Trucker Day

If you think about which of the living creatures instills horror, disgust or disgust in a person, of course, bats will certainly be on the list. The fact is that bats have a rather unusual muzzle structure, spend most of their lives upside down, make strange sounds, and the most unusual thing is that they are nocturnal. Cinema and television played a significant role in spreading fears around these creatures. Many horror directors could not ignore the peculiarities of the life of these bats and presented these peculiarities in a threatening manner, demonizing them and providing them with many implausible fictions. Wildlife Conservation International took the initiative in 1997 to protect these living creatures. It was decided to celebrate International Bat Day. It takes place every third Saturday in August. On this day, exhibitions and excursions into the natural world of bats are held all over the world, in zoos and museums. It tells about their way of life and shows what benefits they bring to people. The fact is that, guided by their fears, people often exterminate bats. They set traps on them, poison them with chemicals, and do this in vain. After all, bats are an important factor in the functioning of the balance of living organisms in nature. So, just one representative of bats - think about it - can destroy from 500 to 1000 harmful insects in an hour. How much safer this is than chemical crop protection, for example, for the human body - judge for yourself. Another interesting fact about the benefits of bats is that bats can pollinate plants. By moving and carrying pollen over long distances from flower to flower, they contribute to the formation of fruits in fruit trees and shrubs. So, does humanity have the right, when, obeying fears, fantasy and imagination, which feature films generously develop, to destroy living beings that bring considerable benefit to the life of our planet? Thus, on the initiative of citizens who are not indifferent to the preservation and protection of the lives of all representatives of wildlife on our planet, on the third Saturday of August we have a reason to think about the life of a whole species of bats - flying mice. Learn something new about them, useful for yourself, and maybe even save several representatives of the species.

On August 26 there is a funny holiday - Day of Attracting Good Luck. Make Your Own Luck Day was first celebrated in the USA in 1995. Its date was not chosen by chance. J. Richard Falls from Irving, who lived in Texas, the initiator of the celebration, decided that the important moment of attracting success to life should be celebrated on his birthday - August 26. Each of us dreams of directing the course of fate towards the path of good luck and prosperity. Especially if in your immediate environment there are people who literally glow with joy and the pleasure they receive from life. It seems that they caught the bird of happiness by the tail. What can help in attracting good luck? Amulets, magical rituals, spells or the right psychological attitude? This is interesting: Leonardo DiCaprio's hero from the film "The Wolf of Wall Street" became a successful stock market player and a billionaire thanks to following a number of rules. One of them read: "Do you want to earn a million? Imagine that you already have it." It is necessary not only to believe in success, but to think of it as an accomplished fact, discarding doubts and thoughts of failure. Set goals and, when you achieve them, understand that you deserve it all - one of the rules for attracting the attention of the Greek goddess Fortune. In addition to psychological attitudes, various objects bring good luck to life. It is enough to endow them with the power of your intention and specific properties. For example, a lucky pen will help you pass an exam with flying colors, a figurine of two swans by the bed will help you attract your other half, and a pot-bellied frog with coins will help you open a money portal. The power of human thought is extremely important, because thanks to it reality is formed, and intuition helps to choose from many options for action the only one that will lead to success. This is interesting: Cat Matroskin in the cartoon about Prostokvashino stated that according to the law of meanness, a sandwich always falls butter side down. But the traditions of luck created here and now depend on the internal mood of the person involved in a specific situation. For one, a black cat is a harbinger of trouble, and for another, it is a symbol of relaxation, well-being and a sign of the Higher powers to act according to one’s own command, i.e. just as the heart tells you. Create your own signs of success - model reality with the power of thought! The ancestors of the Slavs used various amulets to attract good luck - a horseshoe, nails, four-leaf clovers and icons that were hung in the “red corner” of the hut. The time for carrying out ritual actions for “luring” success was chosen taking into account the cycles of the Earth’s satellite (usually on the waxing Moon), and the cardinal directions served as a guide for placing amulets in the house. Talismans were hung in the eastern and southern parts of the house, symbolizing the warmth of the hearth and the sunrise. The day of attracting good luck, which falls on August 26, partly refers to magical holidays. Health, financial well-being and happiness are often brought into life by people who celebrate this occasion through rituals. These could be the rituals of our ancestors, the ancient Slavs, or actions performed in the Vedic Hindu tradition using mantras - spells for wealth, prosperity and prosperity. The power of the amulets created on August 26 and the ceremonies performed largely depends on faith in one’s own strength. Therefore, the Day of Attracting Good Luck is a holiday for a specific person who has not come to terms with the vicissitudes of fate and has decided that all the best that it brings depends on his will and desire.

Among children of past generations, a popular pastime was arranging “secrets,” i.e., unique children's treasures. To do this, just dig a very small hole and put a few bright candy wrappers, beads or pebbles there, and add a feather, coin or flower to the composition. Colored glass is placed on top and that’s it - the “secret” is ready! You can only tell close friends about it, that’s where the name comes from. During the Soviet era, absolutely all girls and many boys played this calm game. The day of organizing secrets, which is celebrated on August 26, is dedicated to her. The history of the yard game goes back many decades; it has united several generations. Parents and grandmothers of current schoolchildren played “secrets,” but modern children often don’t even know about such entertainment. And will it be possible to interest children who are accustomed to visiting entertainment centers and cannot imagine leisure time without mobile phones, computers and tablets with such simple fun? Secrets day is a great opportunity to check this out. Even if you fail to captivate children with a classic Soviet game, the holiday will still not be in vain. It will be a good opportunity for several generations of the family to spend time together. “Secrets” can be arranged in the courtyard of a multi-storey building, on a personal plot, in a sandbox, in a park. In addition, adults will be able to tell their sons and daughters, granddaughters and grandchildren about their own childhood. And who knows, maybe such gatherings will become a good family tradition. The day of secret secrets is not only a children's holiday. This is an excellent reason to congratulate adults who: • feel nostalgic, like to remember their childhood during the Soviet era; • are fond of Soviet traditions and way of life; • still love yard games; • appreciate the atmosphere of mystery. The game of “secrets” is not at all difficult; it certainly cannot be called gambling. But why was she so attractive to Soviet children? After all, children treated their little hiding places very carefully. The destruction of someone else's "treasure" was considered a serious offense, and the discovery of one's own last year's "secret" was considered a real success. Most likely, the secret to the success of the game is in the atmosphere of mystery, the feeling of a serious matter, and cohesion with friends with whom you can share your secret. And of course, in the beauty and originality of such children's hiding places, the opportunity to create something beautiful with your own hands, to express yourself.

The wolf was one of the first to be domesticated among other wild animals. The domestication of the predator 32-33,000 years ago marked the beginning of peaceful coexistence and friendship between man and dog. Since ancient times, representatives of the canine family accompanied their owners on hunts, guarded their homes, and helped herd herds of cows and sheep. As a sign of gratitude and love for pets, a touching and sweet Dog Appreciation Day was established in 2004. At first, Dog Appreciation Day was celebrated only in the United States, but gradually the tradition of celebration spread to other countries. The world owes the appearance of such a remarkable date on the calendar to dog handler Colleen Page, who also came up with the idea of ​​establishing National Puppy Day in March and Mongrel Day in July. Thanks to the initiative of the American animal rights activist, the attention of many people has been drawn to the plight of stray dogs and their exploitation by breeders for their own benefit. The large number of mongrels living on the street is a consequence of the negligence and callousness of their owners. Using the example of dingoes, scientists talk about the possibility of involution - domestic dogs going wild and turning them into predators. According to one version, the reason for this process was the unsuccessful resettlement of residents of Southeast Asia to Australia. The hunter-gatherer tribes were unable to adapt to the difficult living conditions on the continent. After most of the settlers died, the dogs they brought began to get their own food. Dingoes abandoned or escaped from their owners in Australia were provided with excellent living conditions: a lot of game, the absence of natural enemies and serious competitors. Wild dogs multiplied, gradually settling throughout the continent and the nearest islands. The ability to hunt in packs became an important advantage for them over solitary marsupial predators. This is the origin story of the dingo, the most dangerous canine species in existence and a genetic relative of Indonesian domesticated dogs. “We are responsible for those we have tamed,” said the great humanist Antoine de Saint Exupéry. Packs of aggressive mongrels in modern cities and villages are the result of the immoral behavior of the owners and the deviation of people from the laws of morality and ethics. The holiday, which falls on August 26, is celebrated by both dog handlers and pet owners. Dog Appreciation Day calls for giving thanks to a dog - a faithful companion and man's best friend. We owe a lot to four-legged pets: Belka, Strelka and other representatives of canines sacrificed their lives, flew into space, participated in the past and continue now in testing medical drugs. Dogs help Emergency Ministry workers find earthquake victims among the rubble and save drowning people, police help neutralize criminals, and rescuers help locate people lost in the forests. The Russian Federation, together with China, the USA and Brazil, is one of the four leaders in terms of the number of dogs in the population, so in Russia the holiday is celebrated especially widely. On August 26, a fundraiser for the maintenance of shelters is organized, and photo competitions featuring pets are held on social networks. In honor of the holiday, owners pamper dogs with attention and treats, making it clear how grateful they are to their four-legged friends for their selfless love, loyalty and devotion.

Eastern spiritual teachings are aimed at harmonizing a person, gaining knowledge of himself and the world around him. Often people who practice yoga meditate, perform physical and breathing exercises while listening to music. Well-chosen melodies help to achieve relaxation or, on the contrary, to concentrate while chanting mantras to cleanse the energy. Subtle sound vibrations are the path to the knowledge of “nada”, translated from Sanskrit meaning the universal path of life, resonance, the flowing stream of consciousness. August 26th is Musical Yoga Day. The international holiday Musical Yoga Day was founded by fans of religious and philosophical teachings, which originated and developed in ancient and medieval India. Yoga is based on love for nature and people, altruism, spiritual and physical improvement of a person. Musical compositions that are used during exercises help to dive into the depths of the subconscious, focus on breathing, clear the mind of vain thoughts, and achieve harmony of body and mind. The Yoga Sutras, written by the rishi (seer, sage) Patanjali, contain 196 aphorisms on the theory and practice of applying the ancient teachings. The manuscript does not contain information that classes can be conducted to music, since this contradicts the most important principle of yoga - switching the senses from perceiving environmental objects to concentrating on one’s own sensations. However, many people perform asanas to the accompaniment of melodies. Supporters of practicing with mantras, musical compositions or the sound of a separate instrument are guided by the practice of nada yoga. According to this Indian system, internal transformation of a person is possible through sound or tone when he performs exercises. Breathing control allows you to focus on “quiet” vibrations - the internal music of the body. The practitioner of nada yoga gradually shifts his perception from the melody sounding from the outside to “listening” to the internal sounds - the breath and the heart chakra of anahata, which leads to increased self-awareness and the awakening of the spirit. What kind of music is suitable for practicing this meditation technique? Compositions that include flute, sitar, tabla drums, veena and other ancient Indian plucked instruments are considered ideal for nada yoga. Classes can also be conducted with the chanting of mantras by saints, spiritual teachers and Buddhist monks. Sounds of nature (rain, sound of waves, birdsong), as well as beat-free electronic music, i.e., are suitable for pranayamas and meditation. recorded without percussion instruments. When choosing a melody, you need to focus on the type of workout. Loud and dynamic music is used to perform strength exercises and asanas aimed at stretching and strengthening the muscles of the body. Quiet and slow Indian, Chinese, Japanese national melodies and chants are suitable for contemplative practices - meditation and pranayama techniques. The main thing is that the background music does not distract from the exercises and helps stop the internal dialogue. Yoga practitioners and supporters of the teaching discuss these and other subtleties during the celebration of Musical Yoga Day.

Theater is one of the oldest forms of art. Ancient Roman productions dedicated to the god Osiris, kabuki theater performances and tragedies of Greek playwrights always involved actors who tried on the images of other people and lived someone else's life. The attitude towards role performers who engaged in buffoonery and antics in society has always been ambiguous. In Rus', this profession was long considered “unclean”: there was an opinion that actors knew the devil. It was not customary to make friends with them and let them into decent houses. The Christian Church did not approve of acting. However, she elevated one of the representatives of the profession to the rank of saints. According to legend, the actor of the 3rd century. Ginesius, playing a parody of the sacrament of Jesus' baptism in front of Emperor Diocletian and other politicians, unexpectedly believed in Christ. His speech was considered blasphemous and he was sentenced to torture and death. The Church canonized the actor, considering his path to faith a miracle - interpreting fiction, he found the path to the truth and was tortured in defense of it. A holiday was established in honor of Ginesius of Rome (San Gines) and other representatives of the craft. August 26 is International Actor's Day. During the Dia Internacional del Actor celebration, themed parties are held, which bring together colleagues, relatives and friends of the performers. Some theaters dedicate performances on this day to the memory of actors and actresses who gave their lives to serving Melpomene. San Gines is associated with one of the most spectacular forms of art, like the ancient Greek muse of tragedy. Therefore, Ginesius of Rome is depicted with a lyre and a mask - symbols of the theater. The life of the saint inspired Lope de Vega to write the tragicomedy Lo fingido Verdade, and the French playwright Jean de Rotrou - the play "The True San Ginés". Henri Geon's drama "The Comedian Stuck in His Comedy" is dedicated to the Roman actor. A Madrid café, opened in 1894, is named after San Gines. The spotlight, applause, a sea of ​​fans and flowers are the external side of the acting craft. Despite the attributes of success and fame, the profession cannot be called easy. Acting in films or on stage requires a talent for transformation, deep inner work on oneself, and the ability to skillfully convey the emotions of another person and his experiences. An actor is one of the most attractive and at the same time very dependent professions. Obtaining a role is subject to the desire of the director, karting assistant, or producers of a theater or film production. The final result of an actor's work is largely determined by the professionalism of other participants in the process: costume designers, cameramen, lighting technicians, etc. The center of the modern film industry is Hollywood. Thanks to this talent pool, the world learned about Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Greta Garbo and other great actors. But not every performer managed to pull out a lucky ticket and become a world star. Many representatives of the profession are content with supporting roles and film episodes throughout their lives, receiving meager fees. In 1952, the first film actors' strike took place in Hollywood, and 8 years later the second, led by Ronald Reagan. Trade unions demanded better working conditions and pay. The largest strike in history was the 1980 strike. The Screen Actors Guild demanded that producers agree to provide performers with a percentage of income from the sale of videotapes and increase wages by 35%. The strike, which began in May 2023, is one example of an attempt to resolve labor conflicts peacefully, an example of the cohesion of fellow workers. The actors were joined by the directors' guild, and later the screenwriters' guild - the lowest paid profession in Hollywood. The initiators of the conflict are demanding higher fees and regulation of the use of AI in the film industry. Despite difficult times and ongoing protests, representatives of the ancient craft are congratulated on August 26 on the International Actor's Day by colleagues and fans of their talent.

Meeting a black cat crossing the road predicts trouble. Superstitious people also assign occult significance to the number “13,” calling it the devil’s dozen. The initiators of the establishment of this unusual holiday apparently decided to begin the fight against mysticism and prejudice. Therefore, the Festival of the Thirteenth Cat is celebrated annually on August 26th. At the center of the celebration are tailed and mustachioed pets of any breed and color, even black. A funny holiday is an excellent occasion to congratulate not only cats, but also their owners. However, not every one of them receives such an honor. According to the initiators, August 26 is celebrated by those who have at least 13 cats at home. People have representatives of the order of carnivores not only because they love animals. Many people are unable to pass by cats thrown out into the street and take them home or organize nurseries. Whoever the breeder is who has sheltered more than a damn dozen tailed cats, he can safely celebrate the Festival of the Thirteenth Cat. The media actively cover stories from the lives of people who live side by side with tens, or even hundreds of Felis catus - carnivorous mammals domesticated by humans more than 9 thousand years ago. One of the most famous cat lovers in the whole world is the American Linea Lattanzio. The former veterinarian became involved in animal welfare activities in 1993, when she began fighting to reduce the cost of medicines for animals. Over time, Linea focused on helping cats. Over the decades, more than 28,000 pets passed through her hands, whom she selected, nursed and placed in new families. Today, her 2.43-hectare California estate is home to more than 1,000 pets. Their number is constantly changing, as Linea and volunteer assistants periodically transfer the mustachioed and striped beauties into good hands. The 73-year-old owner of the five-bedroom house with a swimming pool, known locally as Cat House On The Kings, has long since moved into a trailer. Linea Lattanzio is one of those in whose honor the Feast of the Thirteenth Cat was established. All newspapers wrote about Novosibirsk resident Nina Kostsova in the late 1990s. Russian and foreign journalists came to her two-room apartment to film reports about a woman who kept 160 cats in 40 square meters. Now the pensioner is unable to cope with such a horde of pets - the number of tailed-striped ones living in her Khrushchev house has decreased to 40 pieces. People take cats as companions because of feelings of loneliness, an unfulfilled need to love and be loved, and pity for abandoned animals. Maintaining a large number of representatives of the order of carnivores, creating good living conditions for them and without burdening those around them, is a lot of work. Therefore, animal lovers who are not ready to be content with two or three pets are congratulated on August 26 on the Festival of the Thirteenth Cat.

Day of International Recognition of Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia

Day of Recognition of Independence of South Ossetia

Women's Equality Day in the USA

On August 26, parishioners of the Orthodox Church honor the 18th century theologian Bishop Tikhon. The famous figure, canonized, was born into a family of modest means. He lost his father early and ended up studying at a theological seminary thanks to the diligent efforts of his mother and older brother. The teaching lasted fourteen years, and at the end of it, the minister began preaching work in Tver, giving lectures to huge audiences. People's interest was due to the presentation in Russian, and not in Latin. The saint began to be called Tikhon at the age of 34, after he became a monk and took vows. The vicar left many works to his followers, by reading which you can get an idea of ​​his life path and worldview. The wonderworker died in the Zadonsk Monastery, where he met old age and retired. On Tikhonov Day, it is customary to remember deceased loved ones, thoroughly clean the house, and read conspiracies and prayers in the entryway aimed at eliminating the evil eye and bad words. Among the interesting customs is the tradition of ventilating barns and cellars, in which vegetables, fruits and grains should be stored after harvesting. Such a ritual is not only symbolic, but also practical in nature - fresh air prevents the formation of rot and spoilage of agricultural crops. Authentic signs dedicated to this holiday also remain as cultural heritage: Based on the strength of the wind blowing on August 26, the weather for September was determined. Light gusts mean warmth, and a hurricane portends heavy rainfall throughout the month. Heavy fog over the forest told people that a good harvest of mushrooms awaited them. Leaves that turned yellow on the tree below were regarded as a harbinger of a fertile early sowing.

Finnish Nature Day

Orthodox holidays on August 26:

Celebration in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "Softening Evil Hearts" (Semistrelnaya)

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Minsk

Feast of the Passionate Icon of the Mother of God