On December 18, employees of civil registry offices celebrate their professional holiday. This day is not marked as a red day on the calendar, so very often workers celebrate the holiday right at their workplaces. In total, there are 412 registry offices in Russia, in which daily continuous work is carried out. Here the birth and death of a person, marriage and divorce, change of surname, first name, adoption and establishment of paternity are registered. Previously, such acts were drawn up by the priests of parish churches, but with the advent of Soviet power everything changed. Since the Soviet government did not need the help of the Russian Orthodox Church, a decree was issued on December 18, 1917, according to which the record books from churches were seized and transferred to a specially created civil authority - the registry office. Since then, employees of this body have celebrated their holiday on December 18. At universities, such a profession as “Registration Office Worker” cannot be obtained, since it does not have official status. People with higher education in the humanities, legal, pedagogical or psychological work here, since legislation in the corridors of the structure is closely intertwined with the emotional state of visitors. Unlike many bureaucratic machines, there are sincere and sensitive employees who understand the importance of the event that people are dealing with. Be it birth, marriage or death. The registry office witnesses the most important stages of a person’s life. In many regions of Russia, shortly before the holiday, a professional skills competition is held among employees. And on December 18, the solemn results are summed up and the winners are awarded. Among the employees of the structure, most of them are women, so on this day every office is fragrant with flowers. The registry office employees have been accepting congratulations from management since the morning. And at the end of the working day, banquets and corporate events usually take place. Especially distinguished employees are rewarded with certificates and memorable gifts. Of course, every employee is different, putting a piece of their warmth into the work process. And although work in the registry office does not imply any career growth, employees devote themselves to their favorite work with all their hearts, from working in the archives to wedding ceremonies.

The work of employees of the internal security units of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation (USB) cannot be called simple, because they identify crimes among those who are supposed to protect us from criminals - among police officers, their colleagues. However, it is these specialists that largely determine the effectiveness of the entire system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, and therefore the degree of security of both society and the state. The first analogues of CSS appeared in the USSR shortly after the revolution. In February 1924, an order was issued by the OGPU under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR on the creation of so-called battalions for working with personnel. Then a corresponding position appears - “specially authorized”. After about ten years, their duties were transferred to the apparatus of the special department of the NKVD, whose functionality was to check and, if necessary, investigate cases about its employees. In 1941, the Special Inspectorate of the Personnel Department of the NKVD appeared, and in the post-war years, independent Special Inspections appeared in the central apparatus of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and locally. The staff of such inspections includes both detectives and investigators. In 1957, changes occur again - Special Inspections are renamed Personnel Inspections and their responsibilities are expanded to consider complaints against police officers and investigate their offenses and abuse of power. The CSS in the modern sense was formed relatively recently - on December 18, 1995. At the same time, the creation of departments of the “newborn” service began, and soon the organization received its modern official name - CSS of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. It was the day of the creation of the modern CSS, December 18, that was approved by order of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs as the Day of the internal security units of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation. On this day, veterans and current employees of CSS departments receive congratulations from their colleagues from other departments, and also accept well-deserved bonuses and awards from their superiors.

December 18 marks the Day of the Arabic Language, one of the six officially approved by the UN. The Department proposed to the General Assembly in 2010 to establish a day of celebration for each language, individually, with the noble goal of consolidating all members of the organization, distinguished by multilingual, cultural, and historical diversity. Why did you choose December 18? On this day, in 1973, Arabic was given official status by the UN. There are 7,000 thousand languages ​​in the world, Arabic is one of the most common. It is considered native to the so-called Semitic-Hamitic language family, numbering 280 million people and approved as official in 28 countries. The holy book Koran, sacred for peoples professing the religion of Islam, is read by believers in Arabic. In the Middle Ages, Jewish preachers, scholars and writers wrote their works in Arabic. It is still ceremonial during religious ceremonies in Christian churches in Muslim countries. This is one of the oldest languages, as evidenced by the works of ancient scientists that have reached us, as well as artistic and poetic monuments created in the 6-7th century. Drawing strength, power, oriental wisdom and beauty from the language of their people, philosophers, poets, and scientists were able to convey to humanity scientific discoveries in physics, mathematics, astronomy, and give the world great literary works. He influenced many eastern languages ​​such as Turkish, Albanian, Malay, Kurdish. Many words and expressions have enriched the speech of Europeans, Americans, and African peoples. The language received a high status as a result of the popularization of Islam; politicians, scientists, writers, human rights activists, and journalists spoke it. On December 18, the Department of the General Assembly hosts events for those wishing to become more familiar with the rich history, traditions and culture of the peoples of the Arab world. The complex of festive ceremonies includes concerts, readings, lectures, exhibitions, performances and various competitions. This day has become an intercultural dialogue, strengthening and expanding communication ties between different peoples.

The pattern of each snowflake is unique, because nature has inexhaustible imagination and limitless imagination. Therefore, fingerprints and patterns on the skin of a giraffe or jaguar are unique. Ice crystals, which take the form of hexagons or plates, have long been of interest to scientists. Many of them devoted their entire lives to the study of snowflakes. Romantics glorify them in verse, calling them the frozen happiness of water, and compare them to pearls and crystal. December 18 is a funny and at the same time touching Snowflake Appreciation Day. Flake Appreciation Day is celebrated both in Russia and abroad. This is interesting: The largest snowfields in history were recorded in 1944 in Moscow. Each of them was the size of a palm and resembled ostrich feathers. Snowflakes as a miracle of nature were sung in the poems of A.S. Pushkin, N.A. Nekrasov, K.D. Balmont, S.A. Yesenin and R.I. Christmas. One of the first scientists to study ice crystals was the mathematician Johannes Kepler. In 1611 he published the work "New Year's Gift, or About Hexagonal Snowflakes." Their form was first described in history by the French philosopher Rene Descartes. Thanks to the invention of the microscope, physicist Robert Hooke was not only able to explore the snowfields, but also publish the book “Micrography” with their drawings in 1665. This is interesting: A snowflake is made up of 1018 water molecules. Therefore, the probability of the appearance of its copy, in which the arrangement of deuterium atoms (hydrogen isotopes) will be the same, even with an identical arrangement of water molecules, is reduced to zero. The first successful photograph of a snowflake appeared in 1885. It was taken by American farmer Wilson Bentley (1865–1931). He called this miracle of nature, studied through a microscope, “snow jewels.” Over the course of his life, Bentley took about 5,000 photographs of snowflakes. Jewelers and artists used them as samples for their works. 2,500 photographs were published in the 1931 book Snow Crystals. In Russia, Andrei Andreevich Sigson, who lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, was photographing them. He managed to capture about 200 forms of “ice stars”. The first scientist to learn how to grow them in the laboratory was the Japanese Ukihiro Nakaya. The result of his work was the 1954 book “Snow Crystals: Natural and Artificial.” This is interesting: Scientists of the 20th century. found that prayer has a positive effect on the structure of water. After reading sacred texts from the Bible or the Koran, ice crystals, previously shapeless and chaotic, begin to take on a regular and symmetrical heptagon shape. Light and winged, fluffy and lacy snowflakes delight the eye every winter and warm the soul with their pristine beauty. They inspire creative people who write poems and songs about “crystal stars”, “snow diamonds” and “silver pieces of ice”. Everyone who appreciates the beauty of pristine nature, who is not alien to the small joys of life, celebrates Snowflake Appreciation Day on December 18th.

Hedgehogs and pangolins, sensing danger, give their bodies the shape of a ball and expose their spines. Curling into a ball by some animals is not only a manifestation of a defense mechanism, but also an opportunity to quickly descend to the ground by rolling down from the top of a tree or mountain. The spherical shape helps the armadillo, hedgehog and golden spider retain heat and moisture when harsh weather conditions occur. Pets, cats and dogs, often fall asleep, becoming fluffy balls, which touches the hearts of their owners. People curl into the fetal position in stressful situations because they need comfort and protection. With its help, people try to return to the state of peace and serenity that they experienced in the womb before being born. In honor of giving the body the shape of a ball, a sweet and touching holiday was invented. Every year on December 18th, Curl Up Day is celebrated. Taking the fetal position is one of the relaxation techniques that benefits a person’s somatic and mental health. Curling into a ball improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, helps get rid of night snoring and, due to muscle relaxation, pain during menstruation. The fetal pose, which psychologists advise to take, reduces the level of emotional lability, eliminates negative thoughts and gives a feeling of protection, giving strength to fight depression. You can curl up in a ball both in bed before bed and at an appointment with a psychotherapist. Doctors who practice this technique have the client lie down in a hammock and assume the shape of an embryo. For a person who is rocked in the dark to the sound of a heartbeat, an imitation of the mother's womb is created. Several sessions of such therapy work real miracles. In psychotherapists who have undergone it, sleep and blood chemical parameters are normalized, phobias and fears disappear. The fetal position that we instinctively assume in our sleep may indicate the presence of diseases of the genitourinary system, low blood pressure and pinched hernias of the spine. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to what shape your loved ones give to their bodies during a night's rest. Curl Up Day is a great opportunity not only to learn about the fetal position for psychosomatic health, but to admire the pets who instinctively accept it. Fluffy bundles of happiness give their owners positive emotions and positivity, which are often enough to overcome stress and get rid of anxiety. Take a closer look at your cat or dog curled up into a ball on December 18th! Communication with a pet will be an alternative to sessions with a psychologist or psychotherapist and will bring harmony and peace of mind into your life.

In 1990, on December 18, the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Immigrants and Their Families came into force, and in 2000, by decision of the UN (United Nations), a new holiday appeared on the calendar, which was called International Migrants Day. According to statistics, every 35 people around the planet are immigrants who left their country for work or a better life. In many cases, people's search for a better life ended in disastrous situations. As a result of this, in Russia and other countries the concept of “migrant” has turned into a disrespectful and contemptuous “newcomer”, because people from other countries failed to translate their plans into reality: problems with housing, lack of knowledge of the language, ignorance of the culture of a foreign country give rise to aggression from legitimate citizens. It is precisely these results of migration that the UN General Assembly became interested in. It turned out that immigrants make a great contribution to the development of the whole world if their conditions in another country are favorable. After all, thanks to them, cultural and scientific information is exchanged between countries. Therefore, every person who has left for a foreign country can count on the help of the international community, which carefully ensures that all the rights of migrants are respected. Every year on December 18, a call for help for international migrants who find themselves in trouble in a foreign country is heard around the world. It is worth noting that this day is not merry and festive by definition. It was established in order to draw the attention of the entire population to serious problems associated with migration as often as possible. Not only organized government cells can help migrants: ordinary citizens are also able to influence the situation from different sides if they are more understanding of the life positions of strangers.

Police Day in Moldova (Ziua Politiei)

Qatar National Day

Day of workers of the insurance market of Kyrgyzstan

According to the folk calendar, Savvin Day is celebrated on December 18 (December 5, old style). It comes from the church holiday of the righteous Savva the Sanctified, who knew how to heal with prayers. Sava was born in the 5th century in Cappadocia, his parents believed in Jesus Christ, so from an early age he sought to know God. While studying at the monastery, Savva studied the Holy Scriptures, after which he chose the path of a monk. The monk constantly read prayers addressed to the Lord, for which he was awarded the gift of healing sick and demon-possessed people. He could work miracles, causing rainfall during a drought or restoring a spring underground. The disciples who came to the monk built a church in the cave where the monk was, and Savva himself created the Jerusalem Rule for Palestinian monasteries. Among the people, Savvin Day was known as the “continuator” of the Barbarian frosts. The frost was just getting stronger, sealing the ice crossings on the rivers. People on Savvin day tried not to go into the forest, because they believed that they could get lost or freeze. It was also forbidden to work, and all necessary work was postponed to the next days. During the day they prayed, meditated on the Lord, and went to bed early, saving splinters. It was believed that the daylight hours were getting longer, but the reason for this was the bright reflection of the snow. There was a belief that on the day of Saint Sava it was forbidden to swear or quarrel. This was especially true for owners with horses. After all, on the road the animal could behave unpredictably, or even some disaster would happen. Without leaving their homes, peasants determined the future weather. To do this, they watched how the logs burned in the stove: if they crackled or the fire gave off a red tint, then frosts were expected. Smoke creeping along the ground from the chimney foreshadowed bad weather. If the snow began to melt, a quick thaw was expected.

Orthodox holidays on December 18:

The monk was born and lived in the 5th century. His father was an important military leader, and therefore his parents were often on the road. Little Savva remained in the care of his uncle, and having mastered reading and writing early, he became addicted to reading holy scripture. At the age of 8, the future saint enters a monastery. The parents hoped to return their son to worldly life, but a different path was prepared for him. A legend has been preserved related to Savva’s difficult choice between worldly life and serving the Lord in the monastery. Walking through an apple orchard, the young man wanted to pick and eat the fragrant ripe fruit. But he was immediately struck by the thought of the sinfulness of Adam, who gave preference to the pleasure of the womb rather than spiritual bliss. From that second the monk decided to become a monk and never ate apples again. A few years later, Savva goes to Jerusalem, where he becomes a disciple of Elder Theoktistus and Saint Euthymius. Together with his teacher, he often retired to the desert, where he spent time in incessant prayer. For such zeal, the monk was called “old youth” and received permission to retire to a cave. Six days a week, Savva lived in complete solitude, went without any food and occupied his hands with weaving palm leaves. Only on Sundays did he come to the monastery brethren to participate in the liturgy. A few years later, the saint heard the Divine command to instruct disciples. After which he organizes a special cave monastery, where the number of his followers soon reaches 150 monks. The monk always preferred solitude, but with the meekness characteristic of saints, he took care of his followers, although he was forced to endure their impatience and imperfections. Saint Sava did not seek fame and veneration, but pilgrims began to flock to his cell, having heard about the miraculous deeds of the hermit. He found sources of fresh water, begged for heavenly rains, and healed physical and spiritual illnesses. Further, fate connected Saint Sava with the political events of his time. He had the opportunity to get closer to the emperors of Byzantium, as a result of which the saint could influence the true understanding of the Christian faith and fight various heresies. The saint's earthly life ended at the age of 94. His holy relics remained for a long time in the Jerusalem Lavra he founded. During the era of the Crusades, the relic was taken to Venice, and in the mid-20th century it was returned to the holy lands.

Memorial Day of the Venerable Karion the Monk and his son Zacharias

Memorial Day of Saint Gury, Archbishop of Kazan, and Barsanuphius of Tver