaki, Bishop of Melitino

Memorial Day of St. Zosima, Abbot of Solovetsky

Tuesday of Holy Week, which coincides with Lent, is dedicated to the recollection of one story from the Gospel - Christ’s denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees. On this day, the parables of Jesus are read about the resurrection of the dead, about talents, the end of the world, ten virgins, the Last Judgment and other sermons he preached in the Jerusalem Temple. On Holy Tuesday, believers are called to spiritual vigilance, the Liturgy of Gregory the Two-Eloquent, or the Presanctified Holy Gifts, is celebrated. Holy Week, that is, the week before Easter, is celebrated by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The last seven days of Christ's life on Earth are very important for believers, because... they prepare them for heartfelt participation in the sufferings of the Savior. This week is called Holy Week because these days the world is reliving the passions of Christ - the betrayal of Jesus by his companions, the trial, the accusation of blasphemy, mockery and death. Every year the week falls on different dates, because... it is tied to the celebration of Easter. One of the most important among other solemn days of Holy Week is Holy Tuesday. On this and other holidays, Christians will pay special attention to abstinence and prayer. For the purpose of spiritual self-improvement and pacification of the flesh, fasting is observed. Every day of the week before the Resurrection of Christ is called great - this week marks the peak of suffering and the death of Jesus for the human race. In honor of the holiday, the troparion “On Great Tuesday” is read, the parable “The Loving Heart”, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, teachings, sermons “On the properties of deceivers”, etc. These works call the Orthodox to spiritual wakefulness, to the use of God-given powers and abilities to show mercy . “We must try to overcome the sins to which we are accustomed, to see our shortcomings and not judge our neighbors,” Patriarch Alexy II said in his sermons these days. During Holy Week, weddings and baptisms do not take place, saints' days are not celebrated, confessions are not made, and the dead are not commemorated. All rituals, including those held on Holy Tuesday, are dedicated to the spiritual preparation of believers for Easter. During his ministry, Alexy II reminded the laity of the lessons of Lent - humility before God and the achievement of moral purity. Every year, Patriarch Kirill, the current Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, performs a liturgy in honor of the holiday and addresses the believers with a sermon. The Lord speaks about the responsibility of every mortal before God, family and friends, the importance of fighting despondency, the spirit of idleness and covetousness - the desire for power. Services in churches during Holy Week are distinguished by special grandeur and solemnity. This emphasizes the importance of each day of the week for strengthening the spirit of believers. Worship services and observance of other traditions on Holy Tuesday are a great help in this.