The second Sunday in August is marked by the celebration of Builder's Day in Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. On this day, builders and those who help them are congratulated: engineers, architects, contractors... Interestingly, this holiday is also widely celebrated by students and teaching staff of specialized educational institutions. The decree establishing a professional holiday for builders was issued in 1955. It was then that N.S. Khrushchev, struck by the grandeur of the Zhigulevskaya hydroelectric power station under construction, which became the second largest in Europe, decided to establish a day to honor the builders. The very next year, construction workers celebrated their first professional holiday on a grand scale. In 1956, postage stamps were issued (in denominations of 40, 60 kopecks and 1 ruble) in honor of the celebration of Builder's Day. Since 2011, the holiday has acquired federal status. Construction is an important and honorable profession. The safety of people and the appearance of city streets depend on the skill, skill and competence of builders. Therefore, it is not surprising that the holiday has become a favorite among the people. If in Soviet times it was customary to organize party meetings, scientific and educational lectures, reports, exhibitions and mass celebrations on this day, then in modern Russia the form of celebration has changed. On Builder's Day, a ceremony is held to reward particularly distinguished workers in the field and honor veterans who have dedicated their entire lives to their favorite profession. Festive concerts are held not only for builders, but also for their relatives, friends and loved ones. Also on this day, the management of construction companies, interested in promoting their achievements, organizes exhibitions of achievements. One of the best traditions is the ceremonial handing over of social infrastructure facilities under construction. The media prepare educational materials about the history of the construction of significant structures and about outstanding representatives of the profession. In an informal setting on this day, young specialists undergo a rite of passage to become builders, passing a series of tests.

In the forests located in the foothills of the Southern Urals, linden and maple mainly grow. The trees are pollinated by wild Central Russian bees belonging to the honey subspecies. Therefore, the residents of Bashkiria have been engaged in beekeeping for more than 1,500 years. The ancient technology of collecting honey is passed down from generation to generation. Beekeepers do not organize an apiary with hives, but make hollows in tree trunks. In the fall, beekeepers visit the bees and take part of the honey, leaving them a small supply for the winter. Each beekeeper has up to 1,000 trees with hollows. In addition to beekeeping, beekeepers are engaged in breeding families of industrious insects in hives using log and frame methods. Domestic bees produce mountain honey from basilisk, thyme and feather grass, growing in Bashkiria. In its steppes, sweet clover, clover, rapeseed and alfalfa grow, giving the product a unique taste. The republic is the leader of the Russian Federation in the production of honey - a unique and valuable product. A holiday has been established in honor of the people who work in this branch of agriculture. Every second Sunday in August, Beekeeper's Day is celebrated in Bashkortostan. Honey is considered the most saturated in the number of microelements, which act as a catalyst for the biochemical reactions of the human body. The product produced by bees is rich in potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, sulfur, chlorine, iodine, zinc, copper, calcium and iron. Diastase number, i.e. the number of enzymes per unit volume for Altai honey is 10-20, for sweet nectar from the south of the Russian Federation - 5-8 units. This indicator indicates the naturalness and maturity of the product. The diastase number of Bashkir honey ranges from 22-50, which makes it the best in the world. In addition to its beneficial properties, the product is valued for its rich taste and delicate aroma. Honey is the unofficial symbol of Bashkiria, and the profession of beekeeper is one of the most respected. Therefore, Beekeeper's Day is a national holiday that is widely celebrated throughout the republic. In honor of him, fairs are organized, competitions, master classes and concerts with performances by folklore ensembles are held. There are private and state bee farms in Bashkortostan, which are home to more than 250 thousand insect families. Beekeepers pass on their colossal centuries-long experience not only by inheritance. Any resident of Bashkiria can receive a beekeeping education at one of the educational institutions of the republic. A research institute founded in 1998 operates on its territory. The company is the owner of the Bashkir honey trademark. The institute studies insects, breeds new species of bees and preserves their habitat. Thanks to the work of beekeepers and beekeepers, people eat honey and royal jelly and are treated with medications made from bee products. Engaging in traditional fishing is impossible without experience, knowledge and skills, hard work and love for nature. Every second Sunday in August, when the honey harvest season ends, specialists involved in this industry are congratulated on Beekeeper's Day.

Left-handers from all over the world meet on August 13 to declare their unique natural features on this warm summer day and draw public attention to the difficulties in everyday life. They would like to improve the comfort of their conditions in everyday life and society, because cars, stationery, and etiquette norms are “tailored” exclusively to the “right-handed majority,” and also to impose a “taboo” on the process of retraining children who were born left-handed. In ancient times, many considered left-handers to be among the “champions of Satan.” They were forbidden to cook food, called sorcerers and subjected to executions that were shockingly cruel. In Japan, a husband was even allowed to divorce his wife on completely legal grounds if, during their life together, it turned out that she “suffers” from left-handedness. In Rus', such people could not testify in court: it was believed that they were “guided” by the devil, who himself was left-handed. The holiday became a “visible sign” of the struggle for the rights and dignity of left-handers. Such an important legislative document as the “Left-Handers Bill” was destined for the flagship status of a manifesto of opposition. It became a kind of “trigger” that launched mass movements and rallies. The first human rights demonstration took place in 1980 in America. People took to the streets to support police officer Winborg. He was fired from his job because he wore a holster on the left side (which was against the rules). However, only in this way could Franklin pull out a pistol with lightning speed and react properly to the illegal actions of criminals. Thanks to the rally, the left-handed policeman was restored to his rights. Ten years later, the first Left-Handed Club was created in England, which in 1992 initiated the celebration of International Day. The key task of the day for left-handers is not entertaining content. This is, rather, an appeal to parents, educators and educators who are trying to retrain left-handed children. This is dangerous for the development of neuroses, stress, psychological disorders and decreased academic performance. Such children initially have a strong character and powerful creative potential in the field of art. They are more intelligent and successful. The holiday is a good reason to attract the attention of manufacturers so that more useful products for left-handed people appear on store shelves. They face some difficulties in everyday life, it is more difficult for them at work, when driving a car with a manual transmission, etc. Many left-handed women cannot knit and sew due to the natural development of the hemispheres. The most famous successful individuals who were left-handed are Bonaparte, Macedonian, Churchill, Bill Clinton, Paul McCartney, Mark Twain, Ringo Starr, etc. On this day, during joint meals with family or friends, everyone should eat exclusively with their left hand in order to become closer and more understandable to each other. It is customary to hold various competitions, competitions and parties. Invitations to them can be written backwards and forwards according to the “mirror principle”, or offer a special dress code (come wearing clothes inside out). The design of the meeting area can also be original - all objects are located in a “mirror image”. Little ones will love art competitions, where they will be asked to draw a picture, play bowling or throw darts with their left hand (for left-handed people - with their right hand). Pair competitions are also interesting, when participants are divided into pairs and tied together by their right hands. With their free left hands they make gift boxes, decorate gifts with ribbons or draw. Whoever does it better is the winner. You can write down the names of famous left-handers on separate pieces of paper, put them in a box and call the competition participants one by one so that they come out and portray (through pantomime) the person whose name was indicated. In general, no matter what kind of entertainment program is invented, it’s great to just get together on this day and have a good time.

Modern life moves very quickly. It is full of holidays and everyday life, travel, incidents, exams, congresses, tournaments, and all kinds of events. Behind all this, old friends, classmates, fellow students, former neighbors, childhood friends are forgotten. In order to remember the old days, a holiday was created - Meeting Day. It is celebrated annually on the same date – August 13th. This is an unofficial, but warm, popular holiday, which is celebrated by adults and children not only in Russia, but throughout the world. Meeting Day does not have an exact history and its founders have not been identified. One thing is clear: the people who came up with such a date are friendly and sociable. They realized life's transience and irrevocability. Therefore, it became customary on August 13 to meet old friends, former lovers, schoolmates, former employees, distant and close relatives, and childhood friends for no reason. A new acquaintance on this day can be the beginning of friendship, love, life together, or a starting point for a future business, professional activity, or career growth. We must understand that meetings are given to a person for something important, which must be accepted with gratitude. August is one of the months that falls during the next vacation for most citizens. At this time it is warm and clear, it gets dark late. In August weather, you can gather outdoors, near a river or lake, in the forest. An acceptable alternative would be an outdoor cafe, or if it is very hot, then an establishment with air conditioning. The number “13” is associated with mythical events, terrible stories about evil spirits that crawl out of their corners on the 13th, and on top of everything else, on Friday. But the number “13” also symbolizes a strong craving for Love (in different manifestations). Some people who want to get married choose the number “13” to register their wedding day. They plan to make their marriage happy with an insidious number. Probably because of these features, August 13 was chosen as Meeting Day. Or maybe it was on this day that some important meeting took place, which marked the fateful beginning, or something extremely important happened. No matter how trite it sounds, Meeting Day predicts a meeting. At the same time, it can be a date, a walk, a vacation, a feast, solitude, an occasion, or even a new acquaintance. Any pleasant, but not business, meetings are scheduled for this day. If there is a business meeting, it will be accompanied by a banquet or other feast. Classmates schedule a meeting on August 13 to remember their school years and learn about the successes and achievements of their schoolmates. Graduates of institutes and other universities gather on this day in a convenient place: in an educational institution, outdoors, in a restaurant. They have something to remember from their best years of studying together within the same institution. Former lovers can afford a date alone or in a group. A round table for former employees of the teams is planned for this date. If you haven’t seen your distant relatives for a long time, you can see them on August 13th. The arrival of the mother-in-law, mother-in-law, and other relatives is meekly scheduled for this date. And the other half, who does not experience great joy from such a date, should not resist this because it is a general holiday. In our lives, overflowing with communication on the Internet, mobile phones, and social networks, real meetings play an important role. Contact with a living person gives more emotions, feelings, passion, and sincerity than online communication. During a live meeting, a consciousness of mutual involvement arises. That’s why you need to meet people with whom you had such a good time together. And the reason for this is Meeting Day on August 13th!

Summer for many of us means the splash of waves, the rustle of sand under our feet and the cries of seagulls. In order to hear these and other sounds, you don’t have to be on the coast at the water’s edge. It is enough to put a large twisted shell to your ear and hear the sound of the surf. Thanks to the spiral-shaped shells of mollusks, the melodies of the waves reach us across thousands of kilometers and warm us in the winter cold. August 13th is Shell Noisy Day. Since ancient times, the skeletons of sea mollusks have attracted people who treated them as precious objects. Cowrie shells served as currency for the peoples of Asia, the Middle East and Africa who lived in these lands in the 13th century. BC. Among the ancient Egyptians, bags of shells were considered symbols of wealth; the Moi, Creole, Mali and Mande tribes used them as a dowry for brides. Shells became decorations - beads, pendants and bracelets. According to West African beliefs, wearing a cowrie necklace helped cure infertility. The Hohokam tribes, who lived in southwestern North America, carved figures of birds, snakes, dogs and lizards from shellfish skeletons. For religious purposes, shells were used as containers for blessed water and as trumpets, the sound of which eliminated negative energies during rituals. A white shell with a spiral twisting to the right is a symbol of the superiority of the Buddha's teachings over other beliefs. In Christianity, scallop shells are associated with Saint James, becoming a symbol of pilgrimage to the mountain where the tomb of the apostle is located. A touch of mysticism and mystery gives twisted shells their ability to make the sound of waves. There are several explanations for what a person hears when he puts the shell of mollusks of the family Strombidae and other representatives of marine fauna to his ear. Some people believe that the noise coming from the sink is the sound of blood moving through the vessels of our body. Others say that it is formed due to the movement of air currents inside the shell, twisted like a ram's horn. Still others are sure that the splashing of the waves of the seas and oceans is heard because the noise of the environment resonates with the walls of the shell. Thanks to this property, shells transmit vibrations and amplify sounds coming from outside. Therefore, the louder the noise outside the shell of a mollusk, which acts as a resonator chamber of a stringed musical instrument, the stronger the sound of the sea surf produced by acoustic waves. A scientific explanation destroys the mysterious veil that shrouds shells brought as souvenirs of a vacation on the coast. Everyone who disagrees with this version and is in a romantic mood celebrates August 13th as the Day of Noisy Shells.

As a result of the Yalta Conference in 1945, the leaders of the USSR, Great Britain and the USA decided that the capital of Germany would be divided into four occupation parts. The eastern sector of Berlin became Soviet, and the other three became allied countries. It was planned that after the end of World War II the city would become a single whole. But that did not happen. Until November 1982, Berlin, like the entire German people, remained divided into two camps: socialist and capitalist. The operation to construct a border redoubt in the form of a concrete fence was referred to in documents as “Chinese Wall-2.” The decision to build a fortification that divided the city into two parts was made by the People's Chamber of the GDR on August 11, 1961. Construction began on August 13, 1961. The Berlin Wall became a symbol of the division of Europe, the confrontation between two political systems and the Cold War. Over the years of the fence's existence, according to various sources, from 125 to 192 East Germans died while trying to escape. Therefore, August 13 is celebrated as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Berlin Wall. The Germans who fled the GDR died not only because of the shots of the border guards. There are much more victims of the Berlin Wall, about 600 people. This number includes people who committed suicide in Germany, like the military man Hans Conrad Schumann, due to depression and the inability to communicate with relatives from the socialist camp. Victims of the division of Berlin into two parts also included people who suffered fatal accidents while fleeing. A gloomy symbol of the history of the twentieth century. caused the death of 8 GDR border guards. Initially, the western side of the city was surrounded by barbed wire. Then they began building a wall of concrete blocks 3.6 m high. The length of the fence, fortified on the eastern side with stripes with spikes and anti-tank hedgehogs, was 160 km. The Berlin Wall was rammed, like driver Harry Deterling, who dispersed a train with carriages in December 1961 and arrived with passengers in Germany. The most famous was the escape of a group of pensioners through the 40 m long "old people's tunnel", dug from the chicken coop of one of them. The latest victim of an illegal attempt to leave the GDR was Winfried Freudenberg. He died in March 1989 during a flight to Germany in a homemade hot air balloon. The fall of the wall, or rather its official demolition, and the dismantling of border fortifications, which began in 1990, became the final chord of a drama that kept hundreds of thousands of Germans in suspense. Along with the opening of the Iron Curtain, freedom came to East Berlin, incl. movement. The destruction of the wall allowed relatives to see each other and reunite families who could not even dream of this during the Cold War. Gedenken an die Opfer der Berliner Mauer calls to honor the memory of all who were victims of the inhumane division of one people into two warring camps. The confrontation, which lasted for decades, crippled the lives of thousands of people. The descendants of West and East Germans who live today in one state with a capital that is no longer divided into parts, as in 1945-1990, should not forget about this tragedy.

Holidays of Turkmenistan - Turkmen Melon Day (Gawun bayramy)

Bulgarian Holidays - Navy Holiday

In 2001, by decree of the President of Ukraine, a national professional holiday, the Day of Veterinary Medicine Workers of Ukraine, was officially established, which is usually celebrated annually on the second Sunday of August. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy of the country approached the head of state with the initiative to hold it, which at the state level wanted to highlight and emphasize the importance of the role of veterinary workers in ensuring the veterinary and sanitary safety of livestock products, environmental protection, as well as ensuring the epizootic well-being of Ukraine. In addition to solving these important issues of a national scale, the veterinary service treats farm livestock, as well as wild and domestic animals. The holiday is often called “Veterinarian’s Day,” which is not entirely true, since not only veterinarians, but also nurses, assistants, laboratory assistants, scientists and other people involved in this field in their work are directly related to this solemn day. In addition, veterinarians in Ukraine have the opportunity to celebrate their professional holiday on International Veterinarian Day, which is celebrated at the end of April, and many also celebrate Orthodox Veterinarian Day. This is the day of remembrance of Saints Florus and Laurus, who are considered the patrons of livestock. Representatives of the veterinary industry often celebrate their professional holiday at their workplace, accepting congratulations from grateful pet owners who have gotten rid of their illnesses. Also, on this day, the country's leadership and senior officials solemnly present memorable gifts, certificates, letters of gratitude to all representatives of this industry, and also award honorary titles and prizes to particularly distinguished veterinary workers. Despite the obvious importance and significance of this profession, it is quite rare, requires deep, broad knowledge in veterinary and related fields, and therefore is highly valued by employers.

Holidays of Armenia - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Catholic Feast of Saints Pontian and Hippolytus

August 13th marks the national Christian holiday of Evdokimov Day. On this day, believers remember Evdokim the Cappadocian, the patron saint of marital harmony and prosperity. Evdokim, the son of pious and noble Christians Vasily and Evdokia, took a vow of celibacy and devoted his whole life to serving God. The emperor, conquered by his kindness and sincerity, appointed him ruler of the Kharsian region. The man helped the suffering, resolved conflicts, and people surprisingly obeyed him. Most of his deeds were not known to the people, since he did not want publicity of his exploits. He spent all his time with his mother talking about the Lord. Evdokim, at the age of 33, felt his death approaching. Then he asked his mother to leave him alone, and after death to bury him in the clothes that he would be wearing. The relics of Evdokim healed the sick, miracles happened near his tomb. After a year and a half, the parent decided to change her son’s clothes. Having opened the coffin, people were surprised to smell the fragrance and see the man’s completely preserved face. Then Evdokim was dressed in new clothes and buried again. The saint's parents built a church at the burial site. Evdokimov's prayer is the last day before the Assumption Fast, when you can eat fast food. It was customary for people to spend this day on the field. Field work foreshadowed people's further prosperity and success in business. On August 13, peasants began collecting turnips. This vegetable was respected, it was even called the second bread. They made kvass and porridge from it, and stuffed them into pies. After field work, the peasants cleaned the tool, repaired it if necessary, and always thanked them for their good service. Knowledgeable people charmed the harrow against breakdowns and for a good harvest. Without a harrow, peasant labor would be difficult, because it was used to cultivate the soil, protecting it from drying out and weeds. Therefore, this instrument was treated with great respect. On Evdokimov's day people turned to the harrow with requests for help in work and even bowed. Before the onset of Lent, young people organized festivities on this day. Girls and boys danced in circles, sang, played, and danced. The grooms were looking closely at the brides, because the time for weddings was coming soon. During the Evdokimovo ritual, people noticed some natural phenomena, connecting them with future events: • a strong wind foreshadows a harsh winter; • bees flew into the field - the weather will be good; • grass snakes crawled out to bask in the sun - bad weather will soon come.

Tunisia Holidays - Women's Day

Orthodox holidays on August 13:

On August 13, all Orthodox Christians celebrate the day of remembrance of the Holy Righteous Eudokim the Cappadocian, the patron saint of family and home. Evdokim was born in Cappadocia (a region in Asia Minor) in the 9th century into a family of very pious Christians. Despite the fact that his Mother Evdokia and Father Vasily were from a very noble family, close to the emperor himself, they preached a God-fearing and humble life. It is not surprising that from his earliest years, young Evdokim devoted all his time to God and prayers, and at a young age he took a vow of celibacy and chastity. Evdokim avoided conversations with women and never looked at them when meeting them, but he loved to have conversations with his mother, the only woman in the saint’s life. The virtuous life of Evdokim, his desire to help his neighbors and the disadvantaged did not go unnoticed by the emperor. Theophilus appointed the young Evdokim ruler of the Kharsian region. All the time that the righteous Eudokim the Cappadocian was in power, the inhabitants, especially orphans, widows, the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged, did not need anything. However, he kept his personal exploits secret, not sharing them with anyone. The reign of Evdokim in the Kharsian region is noted as the most benign and fair. Life's actions, Christian humility, fear of God and absence of evil thoughts turned out to be pleasing to the Lord. He called Evdokim to him when he was 33 years old. Dying, Evdokim bequeathed to be buried in the clothes in which he would die. After the death of the righteous man, miracles began to happen near his tomb: the sick were healed of their ailments. Later, the miraculous relics of the saint were transported to Constantinople and kept in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Rus', on this day the Slavs revered turnips. It was consumed raw, boiled, steamed, baked and dried. It was on the day of remembrance of St. Eudokim the Cappadocian that they always baked a pie with turnips and prepared porridge. The feasts were noisy and fun, especially for young people: unmarried girls put on their best outfits and danced in circles and played games. In addition, on this day it was customary to work in the field, to leave a reserve “for a good and rich harvest,” offering prayer to Saint Eudokim. But it was strictly forbidden to offend the homeless, orphans, or deny them shelter and food. Currently, on this day it is customary to pray for strengthening the family and improving relationships between family and friends.

Prayer for the Assumption Fast

Memorial Day of the Hieromartyr Veniamin, Metropolitan of Petrograd