Opposition to slavery and the slave trade is one of the priorities voiced by the United Nations. This problem is so global and relevant to the modern world that there are several days on the calendar dedicated to the topic of slavery. One of these dates was August 23 as the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. On this hot day in 1891, the slaves of the French colony of Saint-Domingue (the local name for the island of Haiti) rebelled, destroying their enslavers and hated plantations. The actions of former Haitians were inspired by the events of the French Revolution, where new laws asserted the right to freedom and equality of all people. The uprising grew into a large-scale movement; its leaders managed to achieve autonomy for the island and abolish the shameful slavery of local residents. But the current situation did not suit Napoleon himself, who at that time held the post of first French consul. The future Emperor Bonaparte sends an entire army to fight the rebellious island. Attempts to re-enslave people who felt free led to new uprisings and bloody events. Despite all the efforts of the military, it was not possible to restore the slave system in Haiti. In the 40s of the 19th century, the French government was forced to agree to the independence of the Dominican Republic and its population. The events that happened in Haiti inspired many enslaved people, especially in America. But during the entire period of modern history, this incident became the only successful overthrow of the slave system. For a long time, the shameful serfdom remained in Russia; for a long time, the beautiful words of the American Constitution were just a utopia. It took a hundred years, many revolts and wars, millions of lives to defend the right to freedom, granted to everyone at birth, regardless of gender and nationality. It's scary to realize that slavery has not disappeared from modern realities. People are still being kidnapped, lured, sold, coerced and used. All UN states cannot remain silent and indifferent in the current situation, and therefore must hold events on August 23 aimed at opposing slavery and condemning it.

August 23 in Russia celebrates the day when the Red Army won a great victory in the Battle of Kursk, which lasted more than a month. This battle turned out to be the beginning of the defeat of the German invaders; it was after it that the Nazis stopped their aggressive policy and finally received what they deserved from the Red Army. Every child and adult should understand the importance of this holiday, honor the memory of fallen heroes and try not to repeat the mistakes of our ancestors. Such an important date for our country is celebrated annually on August 23, the day of the victory of the Red Army over the fascist enemies, near Kursk. This day began to be celebrated in 1995, when on March 13 a decree was issued establishing “days of military glory.” The victory of our troops is truly considered a turning point during the Second World War; it was after the Red Army felt the taste of victory here that it found the strength to fight on and win. This day, like the heroes who fell during this battle, will never be forgotten. On August 23, memorial services are held in all temples and churches, festive processions are held in military units, flowers are offered to the eternal flame by both ordinary citizens and the top leadership of our country. In schools and institutes, open lessons, seminars, and meetings with veterans are held, which allow us to reveal the meaning of that terrible war and what we owe to the fallen heroes. In the summer of 1943, the whole world turned its attention to the confrontation between the USSR and Nazi Germany, and it was at this moment, in early July, that German troops went on the offensive, unleashing a huge number of people, tanks and aircraft on Soviet soldiers in order to break through the ring and open access to the city . But they did not expect such a fierce attack, having lost a large number of their people in two days, the Nazis changed their tactics and decided to attack from the village of Ponyri, but even here they were defeated. On July 9, the enemy tank division moved to the village of Goreloye, where it also suffered huge losses. The German operation "Citadel" to capture the central region of Russia was a failure. July 12, 1943 is considered the second stage of the Battle of Kursk, when our army began counter-insurrections in order to liberate the territories captured by the Germans. Their task was to liberate the cities of Orel and Belgorod, where the Nazis took a strong defensive position. More than 600 thousand German military personnel, more than 35 divisions (of which 7 tank divisions) were stationed here. But thanks to the heroism of our soldiers and competent leadership, Oryol was liberated in early August, and by the end of summer, all surrounding areas were liberated. The Battle of Kursk was a decisive moment during the Second World War; from that moment on, Germany's position deteriorated sharply, which allowed our army to finally launch an offensive against the Nazis and recapture many territories. Never forget the exploits of our ancestors, who were able to lead the Soviet Union to a great victory against Nazi Germany, remember and honor their merit not only on this day, but always.

August 23 is a very good holiday - “Hug Your Loved One” Day. This is a great opportunity to remember why we fell in love with the person next to us. If a dark streak has come in life and everything seems too gloomy, then it is enough to feel the warmth of an embrace to make it a little easier. Why can such a simple action give a person peace of mind and happiness? Hugs really calm down and help express those feelings that you can't express in your words. Psychologists are convinced that without touch a person begins to wither, like a plant without water. His mood deteriorates, irritability increases, and depression may even set in. The origins of this need for hugs should be sought in infancy. Researchers have found that babies who are left without parents begin to rock in the cradle on their own, trying to compensate for the lack of mother's touch. Psychologists believe that tactile contact gives the baby a sense of security. It signals that all is well with him and with the rest of the world. Scientists have found that when hugging, a person begins to produce the neuropeptide oxytocin. This peptide hormone is considered “female” because it determines maternal behavior, but another interesting fact was recently established. Oxytocin gives a feeling of peace and reduces anxiety. It turned out that, along with estradiol and testosterone, it is one of the three most important human hormones, as it regulates social activity and even contributes to the formation and maintenance of friendships. It turns out that during a hug a person not only calms down, but also tunes in to strengthen the relationship. Oxytocin deficiency stimulates the development of fears. A person in a depressed state begins to fear being rejected by society, being left alone. Such a reaction once again proves that we are social creatures and need other people. American scientists have proven that frequent hugs help protect the cardiovascular system. They conducted an experiment on two groups of volunteers. The former hugged their loved ones often, while the latter kept tactile contact to a minimum. After that, they began to communicate with loved ones and during the conversation they talked about the latest event that caused negative emotions. It turned out that people who hugged reacted less strongly to unpleasant memories. Those who limited themselves in touching were irritable and nervous, and because of the negativity they began to experience tachycardia. Hugs can boost immunity, reduce stress levels, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and normalize sleep. This is a natural antidepressant that is available to everyone. During a hug, an empathic connection with a person is established, a moment of emotional intimacy comes when people do not need words to understand each other. For many years now, in different parts of the world, activists of the Free Hugs Campaign have been holding events during which they take to the streets and simply offer passers-by a hug. It all started back in 2004 at Sydney airport, where Australian Juan Mann arrived after many years of wandering. A pleasant bustle reigned in the hall, where a crowd of happy passengers had gathered. Those greeting them hugged their friends and family, smiles never left their faces. Watching this picture, Juan felt his loneliness even more acutely. He was away from home for so long, and when he returned, no one was waiting for him here, there was not even anyone to hug with. And then a thought occurred to the man, he found a piece of cardboard somewhere, on which he wrote “Free Hugs” with a marker, and then went outside. At first, people passed him by, mistaking him for an ordinary eccentric, but a woman approached Mann and said that exactly a year ago her daughter died, and the day before she was left completely alone, having lost her beloved dog. Mann and the stranger hugged tightly. It was this moment that can be considered the starting point for the Free Hugs Campaign movement, which two years later became widespread. The healing properties of hugs are amazing, so hug your loved ones more often to lift the spirits of others and get rid of melancholy yourself.

The American industrialist Henry Kremer established a prize in 1959, which was to be received by the designer of the first muscle-powered aircraft. On August 23, 1977, a reward of £50,000 went to Paul McCready and Peter Lissaman, who flew the Gossamer Condor. This device not only rose into the sky to a height of more than 3 m, according to the requirements of the award founder, but also drew an infinity sign as proof of its ability to maneuver in the air. In honor of this significant event, August 23 is celebrated annually as the Day “Soar Like the Wind”. The second device, also built by Paul McCready and named "Gossamer Albatross", flew from England to France in 1979. Pilots of this and other muscle planes use the power of their leg muscles to turn the pedals, which transfer power to the propeller. Therefore, it is not surprising that the world record for traveling on such aircraft was set in April 1988 by a cyclist from Greece. K. Kanellopoulos traveled 115 km along the route of the mythological hero Daedalus from the island of Crete to the mainland. Thanks to pedaling at a speed of 75 revolutions per minute, the travel time was 3 hours 54 minutes. Muscle planes, unlike airplanes, are driven not by an engine, but by the force of the pilot's muscles. Aircraft, which are a hybrid of a bicycle and a glider, are a unique challenge of man to nature. In humans, the pectoral muscles account for only 1% of body weight, while in birds it is 17%. This means that a person will not be able to fly by flapping his arms, even with artificially created wings like Icarus. That's why legs come to the rescue. He tried to repeat the feat of the ancient Greek hero in the 16th century. a certain slave Nikita. He made a flight that cost his life from the bell tower of the Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda. The idea of ​​​​the design and capabilities of a muscle aircraft was developed by Leonardo da Vinci, who created several devices with flapping wings. In 1890, the inventor from France Delpra designed an air bicycle, which interested N.E. Zhukovsky. The Russian scientist was skeptical about the possibility of a person soaring in the air with the help of wings. The founder of aero- and hydrodynamics argued that people would begin to fly, relying not on the strength of their own muscles, but on the power of the mind. As the history of aircraft manufacturing has shown, N.E. Zhukovsky turned out to be right. The creation of airplanes is a demonstration of the power of the human mind. However, the impetus for this process was given by the development of muscle cars. Ride Like the Wind Day celebrates compact aircraft that are environmentally friendly and do not leave a carbon footprint. Flying in a muscle plane is reminiscent of a bird soaring. In calm weather it can accelerate to 45 km/h, and with a tailwind - up to 90 km/h. In order to fly on this amazing device, you don’t have to be its designer. Anyone who decides to celebrate Soar Like the Wind Day can test their strength and compete with birds in the skill of moving through the air.

Corn became the main grain and feed crop in the USSR during the era of N.S. Khrushchev. The General Secretary of the CPSU raised the question of the need to increase acreage to solve the problems of the Soviet agricultural industry in 1954. Khrushchev made a bet on the “queen of the fields”, citing the successful American experience. The General Secretary owns the phrase: “Corn, comrades, is a tank in the hands of fighters... which makes it possible to overcome barriers, overcome obstacles on the way to creating an abundance of products for our people.” The tradition of celebrating Buttered Corn Day on August 23 originated in the United States. Although the popular cereal crop was domesticated thousands of years ago by the indigenous peoples of southern Mexico. The Indians planted corn on the elephant mountains along irrigated canals on special terraces - chinampas. Today, as many years ago, Mexicans make hominy and bread cakes from the grains of the plant, cook spicy or sweet-tasting cereals, and prepare other dishes. A medium-sized cob with grains as golden as the sun contains no more than 100 calories, so it is ideal for dietary nutrition. In addition, corn is a healthy product because... rich in fiber, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. Corn grains are eaten boiled and canned, and used for preparing main dishes and desserts. Stigmas have been used since ancient times to treat diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system. Italians eat corn with butter and sprinkled with Parmesan, crushed garlic, basil, rosemary, oregano and other seasonings. In Russian tradition, cobs are eaten with salt. Americans traditionally eat boiled or grilled corn for lunch and dinner, generously flavored with butter. They also pour it over popcorn in movie theaters, significantly increasing the calorie content of the popular snack. The United States has been a leader in the yield of this type of grain crops for decades. Americans make pies and casseroles from corn, and use the grains to make flour and other products. Therefore, it is not surprising that it was on this continent that the tradition of celebrating Buttered Corn Day arose. The cereal crop is very popular in the USA. Farmers from the west of the country, who popularize ecotourism, came up with the idea of ​​holding mini-quests in the fields. Families with children walk along specially equipped paths in corn mazes with maps in their hands. In honor of the holiday, gastronomic festivals and other events dedicated to the “queen of the fields” are also held. Butter Corn Day has long been an international celebration. The holiday of August 23 is widely celebrated not only by residents of Mexico and the United States, but also by other countries of the world.

Since 2008, the European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Stalinism and Nazism has been celebrated annually on August 23. It was established on the basis of a petition submitted by representatives of the EU Parliament from the Czech Republic, Estonia and Hungary. European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism is dedicated to the victims of totalitarian ideologies. Despite the controversial decision of the OSCE PA to equate communism with fascism and the Russian delegation's boycott of the vote, the resolution initiated by parliamentarians from Lithuania and Slovenia was adopted. In the USA and Canada, on August 23, Black Ribbon Day, victims of totalitarianism are also remembered. Nazism and Stalinism are, of course, two criminal regimes that were accompanied by genocide and crimes against humanity. However, equating Marxism with National Socialism is not correct. The authoritarian power of the Fuhrer and the reigning power in Germany in the 30s and 40s. XX century the ideology was based on asserting the advantage of one nation over others. This concept is based on the superiority of the German people (Italian during the reign of Mussolini), their exploitation and destruction of representatives of other ethnic groups. Communism, on the contrary, is the ideology of equality, fraternity and general welfare, creating a perfect social formation of society. His ideas, when implemented, were distorted by the leaders of the USSR, which, however, is not a basis for equating the two political systems. There is an opinion that the ideas of communism and their implementation under the leadership of Stalin brought the Russian people much greater demographic, spiritual and cultural losses than Nazi Germany. Although on the fields of the Second World War, according to rough estimates, about 40 million Soviet soldiers died for the freedom of their country and neighboring states. In the multinational USSR, not only Tatars, Chechens, Kalmyks, Balkars, Ingush and other nationalities who lost their land and territorial autonomies were persecuted. The Stalinist regime destroyed the flower of the Russian nation - army officers, managers of the NKVD and the Red Army, medical luminaries, representatives of creative professions and members of their families were subjected to repression. However, this does not give EU parliamentarians the right to equate communism with Nazism, paying tribute to the enormous role played by the Red Army in the war, having an idea of ​​​​the terrible price that the Soviet Union paid for the liberation of Europe from fascism. According to the international organization "Memorial", about 38-39 million people became victims of torture in the dungeons of the Lubyanka, murders, exile in the Gulag and deportation of the peoples of the USSR. 6 million Jews died in German concentration camps - victims of the Holocaust. Criminal dictatorial regimes have brought grief to many peoples. It is necessary to remember the dead, lay flowers at memorials, and meet with surviving eyewitnesses of the repression and persecution of Jews. But we must also not forget that Soviet soldiers went into battle shouting “For the Motherland! For Stalin!” and died in the fight against Nazism from the bullets of Wehrmacht soldiers. And their children and grandchildren are forced to admit that communism, which their grandfathers built, and Hitler’s fascism are one and the same. Distorting history and belittling the role of Soviet soldiers in the victory over Nazism in World War II is unacceptable. As does the wording of the name of the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Totalitarian Regimes.

Every year on August 23, the Republic of Belarus solemnly celebrates the Day of State Statistics Workers. Officially, the holiday was established by presidential decree of March 26, 1998, and currently has the status of a national professional holiday. The date for honoring statistics workers was not chosen by chance; it was on August 23, 1920 that the Military Revolutionary Committee of Belarus adopted a resolution on the creation of the Central Bureau of Statistics and the formation of relevant bodies. In subsequent years, the bureau was reorganized several times and, since 2008, transformed into the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus - Belstat. The importance of statistical science and the role of analytical data that the statistical committee collects and processes cannot be overestimated. That is why in Belarus there is a state program designed to create a unified effective statistical information system, training centers for the training and retraining of accounting workers are being opened, and modern platforms are being created to automate the collection and processing of statistical data. Thanks to Internet technologies, statistical data becomes available to a wide audience. This allows politicians, businessmen, scientists and other interested parties to quickly respond to changing conditions both within the country as a whole and separately in each industry. It is especially important to understand that statisticians not only collect and publish information, but also model forecasts for the country’s development in each area of ​​interest. The holiday of statistics workers is quite young, it is also a working day, but despite this, it has its own traditions. Every year, statistical departments prepare thematic exhibitions for their professional holiday, employees accept congratulations from their superiors and senior officials, and the most distinguished employees are awarded diplomas, bonuses and memorable gifts. So every year, the State at the highest level emphasizes the importance of data collection and analysis for the effective and successful leadership of the Republic of Belarus. In addition to their national professional holiday, employees of the statistical committees of Belarus also celebrate World Statistics Day, which is celebrated on October 20.

On August 23, people celebrate Laurentian Day, dedicated to the day of memory of Saints Lawrence of Rome and Lawrence of Kaluga. Lawrence of Rome - senior deacon of the Christian community of the Roman province, who lived in the 3rd century. The information that has come down about the man’s biography is legendary. Lawrence’s responsibilities included control over the property of the Church, and he also had to help the suffering and the poor. During the persecution of Christians, Lawrence was imprisoned. In prison, he healed fellow prisoners with prayers and converted many pagans to Christianity. The warden of the prison, Hippolytus, having seen these miracles, himself believed in Christ and was baptized. After some time, the ruler invited Lawrence to voluntarily give him all the property of the Church. The deacon, asking for a delay, hastily distributed all the church goods to the sick and poor. Then, together with them, he went to the ruler and reported that it was these people who were the wealth of the Church. For this act, Lavrenty was severely punished: he was put on an iron grate and fried alive. Hippolytus, devoted to Lawrence, stole the body and buried it in a cave according to Christian canons. On the day of the archdeacon’s death—August 10 (23, New Style)—Orthodox believers remember the torment that Saint Lawrence experienced and thank him for his love for Christ. Icon painters depict a martyr with a lattice in his hands. Sometimes he is depicted with a casket, symbolizing the riches of the Church. A popular theme in painting is the healing of the blind and the distribution of treasures to the poor. The holy fool Lavrentiy of Kaluga lived in Kaluga in the 15th and 16th centuries. It is believed that he was able to protect Kaluga from the attack of the Tatars in 1512. The blessed one lived on a mountain peak overgrown with dense forest. He walked barefoot and wore no other clothing except a shirt and sheepskin coat. The saint became famous for his strength of spirit, self-denial and miracles of healing. Lawrence reposed on August 23, according to the new style. A monastery was built on the site of his monastery. After his death, the blessed one continued to perform miracles, helping the warrior-defenders of Kaluga and Rus'. Icon painters depict the holy fool in his usual clothes and with an ax on a long ax handle. On Laurentian Day, those who suffer from eye diseases pray to the saints. It is also believed that Saint Lawrence saves from the evil eye and damage. The symbol of August 23 is water. At the dawn of this day, the girls washed themselves with water from the spring. This, according to legend, gave them beauty. The morning dew was given to old people and babies to give them health. At noon, people went to the banks of reservoirs and watched the water surface. If it was calm, then autumn and winter promised to be mild. A small ripple predicted a rainy autumn. Despite all this, there was a ban on swimming on this day. It was believed that violating this rule would lead to illness. Another name for this holiday is Lavrenty the Zorechnik. This is due to the fact that at the current time of year, sunsets and sunrises took on a scarlet hue. People looked at Lavrenty at the linden leaves. If they began to turn yellow, then an excellent harvest of winter crops should be expected. Sometimes August 23 is called Miller's Day. On this day, people carried the first sheaf of wheat to the mill. After grinding it, they baked bread, which was considered the most delicious, aromatic and healthy.

Bugs with a red, orange or blue back with black markings invariably evoke tenderness and joy in children and adults. A ladybug landing on a hand or other part of the body is considered a good sign, bringing good luck and good news. In this case, you should make a wish, throw the insect up and wait for it to fly away. According to a long-standing tradition dating back to childhood, you can recite the chant: Oral folk art is a storehouse of wisdom and knowledge. Our ancestors used nursery rhymes and chants in everyday life for magical purposes. Ritual folklore was resorted to when it was necessary to cause rain or sun, to influence natural phenomena, or to receive help from the gods. Children's calls to the mouse that took away a child's milk teeth, to roosters, snails, beetles and other insects have survived to this day. In Denmark, through a flying ladybug, children convey a request to the gods for good sunny weather. Residents of Norway ask her to help find her other half, saying before releasing her: Czechs and Slovaks call an insect from the order of Coleoptera beetles "sun", the British - the bird of the Virgin Mary, the Americans and Germans - the bug of the Virgin Mary. The Middle Ages are considered to be the time of origin of this symbolism and associations with the Mother of God. During this era, representatives of Christian European communities drew parallels between the 7 black marks on the back of the ladybug and the 7 sorrows of the Virgin Mary. In the religious tradition, the insect acts as a mediator between God and man, a symbol of forgiveness and grace. The sky has always been associated in people's minds with the place where the gods live. On the mountain peak of Olympus lived Zeus, Demeter, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes. Prav was the home of Svarog, Lada, Belobog, Zhiva, Lelya and Kitovras. The flight of a bug with an unusual color into the sky has always been given a sacred meaning. In honor of this action, a holiday was invented, which is celebrated on August 23. Ladybugs Flight Day falls on this date. In Rus', insects have long been addressed not only in verse chants. The bug was asked various questions, for example: “Ladybug, will it be bad weather tomorrow?” If the insect flew away, according to legend, one should wait for good weather, if it remained on the hand - rain. The Slavs even wondered about the future, asking: “Lady cow, should I live, die, or fly to heaven?” Even today, predictions are made based on the number of black marks on the back about how many children there will be in a family or how many happy months there will be in the current year. A talisman with the image of a spotted bug is believed to bring good luck. Meeting a large number of cows on the street means the formation of a friendly and large family. An insect that flies into a house promises happiness and prosperity to its inhabitants and the birth of a child, if there is not a single spot on it. A yellow beetle with black specks landing on your hand is a sign of a quick trip and an unforgettable adventure. If a person is bitten by a ladybug, he needs to take a closer look at his surroundings: there are enemies in it. The messenger of heaven who sits on her right hand fulfills her cherished desires, and on her left hand improves health. A beetle swooping on your face predicts happy love; on your shoulder - dramatic changes in life. People remember these and other lucky signs on August 23 in honor of Ladybug Flight Day.

Orthodox holidays on August 23:

The second discovery and transfer of the relics of St. Savva of Storozhevsky

Memorial Day of the Hieromartyr Lawrence of Rome

Council of New Martyrs and Confessors of Solovetsky

Memorial Day of Blessed Lawrence of Kaluga