In the Russian Federation, Russian Officer Day is celebrated on August 21. The holiday is informal and owes its appearance to the initiative group of the public organization “Officers of Russia”. This organization unites officer command staff of all branches of the military, both currently serving and officers in the reserve, officers who are not alien to the concept of dignity, honor and duty, who are ready to sacrifice themselves for the good of their country. I celebrate Russian Officer's Day on the eve of the official celebration of the “Day of the State Flag of the Russian Federation”. The focus on this holiday was not without reason, it is in front of the flag that the officers take the oath of oath. The State Flag is a symbol that combines the security, defense capability and independence of the country; all command officers look up to it. Despite the fact that the Russian Officer's Day holiday is quite young, its roots go back to the distant past. The Russian officer, starting from the time of Peter the Great, has always been faithful to the oath, valued his honor and dignity and was ready to do anything for the sake of his Fatherland. Officers of the Russian Russian Army always treat their subordinates with respect and understanding. Many Russian officers contributed to the cultural life of the country: music, literature, painting. The contribution of officers to the scientific environment is invaluable. Officers of the Russian Federation celebrate their professional holiday with their family, with colleagues and friends, with people who understand the concept of “officer’s honor.” The informal holiday “Russian Officer's Day” is widely celebrated in garrisons, military camps, large and small. Festive concerts are held at the Officers' Houses. Every year, the Chairman of the Presidium of the public organization “Officers of Russia” congratulates all officers, both currently serving and officers in the reserve. In his address, the Chairman of the Presidium of the public organization “Officers of Russia” says: “A holiday that unites such a huge number of our fellow citizens... must receive appropriate support from both society and the state.” At this time, the initiative group of the public organization “Officers of Russia” has sent a request to the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation to assign state status to the informal holiday “Officer Day of Russia”.

August 21 is the Day Without Cosmetics and Makeup. Modern beauty standards and trends in the beauty industry literally force women to use make-up every day to visually correct their appearance. Without decorative products, representatives of the fairer sex feel insecure, forgetting that there is nothing more natural and better than natural beauty given by nature. No Makeup Day encourages you to give up decorative cosmetics, at least for a short period of time, and become an example to other women by posting your pictures online without makeup or filters. Recently, the movement for the natural beauty of the female body has been gaining momentum. Clothes and accessories are now advertised not only by slender beauties, but also by plump plus-size models. Representatives of the fair sex are campaigning for the destruction of stereotypes of attractiveness and freedom of expression in various ways. Ordinary women and Hollywood stars (Madonna, Julia Roberts, Rihanna and others) demonstrate unshaven armpits and legs, advocating the natural hairiness of these and other parts of the body - body hair positivity. Kim Kardashian, with countless plastic surgeries and trips to the gym in full war paint, is “yesterday” from the standpoint of feminists and others. Thanks to the achievements of science and technology, glossy photographs of a face without pores and wrinkles will no longer surprise anyone. It is much more difficult to love yourself for who you are, rather than trying to live up to imposed standards. It is quite difficult for modern women to understand Sharon Stone of the late 90s. The actress, while married to media mogul Phil Bronstein, got up in the morning 30 minutes before her husband in order to have time to do her makeup before her husband woke up. 20 years later, Sharon Stone realized how wrong she was for concentrating so much on her appearance instead of emphasizing the beauty of her inner world. Today, the actress proudly shows off wrinkles and bags under her eyes, posting home photos without makeup for her fans. Day without cosmetics calls not only to give up make-up and facial skin care products for a day. Actresses and other media personalities believe that women of all countries should not be afraid to show themselves every day in all their natural beauty - in the morning immediately after waking up, after finishing yoga or Pilates classes. So, on August 21 and throughout the year, Drew Barrymore posts pictures on social networks without makeup or Photoshop. The example of the actress is followed by her friends - Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Nicole Richie. The sparkle in the eyes and slight redness of the face when embarrassed cannot be replaced by any beauty product. Concealer and powder give confidence only for a short period of time, but love and acceptance of yourself with any shortcomings fills you with harmony and confidence in your own irresistibility for life. This important observation is the philosophical basis of the holiday - Day Without Cosmetics and Makeup, which is celebrated annually on August 21.

August 21 - International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. This day was established in 2017 by a resolution of the UN General Assembly. The initiator was representatives of Afghanistan, where more than 10 thousand people die annually from terrorism. The main targets of terrorists, in addition to the above-mentioned country, are Iraq, Syria, Nigeria and Somalia. But terrorism is an international problem. Terrorists have been increasingly killing civilians in Europe lately. This day was celebrated for the first time on August 21, 2018. The resolution was developed jointly by the UN, the Human Rights Committee and the Human Rights Council and has as its main goal not only to honor the memory of those killed, but also to support, assist and protect people affected by terrorist attacks. But after terrible events, we rarely hear about the surviving and maimed people and their families. The existence of such victims is undeservedly forgotten. But they need long-term rehabilitation from their injuries; they need full medical, legal, psychological, social and financial support. The predecessor of the 2017 resolution was the counter-terrorism strategy “Strengthening international cooperation to assist victims of terrorism,” adopted by UN member states in 2006 and designed to unite and strengthen global efforts in countering terrorism in all its forms. One of the main points of the strategy was a section on international solidarity support for victims of terrorist attacks. Every two years the strategy is reviewed and some of its points are adjusted to suit today's realities. In Russia, too, there is such a day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of terrorists and it is celebrated on September 3. This day was not chosen by chance. It is timed to coincide with the most terrible tragedy - the seizure of a school in Beslan in 2004, where more than 300 people died, mostly innocent children and women. The main cause of terrorism is conflict on political, religious or social grounds. This is a way of influencing the leadership of a particular country. Representatives of Islam often commit bloodshed, misinterpreting religious canons and fanatically following their distorted beliefs. A terrorist attack can also be carried out by individual dissatisfied citizens of the country in order to attract attention to themselves. Unfortunately, in world history there are dates of particular cruelty of terrorists that people will never forget: The terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked two planes and completely destroyed the World Trade Center. This planned act by al-Qaeda was aimed at undermining US security and claimed the lives of 2,993 people. 8,900 people were injured. The second largest terrorist attack in the United States after 9/11 was the explosion of a homemade bomb in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. As a result, 168 people were killed and 680 were injured. The organizer of the explosion, Timothy McVeigh, was sentenced to death. Terrorist attack on Mumbai in 2008. On this day, terrorists attacked 10 objects in the Indian capital at once. The main site of the attack was the royal hotel Taj Mahal, the battle of which lasted 64 hours. 166 people were killed and 600 wounded. Explosions in residential buildings in Moscow in September 1999, killing more than 200 people. From 2000 to 2004, bombs exploded in Moscow metro cars and passages. More than 100 were killed and more than 200 were injured. On this day, photo exhibitions of victims of terrorism are organized, documentaries about the consequences of terrorist attacks are shown, and various commemorative events are held. Every year the UN Secretary-General gives a speech. In different parts of the world, people organize peaceful rallies in honor of the memory of the victims. Flowers and wreaths are laid at the monuments. Sympathizers carry candles and bouquets to the sites of the tragedies.

Stribog is the god of atmospheric phenomena among the pagan Slavs. In ancient Russian literary monuments he is called grandfather or father of the winds. Researchers have not yet figured out what lies in the essence of this Slavic deity: a good or evil principle. Some scientists correlate it with the lord of sunlight - Dazhdbog. Others consider him the god of war, the patron of warriors, and the guardian of the world of the dead. According to legend, the gray-haired old man Stribog lived in the thicket of a dark forest or on an island in the middle of the ocean. He had the power to cause a storm, a hurricane, a storm, or, conversely, to pacify the raging bad weather. A tornado was a frightening manifestation of Stribog. The Slavs were afraid of this atmospheric phenomenon: they tried to stab him with a knife, beat him with sticks, shouted at him, and threw stones at him. The day of honoring the deity according to the new style falls on August 21. Sometimes this day was called Stribozhe Summer or the day of Stribog Vetrogon. From this moment on, the cold children and grandchildren of the deity remind people of the upcoming autumn thaw. It is interesting that not only in summer, but also in other seasons - autumn, winter and spring - the pagans remembered and honored Stribog and his children, who brought warm and cold winds. There were no special festivities held at Stribozhye Letneya, and there was no ban on work either. Housewives did not prepare festive meals and did not decorate their homes. On this day, pagans performed various rituals for the harvest and good luck in business. In the morning, the Slavs offered Stribog the following: colorful ribbons, shreds, newly ground flour, bread, and cereals. People went out into the field and scattered everything they brought to the wind, asking for good winds that were beneficial for the harvest. On this day, sailors and merchants especially honored Stribog, because he had the power to fill the sails with wind or sink a ship with goods being transported. Magi and priests considered this deity their patron; they talked to him, asking him to bring hidden knowledge from the world of the dead with the winds. On this day, you had to watch your words and not throw them away, otherwise the deity could make you answer for them. The Slavs also believed that all bad wishes could come true with the help of Stribog.

One of the fun holidays falls on August 21 - Wild Herbs Gathering Day. This does not mean that on this particular day you need to harvest plants, their flowers, leaves, and stems. Collection should be carried out as natural gifts bloom, flower or ripen, depending on the recommendations of special manuals and herbal healers. Typically, flowers are harvested during flowering, which occurs in the months of May-June-July, rhizomes - in early spring or autumn, fruits - as they ripen. However, the holiday has been invented, and it can be celebrated by anyone who collects wild herbs or is just planning to practice it. And this is the desire of many housewives, grandmothers, young girls, and the unemployed. It turns out that the day of collecting wild herbs is a very wide holiday. It can be carried out outdoors, in the countryside, in the forest, near a river or lake. You can also meet in a sauna, in a cafe or in a gazebo, accompanying the holiday with relaxation and the obligatory tea party. The composition of the herbal collection includes oregano, fireweed, thyme, lemon balm, leaves and fruits of strawberries, currants, raspberries, etc. Usually, herbs, shoots, leaves, rhizomes, rich in medicinal components, vitamins, or those that have enhanced aromatic and other properties are collected. The grass should be cut with scissors, but not uprooted. This should be carried out in environmentally safe places, away from roadways, industrial and chemical production facilities, and pesticide warehouses. Collection should be done in dry weather, when the dew has left the plant. Moisture will lead to darkening of the stems and leaves and loss of their beneficial properties. You need to dry the weed not in the sun, but in a ventilated room or in the shade at a temperature of +15 to +35 degrees C. Popular plants that are used to improve health in folk and medical practice include: • St. John's wort, which normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract; • chamomile, which has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties; • mint with pronounced calming properties; • hop cones, which improve appetite and have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, and tonic effects; • plantain with wound-healing properties, used in the treatment of bronchitis; • sea buckthorn leaves, restoring the health of skin and hair, improving the functioning of the liver and pancreas; • stinging nettle with a rejuvenating effect and hemostatic properties; • flowers, rose hips, rich in vitamin C, B2, K, P, E, retinol, organic acids, tannins, bioflavonoids; • burdock root, which cleanses blood and lymph, improves hair condition; • linden flowers, effective for coughs; • yarrow, which helps with nosebleeds, gum bleeding, intestinal infections, scratches, diathesis, acne, hair loss; • pine buds, which relieve seasonal colds. There are many other plants that bring benefits to human health, beauty and functioning. Attention! The Internet is filled with all kinds of recommendations for the use of herbal remedies. But among wild plants there are many that, along with beneficial characteristics, have poisonous properties. Their use must be very careful. Herbs with medicinal, poisonous, and sometimes decorative properties include: • May lily of the valley; • tansy; • sweet clover; • Datura common; • greater celandine; • sleep-grass, etc. When taking them, medical supervision is necessary. Wild Herb Gathering Day will introduce you to their beneficial and harmful characteristics.

Memorial Day of General San Martin in Argentina

Poet's Day

Orthodox Christians celebrate the day of Myron of Crete on August 21. This holiday has several different names in Rus': Miron-vetrogon, Miron's day, Mironov's day. It is believed that on this day one should expect strong winds that knock down one's feet. They say that the wind is nothing but the breath of the Lord himself. And in the dust raised by strong gusts of wind, evil spirits may lurk. Probably, each of us has at least once seen the characteristic swirls on the road, consisting of dust, debris, fallen leaves and dry twigs - this is how a carminative machine “plays naughty”. According to another, more ancient belief, Stribog was the ruler of the winds on Earth. Perhaps it was from pagan times that the holiday began, which eventually became Orthodox. Bishop Myron of Crete, commemorated on this day, is not just a saint, but a miracle worker. According to a long-standing legend, he once managed with just a wave of his hand to stop and return to its channel a raging river that was demolishing everything in its path. Unfortunately, little information has been preserved about the life of Myron of Crete. What is known is that during his lifetime he was a compassionate, kind and helpful person. One of the legends mentions an incident from the life of the saint: one day thieves broke into his barn and wanted to take away all the grain reserves with them. At that moment the bishop caught them, however, he did not punish them, but allowed them to take all the bread with them. The thieves were so amazed by the noble deed of the clergyman that they left everything they stole without taking a single grain with them. On this day in Rus', it was customary to pick blackberries and then make aromatic jam from them. In addition, on the feast of Myron of Crete, one was supposed to pray fervently and ask the saint to calm the winds. It was also customary to show generosity even to one’s worst enemies and forgive others all insults, cleansing one’s soul of malice and hatred. In the evening, the girls told fortunes - to do this they had to go to the crossroads and make their cherished wish. If at the same moment a strong gust of wind hit your face, it means that your wish was destined to come true. Otherwise, we had to wait at least another year. Signs of the holiday of Myron the Carminative:

Orthodox holidays on August 21:

Feast of the Tolga Icon of the Mother of God

Memorial Day of St. Myron the Wonderworker, Bishop of Crete

Memorial Day of St. Gregory of Sinaite

Transfer of the relics of Saints Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky