Created thousands of years ago, natural calendars helped our ancestors start agricultural work on time, and also provided them with successful fishing or hunting. The villagers have about one and a half hundred holidays that coincide with the life cycle of the Earth. But one of them, the Day of Pagan Worship of Karachun (Korochun) is one of the four most important for the Slavic pagan tribes. Our ancestors revered Karachun, who is the deity of death, in whose power is frost, on the shortest day of the year - from December 19 to 22 (depending on the specific year), that is, on the eve of the winter solstice. Slavic pagans believed that by honoring this underground deity and erecting his “idols” from the snow, they thereby increased daylight hours and reduced the severity of frosts. While honoring Karachun as the deity of death, the Slavic tribes did not forget about his minions and faithful servants - connecting rod bears and wolves. Our pagan ancestors believed that winter snowstorms turn into connecting rod bears, and snowstorms turn into wolves. Remembering them, our ancestors remembered that half of the cold season lasts until the sleeping bear turns over on the other side in his den. Having put together the saying: “At Solstice, a bear in a den turns from one side to the other,” the Slavs noted a revolution in the life cycle of Nature, an increase in daylight hours and the waning power of frost and snow. Since Karachun was the deity of death, until then his name was popularly associated with the death of someone or the destruction of something. Modern people use such expressions as “ask karachun”, “wait for karachun”, “karachun came to him” or “enough karachun”, without knowing the root cause of the formation of these phrases. However, the name of the underground evil spirit “participates” in the designation of other concepts. For example, the word “karachit” means moving backwards or crawling, and the word “skorachilo” indicates convulsions. According to linguists, the use of the name of the deity of death in word formation was due to the fact that the daylight hours “gave” their time to the evening and night. Changes in the worldview of the Slavic tribes and their social and economic life led to the transformation of the Day of Veneration of Karachun. Karachun, who was the formidable and inexorable God of frost, “changed” his “destination” by becoming Father Frost, whom adults and children are waiting for today with gifts, and former idols “turned” into the snowmen known to everyone. Santa Claus began to symbolize not death, but only the sleep into which Nature plunges in winter. The icicles and frost formed on frosty days became the tears or words of Santa Claus, and the snow clouds became his hair. The “new” deity became more “fair”. It “freezes” those who complain about the frosty cold and shiver even more, and those who are cheerful, healthy and cheerful it gives a hot blush and gives even more bodily strength. Honoring Karachun, who later became Father Frost, pagan tribes associated his name with various events and signs. For example, if he hits the corner of the hut, the log will certainly crack, and the breath of Karachun or Santa Claus leads to severe and prolonged frosts.

On the day of the winter solstice, the Global Orgasm event is held, related to the theme of fertility and sexual pleasure. World Enjoyment Day was conceived in 2006 by Donna Sheehan and her husband Paul Reffell in opposition to the deterioration of relations between the United States and Iran. The organizers of the event urged people to focus on the divine aspect of creation during sexual intercourse. The couple decided to establish World Orgasm Day to replenish the Earth with positive energy, which will be given to it by people who have sex on December 21 or 22. Initially, Donna Sheehan and Paul Reffell wanted all participants to have intercourse at a certain time on the solstice. The venue for the event was to be countries that possess weapons of mass destruction. But later it was decided that it was possible to experience sexual satisfaction for the benefit of the planet without strict reference to territory, hours and minutes. The main thing is to follow the basic message of the action: a person must saturate the energy field during sexual intercourse with the right impulses and good intentions. Donna Sheehan, promoting the idea of ​​peace, took off her clothes along with 50 female volunteers in order to create a composition of naked bodies in the form of the word PEACE on the grass of the park. Her idea was taken up by kindergarten teacher Victoria "Ani" Sinclair, who calls herself Priestess Anela, and her sexual partner Steve Schweitzer, a Ph.D. artist and sexologist. They, like many like-minded organizers of the holiday, are convinced: the more people in the world feel joy and happiness, experience bliss or delight, the more favorable the atmosphere on the planet becomes for all living things. The initiators of the World Pleasure Day planned to end the campaign in 2012, which was the end of the world according to the Mayan calendar. However, the apocalypse did not come, and the Global Orgasm celebration continued. Now it is celebrated every year on the winter solstice. According to Donna Sheehan and Paul Reffell, the action draws society's attention to the prevailing sexual and social inequality, wars and global warming. To do this, it is necessary that people, while receiving an orgasm, think about peace on Earth and the brotherhood of peoples. The organizers of the action believe that sexual intercourse for good purposes is an excellent alternative to prayers and meditation. Orgasm as the highest point of pleasure, experienced on one of the most wonderful nights of the year, can change your life for the better. Everyone who shares this point of view approaches sex on the day of the winter solstice very responsibly. Global Orgasm is designed to change the Earth's biofield in a positive direction and prevent its destruction as a result of military conflicts. Therefore, the Day of World Pleasure is celebrated by supporters of anti-militarism who have a pronounced civic position.

On the shortest daylight hours of the year, December 22, Russian energy workers celebrate their professional holiday. This day is dedicated to millions of people who bring light and warmth to the homes of the country's citizens every day. Today, the UES of Russia includes more than 80 regional systems, forming a powerful network that ranks second in size in the world after the United States. The first time Power Engineer's Day was celebrated was in 1966, choosing the date December 22 in honor of the adoption of the plan for the electrification of Russia at the Eighth Congress of Soviets in 1920. The plan was not only carried out much ahead of schedule, but also increased almost 3 times. This is a great merit of every specialist in the country’s energy industry. Therefore, by decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, December 22 became the official date for honoring heat and light workers. In 1980, the holiday was moved to the third Sunday of December, and only in 2015, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, at the request of the All-Russian Electric Trade Union, the holiday was returned to its historical date. This day is celebrated by specialists and service personnel throughout the Russian energy system. Scientists, engineers, developers, nuclear power plant employees, thermal power plant workers, technicians, repairmen, installers and people of many other specialties. From Kamchatka to Kaliningrad on this day congratulations are heard for those who make our lives comfortable. Energy Engineer's Day is a very solemn and important event. Despite the usual working day, the holiday is widely celebrated at the state level, at every enterprise. It is especially important that on such a day, not only current employees are honored, but also industry veterans who worked selflessly and brought light to the most inaccessible corners of the Motherland. For the heroes of the occasion, there are festive concerts and parades, rallies and actions, presentation of certificates, awards, gifts and bonuses. For special achievements, the best masters of their craft are awarded the title “Honored Power Engineer of the Russian Federation.” Congratulations from senior government officials are heard on the radio and on TV screens, documentaries and programs are broadcast on the difficult history of the country's electrification. In the evening, cafes and restaurants are filled with the clink of glasses. Corporate evenings are organized for energy workers, where employees happily congratulate each other on the holiday. Friends and family also join here with gifts and toasts. This is a holiday for people who deserve respect and respect. Energy workers often work in unbearable climatic conditions, putting their health at risk. Eliminate the consequences of accidents and disasters, risking their lives. All this is to ensure that every home is warm and light.

The art song as a genre appeared in different countries of the world in the mid-twentieth century. In the Soviet Union, it became one of the forms of self-expression of the “sixties”. Its brightest representatives were Bulat Okudzhava, Yuri Vizbor, Alexander Galich, Veronica Dolina, Katya Yarovaya, Novella Matveeva. The harbinger of the bard song is considered to be an urban romance performed by Alexander Vertinsky. Student and tourist songs had no less influence on the development of the genre. Musical works that were not allowed through censorship are characterized by satire and irony, sharp criticism of the political system, and deep penetration into the themes of friendship and love. December 22 is International Bard Song Day. The Ilmensky festival, held in the Chelyabinsk region since 1973, and the Grushinsky festival, which has been held annually since 1968, are dedicated to this cultural phenomenon. The third most popular is the Znamensky rally, which began back in 1978 as a gathering of student construction teams. In Israel, in honor of the bard song, the Sakhnovka festival is held twice a year, which attracts performers from Russia, Canada and the USA. What is the secret of the popularity of this genre? A distinctive feature of bard songs is that the author of the poems, music and their performer, who usually sings with a guitar, are one person. In the works of the "sixties", the content, which dealt with the most pressing problems of concern to society, always prevailed over the music. The creativity of bards differed from the ideological samples of art of the country of the Soviets, and therefore was banned. In the Soviet Union, at different times, Yuli Kim and Ada Yakusheva, Vladimir Vysotsky and Sergei Nikitin, Evgeniy Klyachkin and Valery Bokov, Oleg Mityaev and Alexander Sukhanov, Alexander Novikov and Willy Tokarev worked in this genre. Their songs were sung around the fire during hiking trips, both by the authors and by their fans among physicists and lyricists. The musical works of the bards were characterized by a lively approach to covering topics that worried their contemporaries, and a personal intonation. Songs were performed publicly in informal settings at “cabbage parties” and “kvartirniks,” which later grew into bard festivals. By tradition, they are still held today in the lap of nature - in camping conditions in a circle of like-minded people. The rallies open with O. Mityaev’s song “It’s great that we are all gathered here today.” International Bard Song Day has been celebrated since 2000 on the initiative of archaeologist and singer-songwriter K. Shlyamov. However, the idea of ​​the holiday arose long before that. For the first time, its establishment was discussed in 1985 by the participants and organizers of the Leningrad festival “Song, Guitar and You”. His guest of honor was Bulat Okudzhava. In addition to the author of the famous “Goodbye, boys” and “We will not stand behind the price,” A. Dolsky, V. Berkovsky, A. Sukhanov, V. Vikhorev, V. Egorov, B. Poloskin, A. Dulov performed their songs at the festival and other bards. The holiday, which is celebrated annually on December 22, is not official. However, in his honor, concerts of bard songs and creative evenings of performers are held in Russia and abroad. Radio stations broadcast musical compositions by Okudzhava, Galich, Vysotsky, Sergei and Tatyana Nikitin, Kim and Rosenbaum. "Good songs - good people." Under this motto, a day is held that unites fans of bards and performers from different countries and continents working in this genre.

“Real men play hockey, Cowards don’t play hockey,” - words from a 1968 song by composer A. Pakhmutova, performed by Vladimir Mullerman. This catchphrase has become a real motto of team play on the ice. Ice hockey was one of the most popular sports in the USSR. The Soviet team won many times at world competitions and the Olympic Games and never returned home without awards. The first hockey championship was held in the USSR on December 22, back in 1946. Competitions were held simultaneously in Moscow, Riga, Kaunas, Leningrad, Arkhangelsk and 3 other cities. In honor of this event, a holiday was established - the Birthday of Russian hockey. The winter sport was worthily represented on the world stage by Vladislav Tretyak, Vladimir Petrov, Alexander Rogulin, Boris Mikhailov, Valery Kharlamov, Vladimir Lutchenko, Alexander Maltsev, Vyacheslav Starshinov. They obtained “gold” and “silver” for the country at European and world championships thanks to the experience and skill of honored coaches - Anatoly Tarasov, the founder of the Russian school of hockey, Arkady Chernyshev, Vsevolod Bobrov, Boris Kulagin and Viktor Tikhonov. After they left the profession, the Russian national team did not win championships and the Olympics for a long time. Therefore, the names of outstanding athletes and their mentors are forever inscribed in golden letters in the history of Russian hockey. In honor of A.V. Tarasov, who turned the Soviet national team into a dominant force on the world stage, was named the ice arena in Montreal. The coach was the first Russian to be inducted into the hockey hall of fame in Toronto. This happened in 1974. The professional developments of the Soviet coach and his colleagues were used by famous Canadian mentors Scotty Bowman, Lou Vairo, Herb Brook and others. In 2008, Tarasov became the winner of the W. Gretzky Award, established by USA Hockey for foreigners who have made a great contribution to development of American hockey. Vyacheslav Tretyak is the legendary goalkeeper of the USSR national team, who won 24 international championships. As president of the Russian Hockey Federation, he established a holiday in honor of everyone's favorite sport in 2007, which falls on December 1. However, there is one more date in the winter calendar. December 22 marks the birthday of Russian hockey, the competition of which with the final in Moscow at the Dynamo stadium was first held in 1946. Both holidays do not contradict each other and serve a common goal - preserving and enhancing the glorious history of the game in Russia. Domestic hockey, which gave the world such a galaxy of masters, has the right to have several special days. Therefore, on December 22, competitions and meetings with veterans of one of the most popular sports disciplines are held. These words from A. Pakhmutova’s song perfectly reflect the attitude of contemporaries to the achievements of Soviet masters. Therefore, the Birthday of Russian hockey is celebrated on December 22 in all corners of the country, which is proud of its athletes, coaches and their victories.

December 22 is the Day of formation of the Pension Fund of Russia (PFR) and the professional holiday of its employees. On December 22, 1990, Resolution of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR No. 442-1 “On the organization of the Pension Fund of the RSFSR” was signed, according to which the Pension Fund was created. Its main role is to provide and guarantee decent pension and social benefits. Since the signing of the first regulatory act, the functions of the Pension Fund have been seriously reformed. Initially, the main purpose of the Pension Fund was to collect insurance payments for pension payments. Over time, the list of socially significant functions assigned to it was expanded. In 2008, the Pension Fund introduced a program of state financing of voluntary pension savings. Since 2010, the Pension Fund has become responsible for insurance funds for compulsory pension and health insurance, as well as for assigning a social supplement to pensions, so that the total income of the pensioner is close to the subsistence level. The first legal regulations regarding pension compensation were signed during the reign of Peter I. Back in the 18th century, at the level of law, the first All-Russian Emperor began to assign monetary support from the state treasury to retired soldiers and their families. It was believed that pension provision stimulated a conscientious attitude of soldiers towards military service. The first mentions appear in the Naval Charter of 1720, according to which employees of naval ranks began to be given a lump sum annual salary and a passport or (in case of injuries) placed in a hospital for life, while partial payments were intended for widows and children. At the end of the 18th century, serving officers who served for more than 25 years, and depending on the rank or severity of the injury, were given a lifetime pension. During the Soviet era, the Law “On State Pensions” was in force, which clearly regulated the retirement age for women and men, and also prescribed special conditions for certain categories of professions. The collapse of the USSR led to major reforms in the country, incl. and in pension provision.

The ancestors of modern man lived in unity with nature, its elements and cycles. In the calendar of pagan holidays there are many solemn dates dedicated to the change of seasons of the year, the shortest daylight hours and the length of the night. In the traditions of many peoples of the world, great importance is attached to the spring equinox and other astronomical phenomena. On the second new moon after December 21, the Dongzhi Festival, the winter solstice holiday, is held in Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other Asian countries. Dongzhi Festival has been celebrated in China since ancient times. In Chinese, Dongzhi, which usually falls on December 21 or 22, the longest night of the year, is translated as “Peak of Winter.” It was believed that on this day the “male power” of nature begins to awaken, and a new cycle of human agricultural activity begins. To pay tribute to this sacred action, the symbolic desire for the balance of yin and yang, all citizens of the country, from the Chinese emperor to the commoner, went on vacation. According to customs, craft shops were closed in honor of the holiday, trade and other activities were stopped. The Chinese visited with gifts, made sacrifices to the gods in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and made offerings to their departed ancestors. Dongzhi Festival was considered the New Year during the Zhou Dynasty. During Han times, December 21 and 22 were official holidays dedicated to this holiday. Later, the Chinese, and then residents of other East Asian countries, began to celebrate the New Year according to the lunar calendar - in late January - early February. The Dongzhi Festival is widely celebrated not only on the Chinese mainland, but also in Taiwan. Residents of the island, like southerners, prepare tangyuan for the celebration - sweet balls of glutinous rice, inside of which they sometimes put sesame seeds and red bean paste. In northern China, dumplings are served at the festive table. According to legend, this tradition appeared thanks to the Han Dynasty doctor and official Zhang Zhongjing, who lived in the 2nd-3rd centuries. AD According to legend, he fed dumplings to the peasants he met along the way on the day of the winter solstice. Their ears were frostbitten from the cold. Returning home from Hunan Province, Zhongjing developed a recipe for a medicinal soup that helped fight the cold, to which a couple of dumplings were added. In Taiwan, tangyuan is considered a sacred dish. Traditionally, dough balls are glued to windows, doors, chairs and tables to protect children from evil spirits. For the Dongzhi Festival, Thais also prepare a potted treat in the form of nine-layer cakes in the shape of ducks, chickens, sheep, turtles or cows. This dish is part of a ceremonial sacrifice to the ancestors. In the Land of the Rising Sun, on December 21 or 22, Toji is celebrated, dedicated to the goddess Amaterasu-o-mi-kami. According to the customs of Shintoism, festivals with theatrical performances are held at this time, the Japanese take a healing bath with yuzu - Japanese lemon. In Korea, the day of the winter solstice is called "Tongjinal", which means "little New Year". In honor of him, in the southern regions of the country they cook a thick red bean soup with the addition of white rice flour balls similar to tangyuan. It is believed that the color of the soup can scare away ghosts and protect the family from evil spirits. The Dongzhi Festival and its traditions help brighten up the darkest and shortest day of the year. It is believed that it is favorable for starting to practice ancient martial arts and practices of spiritual improvement. At this time, the Chinese and residents of other Asian countries gather at the family table, and people of the same family or with the same surname come to Buddhist temples to worship the dead. Celebrating the winter solstice is a tribute to honoring the traditions and customs of our ancestors. Therefore, all carriers of Asian culture celebrate the Dongzhi Festival every year.

Fast 10 Tevet among Jews

The basis of this religion is the Revelation of Ahura Mazda - the teaching that was given to Zarathustra, and which he preached to his disciples. According to this teaching, good and evil are two different phenomena that have two different sources and have nothing in common with each other. Religion gives birth to holidays, which have as their goal not only entertainment, satiation with food, and so on, but also the harmonization of the individual. All holidays in Zoroastrianism have a connection with the Sun and do not have an exact date - the calculation is based on the movement of the Sun - according to the degrees in which it moves. The only permanent holiday is the day of the Prophet Zarathushtra, celebrated on the day of the winter solstice, at 30 degrees of the Sun in the Constellation Sagittarius - December 22. This religion had its own spirits that were responsible for their parishes - honesty, good thought, immortality and others. Astrology had a very great influence in this religion - according to it, the main days of certain holidays were calculated. Zarathushtra had three wives and six children, among whom were sons and daughters - each of the prophet’s children went about their own business, some continued the teachings of their father. The name of the prophet was used more than once - the famous German thinker Friedrich Nietzsche wrote the book “Thus Spoke Zarathustra”; later the composer Strauss wrote a symphony of the same name. Today, Zoroastrianism continues to exist in Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Pakistan. And followers of this ancient teaching remain on Russian territory. The holiday of Zarathushtra is celebrated annually, chants are dedicated to him, rye bread is baked with a surprise - pieces of paper with predictions are placed in it. This bread is called gatami.

Not only the well-being of people, but also the results of their life activities depend on the weather and climate of the area. Atmospheric phenomena in the form of wind, rain, hail or frost affect crop yields, availability and quality of water resources, biodiversity of ecosystems, and affect the success of military operations. For the first time, the need to control weather conditions on the front line was announced in 1915 by Nicholas II. However, atmospheric phenomena in the Russian Empire began to be observed long before his order. Thus, back in 1834, by decree of Nicholas I, the Normal Magnetic Meteorological Observatory was created. By this time, weather observations had already been carried out throughout Russia. In 1872, the first issue of the “Daily Meteorological Bulletin” was published, which published information received by telegraph from 2 foreign and 26 domestic weather monitoring stations. Materials for the magazine were provided by the Main Physical Observatory, opened in 1849 in St. Petersburg, which was engaged in compiling weather forecasts. Until the beginning of the 20th century. The profession of “meteorologist” was classified as a civilian profession. The First World War was marked by the active use of poisonous gases, aeronautics and aviation on the battlefield. In order to predict weather conditions affecting the results of battles, the Regulations on the Main Military Meteorological Directorate were approved by decree of Nicholas II. The initiator of its creation was the inventor of the first electromagnetic seismograph B.B. Golitsyn. Subsequently, the famous geophysicist headed the new structure. In memory of the publication of the imperial decree on December 22, 1915, this date became the Day of the Hydrometeorological Service of the Armed Forces. Initially, the Directorate consisted of only three departments: instrumental support, weather forecasting and scientific development. Service employees were also involved in the development of technical tools used in hydrometeorology. Over time, the division expanded. Since 1918, the data provided by the Directorate began to be used by the Red Banner Fleet of the RSFSR - the weather forecast at sea is no less important than information about atmospheric phenomena on land and in the air. Since the creation of the Russian hydrometeorological industry, the development of the military sector has been a national task, solved by the joint efforts of various departments. After the October Revolution, the Hydrometeorological Service Department became part of the Red Army. Timely weather reports played an important role during combat operations of the Great Patriotic War. Thus, forecasts for the use of enemy and Russian armored forces in winter were made taking into account the thickness of ice and the time of its formation on rivers, the amount of snow cover, visibility in blizzard conditions and other factors. In the middle of the twentieth century. specialists of the hydrometeorological service of the USSR Armed Forces learned to influence weather conditions. Thus, with their participation, radioactive clouds were dissipated after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The achievements of military meteorologists and their activities in forecasting weather conditions today are one of the types of combat support that helps to increase the efficiency of the use of armed forces. The professional holiday is celebrated on December 22 by active service employees, veterans and university teachers who train specialists in this profile. Every year, meteorologists graduate from the St. Petersburg Military Space Academy named after A.F. Mozhaisky and Voronezh Air Force Academy named after prof. NOT. Zhukovsky and Yu.A. Gagarin. The solemn date appeared on the calendar in December 1995 as a result of the release of Order No. 403 on the establishment of the holiday by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Since that time, every year military meteorologists are greeted with congratulations and good wishes, and service veterans are awarded certificates of honor and valuable prizes.

Bhagavad Gita Jayanti - Appearance Day of Bhagavad Gita in India (Gita Jayanti)

December 22 (December 9, old style) is the day of Anna the Dark according to the folk calendar. This event comes from a church holiday - the day of Anna’s conception of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Righteous Anna and her husband Joachim tried for many years to conceive a child, but to no avail. When Joachim went into the desert to pray, asking the Almighty for his wife’s pregnancy, an Angel descended to him and conveyed the good news that his wife was pregnant with a daughter. The grateful parents promised to give their unborn child to the temple to serve the Lord. It was Mary, born on September 21 (September 8, old style), who in the future became the Most Holy Theotokos - the mother of God’s son. The people called Saint Anne the Dark One, because on her feast day the nights became long and the day got dark early. In addition, the winter solstice was approaching, which meant short daylight hours and the longest night of the year, then the sun “turned” towards summer. The exact opposite applied to the weather - traditionally on Anna the Dark, the frosts became stronger. It was the frost that caused the wolf packs to approach the villages. They said that from the day of Anna until the Epiphany frosts, hunger forced wolves to attack people, even near villages. Therefore, people avoided leaving the village alone, especially after sunset. On Anna's Day, childless women asked the saint with prayers to help them get pregnant, and those who were already preparing for motherhood prayed for an easy birth. It was believed that on this day pregnant women should be careful with any work. They were not allowed to approach the stove and light a fire, so that the child would not be born with birthmarks on the body. It was impossible to do sewing so that the umbilical cord would not get tangled. It was forbidden to meet with holy fools or cripples, so that the disease would not be passed on to the child. It was customary among beekeepers to check their bees in omshaniks - places where hives are sheltered from frost. The bee owners monitored the integrity of the shelters and a sufficient supply of food for the insects for the winter. Beekeepers read spells for successful honey collection next summer. By observing natural signs on Anna's Day, people determined the future weather. If frost appeared on the bark of trees, and huge drifts of snow swept around, then the harvest of the coming year was expected to be excellent. Fences densely covered with snow foreshadowed a cool summer. The weather on Anna's day predicted similar weather for the New Year.

On December 22, Ukraine celebrates Diplomatic Service Day. On this day, it is customary to congratulate all civil servants who represent the external interests of the country. These include employees of Ukrainian consulates, diplomats and everyone else who is related to this activity. In Ukraine, as in other countries, the best of the best become diplomats because they shape international opinion about the country. Thanks to their unnoticed work, Ukraine has today become a strong international partner. The holiday was established in 2005, during the presidency of V.A. Yushchenko, to indicate the importance of diplomats in the political life of the state. At that time, independent Ukraine was just taking its first steps on the international political arena. Congratulations and encouragements from the main government officials were supposed to encourage young diplomats to work effectively. It is no coincidence that diplomats are congratulated on this very day, because it was on December 22, but in 1917, that the UPR government signed the extremely important law for the republic “On the creation of the Secretariat of International Affairs.” Thanks to this law, the Ukrainian Republic for the first time declared itself as a serious political figure, so they decided to celebrate the Day of Ukrainian Diplomatic Service Workers on this date. December 22 is a regular working day for all other Ukrainians, and only diplomats on this day accept congratulations from:• the current president;• the prime minister;• their immediate superior (Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine);• international diplomatic missions;• foreign colleagues. Also on December 22, the title “Honorary Worker of the Diplomatic Services of Ukraine” is awarded. This award is given to those who have achieved great success in their professional activities.

Orthodox holidays December 22:

The miraculous conception of the Mother of God by righteous Anna is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on December 22. Anna and her husband Joachim lived in Nazareth. They were a worthy married couple of advanced age with an ancient pedigree. The origin of Joachim was traced back to King David himself, the tribe of Judah, and the clergyman’s daughter Anna was a descendant of the clan of Aaron, the tribe of Levi. They were destined to unite the branches of their families, but during their long marriage the couple never had children. Passionately wanting to find offspring, the couple, without giving up hope, constantly prayed to the Lord and donated two parts out of three of their own incomes to support the poor. One day, on the day of a great Jewish holiday, the high priest rejected Joachim’s offering, deciding that childlessness was a reflection of family sin. Righteous Joachim, with a stone in his soul, went into the desert, where for 40 days he offered prayers to the creator. Anna, not knowing about her husband’s asceticism and feeling her own guilt for his disappearance, also turned to God with prayers. Her desperate request gave way to a vow that the baby given to her would be given to the service of the Lord. After pronouncing the oath, an angel appeared to Anna and told her the happy news. The woman learned that she would not remain a lonely widow, but, on the contrary, would become the mother of the beautiful girl Mary, through whom all people received the Lord’s blessing. Inspired by the news, Anna hurried to the Holy Land to the Jerusalem temple, where her husband’s donation had recently been rejected. But this time the high priest accepted the gifts of the righteous woman. God's messenger also appeared in the desert, where the kneeling Joachim indulged in prayer. The angel told the man the will of the Almighty and ordered him to go towards Jerusalem, where a meeting with his wife awaited him. Joachim and Anna saw each other at the Golden Gate of Jerusalem and on the same day conceived the desired child. The Holy Family lived in love and harmony. At a tender age, Mary, as was bequeathed, was given to the temple. Anna lived to the ripe old age of 79, slightly outliving Joachim, whose death occurred at the age of 80. People have different names for the holiday: “Dark Anna”, “Winter Anna”. From this shortest winter day, the New Year holidays begin, in its depths a new sun is born, which will be added every day. The belief warns that wolves gather in packs and will hunt together until Epiphany. An interesting custom associated with the feast of the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary existed among beekeepers. After the solemn liturgy, it was necessary to visit the hives and read a prayer over them for the increase of bee families. Married women, asking for a desired pregnancy and easy childbirth, according to custom on December 22, turn to their righteous spouses with prayers.

Memorial Day of St. Anna the Prophetess