The date August 22 became a holiday in Russia in the last decade of the 20th century. By historical standards, this is quite recent. But the establishment of a tricolor with red, white and blue stripes as the official symbol of the country is rooted in the origins of Russian statehood in the distant 17th century. During the reign of Alexei Romanov, the first warship was decorated with a tricolor flag. This innovation did not become widespread, and only the royal decree of Peter I designated the red-white-blue tricolor as the main one among other banners of the Russian fleet, having personally sketched its appearance and the order of colors. Why Peter chose this three-color option, there is no exact answer. Perhaps the main reason for the young tsar was the memory of his father’s warships, or perhaps Pyotr Alekseevich remembered his beloved Holland, where the tall ship masts were full of just such noticeable flags. In any case, Peter the Great ordered that the tricolor be hoisted on commercial and trading Russian river vessels. In this status, the red-white-blue symbol existed until the second half of the 19th century, when it had to compete with another tricolor with a white-yellow-black color combination. After heated discussions in 1883, the model introduced by Peter began to be called Russian national. And a flag with white, gold and black stripes is monarchical or dynastic Romanov. The national flag has its own color symbolism, where white is the color of nobility and duty, red is the color of strength and courage, and blue means devotion. At the same time, the colors were associated with Great, White and Little Russia, which means that the three-color banner symbolizes a large-scale, united and strong power. The red, white and blue colors flaunted majestically over Imperial Russia until the October 1917 coup. Revolutionary-minded Bolsheviks rejected everything that had to do with tsarism, so a new symbol was born in the young Land of Soviets - a red flag, stained with the blood of revolutionaries. The Russian tricolor national flag returned to its original place of honor only on August 22, 1991, by the decision of the session of the Supreme Council, but the date received the status of an official Russian holiday two years later, secured by a decree of President B.N. Yeltsin. At the same time, the White House decorated a flag with three equal stripes: white, blue and red. In 2000, the State Duma approved the proposal of President V.V. Putin to adopt a law on state symbols. Now, the flag is protected by the constitution as a source of national pride, a symbol of democracy and unity. Russians are introducing new interesting traditions of celebrating Flag Day, these are rallies, demonstrations, flash mobs and other events. The pioneers of the celebration of August 22 were the residents of St. Petersburg, who fired shots from the Peter and Paul Fortress in 2007. The largest and heaviest tricolor was raised by Muscovites, in Ulyanovsk there was a solemn procession with a 30-meter tricolor flag, in Novosibirsk the Russian tricolor was made up of participants in multi-colored suits, and in Omsk from airplanes. Festive events in large and small cities of Russia showed what a powerful unifying force a state symbol can have.

On this memorable day, the ancient Komi people celebrate the most important event in their socio-political history - the formation of an independent Republic. This is a favorite folk holiday that has official status. On this day, residents do not work, but take direct part in folk festivities, go to concerts, exhibitions of folk crafts and fairs, photo exhibitions and shows. The territory of Komi was part of the Russian state back in the 15th century, and in fact was an integral part of various provinces, such as Vyatka, Arkhangelsk and Vologda. The Komi acquired their own region in 1917, when the Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia was published. After 4 years, an autonomous region was formed, and a separate republic - the Komi ASSR - appeared 15 years later. Then the Komi, who lived in a variety of districts and volosts, gathered in one place - a completely new autonomous administrative-territorial unit. Only 5 years have passed since the formation of autonomy, and already the prevailing part of the republic’s population was of Komi nationality. A Constitution was adopted, and in the 30s large-scale construction of prisons and special settlements began here. Since the 50s, the rapid development of the manufacturing sector began - timber industry enterprises, mining mines (new deposits of oil, ores, and coal), power plants, and food processing factories appeared. The fur trade was replaced by the mining and forestry industries. At the same time, entire cities (Pechera, Migun) and villages were erected, and the region was actively populated. In 1993, the northern region received the status and official name - the Komi Republic. Soon the corresponding paraphernalia appeared - heraldry and anthem. The Komi language became an equal national language along with Russian. The revival of national culture, art, traditions, literature, education began, and a new alphabet was created. Folk crafts of Komi are known and highly valued all over the world - wood painting, weaving, knitting and embroidery, lace making, clay utensils, fur and leather products, as well as ethnic dolls. The republic, with its capital in Syktyvkar, is also famous for the development of its tourism industry. There are many nature reserves, lakes, waterfalls and other beautiful places. On August 22, official ceremonial meetings, large-scale folk festivals, and festive concerts with the participation of famous artists take place. It is customary to hold folklore festivals, theatrical stage performances and photo competitions. And also - all-Russian sports competitions, celestial show programs, fairs with tasting of national dishes, and even a local exhibition at VDNKh opens.

In the modern world, the death of people at the hands of terrorists, the death of victims of violence on religious grounds occurs constantly. History is familiar with a large number of negative examples of the death of people caused by the religious beliefs of ardent fanatics. Mass confrontation between people (Catholics and Protestants, Muslims and Christians, persecution of Jews) often arose on the basis of religion, racial differences, political and social grounds. The victims of such confrontations were not only inveterate fanatics and political figures, but also people completely uninvolved in the events - children, old people, women. In May 2019, the UN General Assembly established the International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. This memorable date is celebrated on August 22. The memorial date is a response to the bloody events of recent years, rampant terrorism, massacres of civilians, and religious fundamentalism. By approving a new memorial date, the UN Assembly calls on all government and public figures, all states and public organizations, representatives of all religions to remember on this day the religious and racial genocide, to remember all the victims and victims of terrorists, all innocent people who died in the crater of religious beliefs. This UN resolution also contains a provision on the joint work of all states to protect civilians from religiously motivated crimes. Religious intolerance in the last decades of the last century, and from the beginning to the present day of the present century, has acquired unprecedented proportions. The UN General Assembly has created a special platform to which all information about unauthorized actions of religious fanatics or persecution based on religious beliefs flows. This platform will help identify religious criminals and make it possible to develop a plan to prevent religious terrorism in the future. The UN Assembly invites all representatives of religious concessions to openly and constructively discuss the solution to this global problem. Free expression of one's opinion and free choice of any religion is an inalienable and inseparable human right. These rights are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; discrimination on religious grounds is unacceptable. An open dialogue between all state and public organizations and religious figures will make it possible in the future to prevent terrorism and fundamental fanaticism on religious and racial grounds.

Cooperation was in great demand for a long time, and coopers were respected and indispensable craftsmen. Oak barrels were used to store food, prepare delicious pickles, and produce and age alcoholic beverages. These wooden products are known for their valuable qualities: high strength, unique natural aroma, antiseptic properties and other advantages. Nowadays large oak barrels can be found in private wine cellars and at cooperage exhibitions. Many housewives and cooks use such wooden containers to prepare delicious pickles, tomatoes, mushrooms and cabbage. Small souvenir oak barrels are also produced, which are intended for storing alcoholic beverages and are equipped with convenient taps. Designers make decorative interior decorations from various parts of these products, as well as original flowerpots in the form of barrels. Every year on August 22, Oak Barrel Day is celebrated. There is a version that suggests that the first wooden barrel appeared in Ancient Greece, in the 4th century BC. Around this period, the ancient Greeks and Egyptians stored wine in clay vessels. One day, the drink accidentally fell into a wooden barrel and thanks to this it acquired a pleasant aroma and exquisite taste. After this incident, barrels began to be used in winemaking, and cooperage developed rapidly. Mass production of oak barrels continued until the 19th century. With the advent of ceramic, glass, metal and plastic dishes, barrels became less in demand. Now these wooden products are made in small private workshops and wineries. Large cooperage production remains in France, where the largest factory, Seguin Moreau, is located. To make real oak barrels for the production of cognac, wine, whiskey and other drinks, old oak trees that are at least 75 years old are used. These wooden products were used in warfare, as explosive weapons for conquering fortresses. The containers were filled with gunpowder and other traumatic parts; small holes were made in the walls into which a special wick was inserted. The last time a powder keg was exploded was during World War II. The famous wine cellars contain large oak barrels with exquisite drinks. The Republic of Moldova has the largest gallery, which houses millions of bottles of wine and has huge rooms with barrels for storing wine. In France, in the Alsace region, there are wine cellars of the Hugel dynasty. The oldest barrel is stored there, which is still in use today. This product was made in 1715, named after Saint Catherine and included in the Guinness Book of Records. In Odessa there is the Shustov Cognac Museum, which is open to visitors. The museum has a tasting room. The walls of this room are decorated with elements of oak barrels. The museum also has a cooperage hall. This holiday is considered unofficial, therefore it does not have established traditions and customs. On this day you can buy a bottle of good aged wine or cognac as a souvenir or for a festive table. You should definitely try the delicious pickles from oak barrels. Such dishes can be ordered in a national restaurant. You can buy souvenirs in the form of barrels and give them to friends, watch interesting films about winemakers, organize a themed party or implement other original ideas.

Catholic feast of the Coronation of Mary

Every New Year, at the height of the summer season in China, two delightful stars stand out especially brightly, by coincidence separated by the Milky Way (popularly nicknamed the Weaver and the Shepherd). The uniquely beautiful legend about the Weaver and the Shepherd formed the basis for recreating the stunning and magical Qi Xi holiday. Each holiday and the centuries-old, and sometimes thousand-year-old history associated with it amaze the imagination of the common man. After all, not every person knows where the roots of this or that special event go. And it all started like this: there lived in this world a very young shepherd and his name was Nyulan. He, like many of his brothers, cultivated the field and grazed cattle (oxen). But one fine day, Heavenly Zhinyu (weaver) fell in love with a young boy. I couldn’t contain my feelings and went down to the ground with him. She married him, and subsequently a radiant daughter and son were born. Everything was going just fine, but unfortunately for them, the Lord of Heaven Tiandi found out about this union of a heavenly creature and a mere mortal. He ordered to return his ward back to heaven, which was immediately done by the warrior Vanmu. Poor shepherd Niulan tried to bring his wife back, but the heavenly lords, with the help of their miraculous powers, drew a Silver River between the lovers. So the lovers found themselves on different banks and could not approach each other. Luckily for them, the magpies took pity on the two broken hearts. They gathered huge flocks from all over the world and formed a bridge. The warrior Vanmu gave her permission for lovers to meet once a year in this sacred place. It is on this day that noisy and cheerful fairs are held in China, where souvenirs and gifts for the Qi Xi holiday are sold. Large-scale fortune telling is also held on this holiday. Almost all young girls who live in the state participate in them. On this holiday, older women pray to the gods to give their families happiness and prosperity. Then they make talismans with their own hands from laces and all sorts of trinkets and throw them on the roofs of their houses. All these crafts made from bright little things represent the tail of a magpie for the Chinese. Also a sign of unprecedented luck on this holiday is a shooting star. Whoever sees her will be happy all next year. During the celebration, the Chinese put a variety of national dishes on the festive table. The menu, of course, may vary slightly depending on the region, but the basis of the entire feast is always: halva, dumplings and noodles. Overall, a Chinese holiday that is unique in its content and colorful in its execution.

Man has long studied many natural phenomena. Thus, in 1304, the German thinker Theodoric explained how a rainbow is formed in raindrops and recreated it in a spherical flask. An atmospheric, optical and meteorological phenomenon observed in nature when the color of the sun is refracted at a 45-degree angle in water droplets. The process of the appearance of a rainbow is described by one of the laws of geometric optics. The first scientist to determine the angle of refraction of the sun's rays in water in 1266 was the Englishman Roger Bacon. The statement that there are seven colors in the rainbow belongs to Isaac Newton. European, Asian and American scientists do not agree with the results of his experiments. The Japanese and French do not see green in the rainbow, but the Chinese have only five colors in their palette: red, yellow, green, blue and violet. People observe rainbows not only during the day after rain or while at a waterfall. Multi-colored stripes form from fog and can be seen in dew drops and in the night sky. A lunar rainbow differs from a solar rainbow in lower brightness. This unusually beautiful and interesting natural phenomenon is depicted by artists in their paintings and sung by poets and musicians. Unknown jokers established a funny holiday in his honor. August 22 is Rainbow Ride Day. The holiday encourages you to use your imagination and try to accomplish what is almost impossible. A rainbow is an intangible object; you cannot touch it or even get close to it. You won’t be able to ride it either, but getting acquainted with mythological stories and religious images of the optical phenomenon is quite possible. Thus, the ancient Scandinavians believed that the souls of the righteous descend along the rainbow to the other world after death. The Indians were convinced that they could climb up to the celestial beings using a multi-colored staircase. In the Middle Ages, Jesus Christ was depicted sitting on a rainbow in a star-studded mandorla - an almond-shaped radiance that conveys the light of divine glory. The Chinese identify the rainbow with the dragon, seeing it as a symbol of the unification of yin and yang, heaven and earth. The Incas painted it on flags and shields, believing that it allowed them to draw power from solar energy. Among the Eastern Slavs, the rainbow was associated with fertility and Perun's victory over evil spirits; among the Bulgarians, it was associated with the wrath of the gods and cataclysms. In honor of the holiday, people not only get acquainted with interesting facts related to the optical phenomenon, but also go outdoors. Rainbow tours are a type of tourism dedicated to excursions during which the traveler enjoys the beauty of the surrounding world. People admire the picturesque views and unique atmospheric phenomenon at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia, at Mactu Picchu in Peru, at the mountain peaks and glaciers of Iceland, and the lakes of New Zealand. Tourists are inspired by natural beauty, take photographs and post them on social networks, paying tribute to the fun celebration - Rainbow Riding Day.

In Christianity, on this day they remember the Apostle Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot by lot, who decided to betray Jesus. The people called Matvey rainy, since usually on this day the weather was cool or even rainy.

Orthodox holidays on August 22:

Cathedral of Solovetsky Saints

Memorial Day of St. Psoi of Egypt

On August 22, the entire Christian world celebrates the feast day of St. Apostle Matthias. He was one of Jesus' disciples. Matthias is one of the twelve apostles, among whom he took the place of Judas the traitor. During his life, the saint was a pious man, and Jesus noticed him because of the purity of his thoughts. He preached throughout his life, and then died at the age of 63. The life story of Matthias begins in Bethlehem, where he was born. As soon as the child grew up a little, his parents sent him to study in Jerusalem, where Saint Simeon the God-Receiver took over the boy. He taught theology and guided the student to a virtuous life. Matthias was pure in heart and strictly followed the commandments. Meanwhile, Jesus turned thirtieth and revealed himself to the world by beginning to preach. Matthias became one of the disciples of Christ. He listened to his every word and decided to abandon worldly concerns, following his teacher. Jesus immediately noticed Matthias. No heart could hide anything before Christ, so he knew how pure the disciple's intentions were. Jesus first chose Matthias to be one of the seventy lesser apostles. After the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, execution and resurrection, one place among the 12 apostles was empty. It was this that Matthias occupied. The choice was approved by the Lord himself. He sent down the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire that descended on the new apostle. God gave him grace, just like the eleven other disciples before him. Soon the apostles had to choose who should go in which direction. They decided to cast lots, and Matthias got Judea, where he went. He tirelessly toured all Jewish cities with his sermons. Matthias carried the word of God not only for Christians, but also for pagans. The apostle was not afraid to turn to the people of Ethiopia who did not accept his faith. In this country, Matthias was subjected to various types of torture, but he withstood them all. He was beaten, dragged along the ground with ropes and hung from a pole. The apostle's skin was repeatedly burned and bleeding wounds were inflicted on him, but he withstood all these tests, since his faith in Christ was stronger than ever. According to one version, the apostle went to Macedonia. Here he was also given a cruel reception. The Greeks did not believe in the teachings that Matthias preached, so they decided to punish him. They gave the apostle poison to drink, which blinded the man. However, the disciple of Christ not only did not lose his sight, but also miraculously cured everyone who suffered from this poison. The devil also repeatedly tried to kill the apostle. He set the wicked against him, but God protected the saint. Matthias walked among those who persistently looked for him, but they did not see him. He was put in prison, from which he miraculously freed himself the next day. When the wicked tried to kill the apostle again, they were swallowed up by the earth. After his journey among the pagans, Matthias returned to Judea. Here he continued to preach, but the Jewish high priest Anan decided to execute the disciple of Christ. Previously, on his orders, James, one of the seventy lesser apostles, had already been killed. Matthias was stoned to death. After this, his head was cut off, and the believers buried his body with honors.