Fighting cancer can often be a lonely battle. Patients learn to independently cope with a series of emotions, including fear, despair, or confusion. World Cancer Day is an initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control, which seeks to spread the message about the terrible disease, seeks cures and ways to prevent the disease of a “long-standing grievance”. The global event takes place annually on February 4th and aims to save millions of lives and help raise awareness about cancer and how to prevent, detect and treat this terrible disease. People, businesses, government and community organizations help the general public learn more about different types of cancer and preventive measures. Numerous activities include: • State television, radio broadcasting, Internet resources and newspapers are full of information in which anti-cancer information is concentrated. • Nationwide campaigns targeting parents help them minimize the risk of the disease developing in their families. • Numerous festivals and events are aimed at raising funds for research or anti-cancer projects. • Public information stands are installed, promoting materials, newsletters, booklets, posters and other items that promote public awareness. The Union International Against Cancer (UICC) is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to find ways to alleviate the global burden of cancer. For many years, special institutions have been working tirelessly to improve the quality of life of cancer patients. The nationwide fight against cancer is a global event, but is not a public holiday. It has been observed that countries with low incomes have been hit harder by the disease than countries with higher levels of resources. Working on effective control measures is critical to reducing the world's growing burden of cancer. There are various symbols that are used to help fight the difficult battle against cancer. The pink ribbon is associated with global awareness of the threat of breast cancer, and the orange ribbon is associated with awareness of the childhood disease. The American Cancer Society sees the daffodil as a symbol of hope that brings healing to many sick people.

Every year on February 4, a very unusual holiday is celebrated all over the world - the birthday of rubber galoshes. Why shoe covers are needed is known to every schoolchild. Expensive boots, elegant shoes and boots are a pity to wear even today, in the era of excess consumption. And when these shoes are the only ones in your wardrobe? Walking through dirty puddles in it is a sheer waste. Unfortunately, paved walkways and storm drains are relatively new developments. Even in megacities, during inclement weather, real horror was happening on the roads - and naturally, first of all, shoes suffered from moisture. Therefore, the creation of galoshes became expected, or more precisely, a necessary event. Controversies among fashion trendsetters about the history of their appearance continue to this day. There are many versions, of which only two have the right to exist. One says people should thank Americans. The Indians used rubber that hardened on their feet as a kind of footwear. The roofs of houses were also covered with molten tree sap with additives so that atmospheric phenomena would not interfere with everyday life. After the discovery of America, European residents became interested in the unique qualities of rubber and soon organized the export of the ancestors of galoshes. Adherents of another version believe that the creator of covers for protecting shoes is a British man named Radley, who lived in the early 19th century. This man was a true book lover, and once saw in Caesar's work on the Gallic war a mention of convenient shoe cases called Galicae. “Galiche” was used by the Gauls to escape bad weather on numerous campaigns. The find inspired Mr. Radley so much that in 1803 he filed a patent for covers made from coarse material soaked in rubber extract. Such raw materials were not wear-resistant: the frosty air made them fragile, and the heat melted them. When exposed to the sun's heat, the shoes began to emit a disgusting odor. By the middle of the 19th century, the whole world became aware of the name of the American who created the method of vulcanizing rubber and invented rubber. It was Charles Goodyear. The enterprising businessman earned a huge fortune, and galoshes, which were not afraid of either severe cold or tropical heat, became incredibly popular in Russia. At the same time, only wealthy people or peasants could purchase rubber cases from generous owners. As Count Komarovsky said, galoshes placed on shoes “elevate the serf above the level of the rest of the villagers. Thus, the myth of galoshes as shoes for ordinary people was successfully debunked - only city dwellers with good incomes used comfortable covers. Often, galoshes were worn unnecessarily - simply to demonstrate one’s wealth and sense of excellent taste. In the 1860s, joint Russian-American factories for the production of rubber products were opened in our country. One of the enterprises (“Triangle”) survived until the 20th century. During Soviet times it was called the “Red Triangle”. It would seem that rubber galoshes, which had sunk into the past, unexpectedly even today attracted the interest of fashion historians, and then ordinary consumers. Indeed, in some Russian regions the weather often brings “surprises”, forcing you to think about what shoes to wear. Modern materials, innovative technologies and production methods make it possible to turn unsightly galoshes into a stylish, bright accessory. And February 4th is an excellent occasion to pay tribute to their creators.

In the country that invented fast food, home-cooked food becomes a holiday. In the United States of America, Homemade Soup Day is celebrated. For many Russians, this holiday will seem unusual; why celebrate what appears on the table every day? In fact, in America there is such a tradition - there are holidays for almost all products and dishes, for example, artichoke day or lace cookie day. When did the first soup appear? It is unlikely that anyone will be able to answer this question unambiguously. Presumably, the first soups were prepared in leather skins filled with water and whatever they managed to get for lunch. Hot stones were thrown at them, which boiled the water. Due to the absence of witnesses, the exact recipe and cooking time remained unknown. Other scientists suggest that the first soup was cooked only with the invention of suitable utensils. And since we owe the appearance of dishes to the East, the first soups began to be cooked there. Both versions have a right to exist - choose the one you like best. In the East, the first soups began to be cooked by the inventive Chinese, and this happened several decades BC. Such a dish as soup is typical of sedentary agricultural civilizations and is completely absent from the menu of nomadic pastoralists. In Ancient Greece, broths with beans and lentils were cooked, and even now bean soup remains the most popular in the country. Soups are generally considered a regional dish; its composition depends on the availability of available ingredients. Nowadays, with the development of cargo transportation around the world, nothing will stop you from making bouillabaisse or gazpacho, but previously the choice depended entirely on the availability of local products. The black broth of the Spartans became famous throughout the world. The exact recipe for this dish has not been preserved, but the ingredients include fresh pork blood mixed with water, pieces of fatty pork, vinegar, salt and lentils. The mere mention of Spartan stew made contemporaries’ stomachs ache, it tasted so disgusting. And throughout Europe, soup began its victorious march only in the 15th century, when the necessary utensils appeared in everyday life. Culinary masterpieces such as Scandinavian creamy soup with salmon, German eintopf, Hungarian goulash, gazpacho, onion and cheese soups appear. Although now the components of these dishes include quite expensive products, all famous soups were originally invented out of necessity and have long been considered the food of the poor. In Russia, liquid food has been known for a long time and was called stew, which in turn was divided into cabbage soup, borscht, kalya, turi, etc. By the way, if someone doesn’t know what a prison is, it’s water with crumbled bread, onions and sometimes vegetable oil. If there are people in your family who survived the war, then they probably remember its taste. Stews were divided not only according to their types, but also according to their abundance. The rich first courses talked about rich meat or fish broth, and the poor talked about empty broth. For our country, from time immemorial, soup remains one of the most consumed dishes, not only because of its deliciousness and satiety, but because of its budget. On cold winter days - hot cabbage soup, borscht, rassolnik, solyanka, ukha, and on hot days - okroshka, beetroot soup and other cold dishes - they made it possible to feed the family. The majority of the population at that time was the peasantry, and agriculture in risky farming zones did not guarantee a harvest. One can recall the seven years of famine under Boris Godunov, when a sharp cold snap and loss of livestock caused mass starvation deaths. The main food products during this period of our history were turnips, cabbage, millet, millet and pearl barley; they lived according to the old Russian proverb: “Shchi and porridge are our food!” European soups and the word soup itself were brought to Russia by Peter I. History is silent about why the great sovereign loved liquid broths and onion soups. According to Russian people, any soup that does not contain a spoon is self-indulgence. Given the climatic conditions, it is not surprising that soups are more common in northern countries, where cold winters alternate with short summers. Europeans prefer light and quick soups, and do not always follow the tradition of serving soup as the first course for lunch. Residents of a flat continental climate do not need additional protection from the cold - a hot, rich dish that can replace the entire lunch. This is a simple family holiday, encouraging everyone to return to a cozy home life. On this day, first courses from your favorite home recipes appear on the tables, and friends and neighbors are invited. Guests come with their own bowls filled with homemade soups to delight and amaze with culinary talents and ancient recipes. The most popular versions of soups are tomato and chicken noodle soups. The main motto of this day is: “Let’s raise our spoons, friends!”

In December 2020, the UN, at the initiative of representatives from the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, adopted a resolution establishing an international holiday. The reason for setting the solemn date was the signing on February 4, 2019 of a document for world peace and human brotherhood by Pope Francis and the Supreme Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayib. The UN resolution, co-sponsored by 34 member countries, calls on peoples to cooperate at the interreligious and interethnic level. Therefore, February 4 is celebrated as the International Day of Human Fraternity. The official holiday, International Day of Human Fraternity, calls attention to the widespread increase in violence, discrimination based on nationality and race, xenophobia, incitement to hatred and religious fanaticism. These threats are global in nature and undermine the spirit of tolerance towards people of different faiths. Therefore, the governments of all countries and their people must show solidarity in the fight against religious hatred and unite for intercultural dialogue. It is no secret that there have been contradictions between different faiths since time immemorial. However, any religion is initially aimed at awakening the best spiritual traits in a person, a piece of God. True faith, not burdened by calls for conflicts with dissidents, awakens inner harmony in people and gives mutual understanding with the outside world. The document highlights the important contribution of each religion to the development of human society. In addition to the adoption of the resolution, HCHF was established - the High Committee of Human Fraternity, which is responsible for the unity of peoples throughout the world. Its head was the Egyptian Guje Mohamed Abdelsalam. Their religious leaders are responsible for implementing the initiative locally in individual regions and countries. The idea of ​​human brotherhood is designed to resist wars, strife and ethnic conflicts. The UN emphasized the relevance of the idea of ​​uniting people in modern conditions - against the backdrop of the COVID-19 epidemic. The General Assembly insists that only through joint efforts, rapprochement and unity of representatives of various faiths and religions can this and similar threats be overcome. Any global economic and social challenges, political and cultural problems are solved by observing the principle of brotherhood. The annually celebrated International Day of Human Fraternity encourages people to eradicate contradictions and establish dialogue about cooperation and mutual understanding not only on February 4th. The principle of brotherhood should become the basis for building relationships, regardless of the date on the calendar, the presence or absence of global threats to humanity.

People with oddities, whose behavior and actions cause bewilderment, often surprise others. Eccentrics look different from everyone else, behave eccentrically and unpredictably, because they have a different idea of ​​beauty, justice, good and evil. Dostoevsky’s Prince Myshkin, Cervantes’ Don Quixote, Gogol’s Akaki Akakievich from “The Overcoat” stand out from the general picture of the world, creating difficulties with their behavior and causing inconvenience to others. In honor of sweet, kind, somewhat absurd and slightly absent-minded people, a funny holiday was invented. February 4th is the Day of Wonderful Oddballs. Characters from this world are found both in prose works and in poetry. Anna German sang about one such unusual person: Perhaps this is how the great Russian writer L.N. looked in the eyes of society. Tolstoy, who abandoned the habits and lifestyle that the noble class traditionally led, deciding to “devote himself to the village.” The count abandoned the light and bustle of the big city in favor of vegetarianism, peasant life and teaching serfs to read and write on the family estate. The famous artist Frida Kahlo was known as an extravagant and original artist, who kept many monkeys, cockatoos, dogs and other animals in her Mexican “Blue House”. In honor of the Day of Wonderful Eccentrics, people do crazy things or fulfill their deepest desires. February 4th people do not worry about the opinions of others, and are not afraid to cause them bewilderment and surprise. The holiday encourages eccentrics, whose habits are considered strange and behavior inappropriate, to cast aside doubts and give free rein to their spiritual impulses. In honor of this unusual celebration, people confess their love, go on long journeys, accept the challenges of fate and do risky things, without any fear of looking stupid and ridiculous. Eccentrics live in their own world, which to others seems fantastic and far from reality. The poet Andrei Bondi, in his poem “Get Lost,” discusses why “white crows” are needed: From a young age, the scientist K.E. was considered an eccentric. Tsiolkovsky. In his homeland in Kaluga, he designed and launched airships into the sky, invented airplanes, built sleighs under sail, sailing them along the river. Due to deafness, Tsiolkovsky was unable to graduate from high school and go on to study further, but this did not stop him from engaging in self-education. The scientist developed the theoretical foundations of astronautics and justified the use of “rocket trains.” Thanks to this eccentric and thinker, who was significantly ahead of his time, man was able to rise above the Earth and enter airless space. Theoretical physicist A. Einstein was known as an eccentric person. His colleague and writer C.P. Snow described the appearance of the Nobel Prize laureate this way: “At first glance, we have before us an inspired saint, a little like a scarecrow.” Most people who are not of this world are characterized by meekness, humility, and the inability to defend themselves and defend their life principles. The Day of Wonderful Eccentrics calls for a helping hand to a timid person who, despite his strange appearance and absurd behavior, manages to make this world a kinder and better place.

Every year on February 4, different countries around the world celebrate one of the most original and enjoyable holidays - Good Mood Day. By the end of winter, it is very difficult to resist despondency and blues, so this holiday will be a good reason to get rid of sad thoughts and spend time with loved ones and family. Everyone will benefit from a good mood! To make February 4 memorable for a long time, you can do what you love, which will bring maximum pleasure. You can also devote this day to an activity that you haven’t gotten around to doing before. The result will definitely please you. If you have long been planning to take up sports or learn to dance, then this is a good reason to go to your first training session or choose a dance studio for yourself. Gourmets will surely be lifted up by delicious dishes that they have never tried before. Parents can organize an unusual family holiday and come up with entertainment for children. To make winter fun exciting for both children and adults, you need to show your imagination. For example, you can split into two teams and start sculpting snow figures for a while or choose those active games that children love most. A trip to the cinema or to an art gallery can cheer up young couples. An evening spent in a cozy cafe will be a wonderful end to the day. It can be spent over a cup of aromatic coffee or a delicious dessert. A sure-fire way to cheer up on February 4th is a fun friendly party or family event, which will be an excellent occasion to see close or distant relatives. On February 4, you can give your loved ones, friends or relatives unusual gifts that will definitely cheer them up. Such surprises need to be prepared in advance. They don't have to be expensive. These can be small souvenirs or useful items. Those who have not previously dared to confess their feelings to their loved ones will have a good opportunity to talk about them. The object of adoration will definitely remember such a festive surprise. To prevent a declaration of love from seeming banal, you can prepare a romantic verse in advance or choose a place with a pleasant atmosphere. To have a good holiday on February 4th and cheer up yourself and your loved ones who are always there in difficult times, you can send them messages with sincere words of gratitude. They will be pleased to know that the help did not go unnoticed.

Probably everyone who attended biology classes at school has heard about Neanderthals. One immediately sees a stocky and hunched figure, a shaggy head, a low forehead, drooping eyebrows, small eyes and a jaw that protrudes strongly forward. This is roughly what Neanderthals look like when they are exhibited in museums—scientists have learned to reconstruct their appearance from skeletons. The most amazing thing is that this representative of the human race lived on earth for five thousand years before his extinction, although in the minds of many this period was two or even three times less. Studies of the remains of Neanderthals are still being carried out. Interest in these representatives of the genus Homo continues, as they may hold the key to evolution. On February 4, the world celebrates a funny holiday - Neanderthal Day. Even 40,000 years ago they inhabited the territory of modern Europe and Asia. The name of this species of people was derived from the German Neanderthal Valley, which is located near Düsseldorf. It was here in 1856 that, quite by accident, in one of the caves, quarry workers discovered the skull of a representative of the human race, which was later acquired by archaeologist Johann Fulroth. This was not the first discovery of Neanderthal remains. They had previously been discovered in Belgium and the Iberian Peninsula. Unfortunately, scientists were unable to identify the remains at that time. Some experts attributed the skull of the first Neanderthal to the individual type, believing that he was simply sick with rickets. However, the publication of Darwin's theory of evolution, which occurred a few years after the discovery of the find, completely overturned the scientific world's understanding of our ancestors. For a long time, Neanderthals were considered “an intermediate link in the transformation of apes into humans.” This opinion still exists today, but it is wrong. This species has been proven to be our relative, with whom Homo Sapiens shares a common ancestor. This ancestor has not yet been identified. Neanderthals became just another branch of the genus. Unfortunately, it is a dead-end branch, since the other development path they took ultimately led to complete extinction. Neanderthals were much shorter and broader in the shoulders than modern humans. They had a brain whose volume exceeds ours, knew how to make fire, made tools, and possibly could talk. On average, Neanderthals lived about 20 years. They wore primitive clothing, lived mostly in groups, and even cared for elderly and incapacitated comrades. Neanderthals built homes and actively hunted. Groups living on the sea coast ate seafood. The diet of the Neanderthals also included plant foods, but the basis was meat. It was this diet that sometimes drove this subspecies of people to cannibalism. During periods of famine or during times of unsuccessful hunting, Neanderthals did not hesitate to eat the meat of their comrades. This is evidenced by the skeletons found, with characteristic damage - traces of separation of meat from bones and crushing of the bones themselves using special silicon tools, fragments of which were discovered by researchers. This was done to extract the bone marrow. For 40,000 years, Neanderthals lived in parallel with the first Homo Sapiens, and most likely overlapped. According to Simon Underdown's theory, which explains the extinction of this subspecies, infections caused by a lack of immunity led to mass death, and Neanderthal cannibals became infected with them when they consumed human meat. Other scientists suggest that Neanderthals died due to changing climatic conditions and due to the fault of man, who began to exterminate them. There is another interesting version - Neanderthals simply assimilated. They disappeared as a species due to interbreeding with Cro-Magnons and modern humans. Incredible? And genetic tests have indicated that 1-4% of the genes of modern humans are of Neanderthal origin. Scientists have only two possible explanations for this fact - hybridization and polymorphism. The first option speaks in favor of assimilation, and the second confirms the presence of a common ancestor.

Ceylon was for a long time a colony of Portugal and Holland, and from 1815 to 1948 - of Great Britain. The history of Sri Lanka began in the 5th century. BC. with the migration of the Sinhalese, one of the Indo-Aryan peoples, to the southeastern coast of the Hindustan Peninsula. An integral part of their culture was Buddhism, which today is professed by more than 70% of the country's population. In the 12th century. Tamils ​​settled in the north of the Kingdom of Sri Lanka and, together with the Sinhalese and Muslims, took part in the liberation of the state from 443 years of colonial rule. England began to take its first steps towards granting self-government to the island during the Second World War. In 1847, Ceylon was declared a dominion - a state within the British Empire, recognizing the dominance of its monarch. In 1948, the island ceased to be subordinate to the metropolis, although it remained in the Commonwealth of Nations. In honor of the country's liberation from colonial rule, Sri Lanka Independence Day is celebrated annually on February 4th. Ceylon's path to freedom was long and thorny. From 1551 it was under the rule of the Portuguese, giving them cinnamon as tribute. Before the colonization of the island, supplies of this spice to Europe were considered a monopoly of the Arabs. From 1658 it began to be controlled by Dutch conquerors. The Ceylonese states of Kotte, Jaffna and Sitawaka were the first to fall under the rule of the colonists. The most desperate resistance was provided by Kandy, located in the central part of the island. But this state, after the war of 1760, was forced to recognize Dutch sovereignty throughout Sri Lanka. The arrival of the British in 1815 met with almost no resistance from King Sri Vikram Rajasingha, who ruled Ceylon at that time, and his subjects. The British established giant coffee plantations in the colony, which were later replaced by tea, and grew rubber and coconuts. The metropolis began to collect land taxes from peasants in cash, which led to a drop in rice production. The death of coffee plantations in the 1870s caused the impoverishment of the rural population of Sri Lanka. The British administration selectively supported the religious communities of the metropolis, which caused clashes between Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus. Ethnic and inter-religious confrontation, and other consequences of colonial rule led to an increase in the national self-awareness of the population. Residents of the island began to persistently demand self-government, and in 1947 the Act of Independence of Ceylon was signed. Thus, after hundreds of years of oppression, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka appeared on the map. In honor of Sri Lanka Independence Day, private and public institutions of the country are decorated with pennants, lights and national flags. All festive events begin with the singing of the national anthem Jayamangala Ghata. On the waterfront of Colombo, the largest city in Sri Lanka, a parade of all branches of the air force takes place. In honor of the holiday, exhibitions are held, concerts and special religious ceremonies are held, during which people pray for peace and prosperity of the state.

Saint Sarkis Day is an Armenian holiday with centuries-old traditions, but it began to be officially celebrated in the country only in 2007. Every year the holiday date changes; it is celebrated on one of the days from late January to mid-February. This saint is one of the most revered and respected among Armenians; people turn to him for help and, as church ministers say: if you turn to the saint on this day, he will definitely hear the request. Saint Sarkis was a commander and lived under the ruler Constantine the Great. Thanks to his skill as an orator and the gift of persuasion, under his influence many soldiers decided to undergo the rite of baptism. Another beautiful legend has survived to this day, thanks to which Saint Sarkis became the heavenly patron of lovers. Legend says that, having returned from the campaign, he and his comrades went to the palace to celebrate the victory. The king gave a secret order to forty young beauties to kill all the warriors while they slept. 39 women could not disobey their king and carried out the assignment. Only one young woman, looking at the sleeping commander, could not do this, because she fell in love with him. Instead of taking his life, she took and kissed the sleeping man. This kiss saved his life, as he woke up and was able to leave the palace, taking his savior with him. Since then, Saint Sarkis has been considered the patron saint of lovers, and young couples on the feast of Saint Sarkis always pray for their love, asking for blessings and protection. For those who are still single, Saint Sarkis can show future love in a dream. To do this, the night before the holiday they eat a salty pancake, and no other food. If this condition has been met, then in a dream you can see your future destiny. In Yerevan, in the Church of St. Sarkis, a liturgy is held on the holiday, and the holiday itself is preceded by a five-day fast.

The lily, symbolizing purity, mercy and light, has long been considered the flower of kings in France. Lavender is associated with love, happiness and longevity. This plant is called the soul of Provence. Lavender has been grown in this region for almost a thousand years. The fertile nature of France has created comfortable conditions for the growth of lilies of the valley, rosemary, clematis, dahlias and pelargonium in gardens and greenhouses. Toulouse, the capital of the Midi-Pyrenees region, is known as the city of troubadours and violets. This flower, a living embodiment of tenderness and sophistication, has been grown here since the end of the 19th century. The violet appears on the city coat of arms, shop signs and cafes. And although Africa is considered the birthplace of the plant, a hundred years ago France was the main supplier of this plant to Russia and European countries. Paying tribute to historical traditions, the Violet Festival is held in Toulouse every year in early February. The first celebration, which lasts 2 days, took place in 2003. The Toulouse Violet Festival was initiated by representatives of the food and cosmological industries who use violets in the production of sweets, liqueurs, perfumes and skin care products. In France, this flower represents the sadness of deceived virgins. It is believed that violets have strong feminine energy, so they can break up a couple. A man feels unwanted around his beloved, who has this flower growing at home, which leads to a break in the relationship. But most often, violet is associated with purity, tenderness and kindness, love and sincerity. In honor of the holiday, botanists and florists from around the world come to Toulouse. They participate in the violet competition, the main event of the festival, where flowers are judged on beauty, variety, freshness of appearance and skill in bouquet design. After this, everyone attends lectures where breeders talk about how to breed and care for the plant, known since the times of Ancient Greece and Rome under the name Víola. For two days, city fairs sell perfumes, liqueurs, cosmetics, jams, muffins, candies and other sweets made from violets. Tourists, walking along the streets of Toulouse, visit flower greenhouses and greenhouses, participate in master classes and taste various delicacies. The pride of local confectioners is considered to be candied violet flowers: its petals are coated with beaten egg white, sprinkled with powdered sugar and dried naturally. The delicacy is consumed as a dessert or, according to the old tradition, thrown into a glass of champagne. The flower gives the drink a bright color and an unusual aroma. More than 700 species of violets are known. They are used both in cosmetology and in medicine to produce diuretics, antipyretics and anti-inflammatory drugs. In honor of the festival, they create arches and figures from flowers and decorate houses and cars with them. You can admire the beauty of this amazing plant and meet the variety of varieties in Toulouse by visiting the city in early February.

Angola Holidays - Armed Struggle Day (Liberation Movement Day)

February 4 (January 22, old style) is Timothy's Day according to the folk calendar. It takes its name from the church date of honoring the memory of St. Timothy, a disciple of the Apostle Paul. Having seen the miraculous healing of the lame man by the prayer of the Apostle Paul, young Timothy believed in Jesus Christ and became the apostle’s disciple. Thirteen years later, Paul elevated his devoted mentor to the rank of bishop of the church of Ephesus. When the persecution of Christians began, Timothy tried to convince the pagans of the wrongness of their faith, for which they stoned him in rage. According to the old (Julian) calendar, Timothy's day fell in the middle of winter. Hence he was popularly called Timofey the half-winter. Since half of winter had already passed, the remaining half led to the arrival of spring. But the peasants were not particularly happy, because the cold and snowstorms intensified from the day of Timothy and lasted almost the entire month of February. In Timofey-half-winter, the owners checked what was left in the food bins. A difficult time was coming, because the remaining supplies had to last until the summer, when the harvest for the year was again harvested. The men on the cart were taking the last sheaves of hay from the field, and the women were sweeping grains for flour from the corners of the branches. Beekeepers checked bees in wooden omshaniks - covered winter spaces for hives. We fed insects and listened to what was going on inside. If a calm hum was heard, then the bees were fine, but a loud buzzing signaled a problem in the swarm. The youth had fun sliding down the snow slides. The girls used the bottom of the spinning equipment for this. It was believed that whichever girl rode the furthest on her bottom would have the largest flax harvest. Noticing frosty patterns on the glass of the windows on Timothy's Day, they said that the winter would be long. Foggy windows predicted the onset of heat. Snow predicted snowfall throughout the week, and clear weather promised an early spring. Large snow cover was observed to lead to a good grain harvest.

Eternal love is a strong and deep feeling that does not become weaker or disappear over time. But over time, attraction and passion fade away, giving way to indifference, resentment and mutual reproaches. If the relationship has outlived its usefulness, it’s time to part with the once loved one. Especially when an attempt was made to revive the union of two hearts, but nothing came of it. The best time for this will be the first Sunday of February - the Day of Abandonment of Unnecessary Relationships. Psychologists help maintain the union for couples attending joint therapy. Close relationships periodically go through crises, so turning to a specialist is justified. It will help spouses sort out the accumulated problems after the first year of marriage, 3-5 years of marriage, 7 and 12-15 years. Sometimes the efforts of clients and psychologists are not enough, and one has to admit that the relationship has outlived its usefulness. Partners need to stop tormenting themselves and understand that separation is inevitable in the following cases: 1. There is no more affection and tenderness in relationships. Kisses and hugs have become an obligation that is performed out of a sense of duty. 2. There is nothing more to talk about with your partner; common goals, activities and interests have disappeared. 3. There is no desire to go home and spend time together. 4. Resentments have accumulated, quarrels break out over trifles, the partner causes contempt or indifference, respect for him has disappeared. 5. Manic control of the second half, manifestation of mistrust and aggression, including physical violence. 6. Lack of intimate life. 7. The partner often spends the night away from home, began to pay attention to other people and consider them as sexual objects. Abuse, relationships in which a person is suppressed morally and humiliated physically, must be stopped as soon as possible. It’s not for nothing that the name Dump Your Significant Jerk Day is translated from English as “Dump Your Significant Jerk Day.” Domestic violence and abuse in relationships, unlike the times of patriarchy and house-building, are not considered the norm in the 21st century. The Solemn Day calls on everyone who I decided to return my life to normal, stop mistreating myself and break up with my partner. The day of giving up unnecessary relationships is a great opportunity to take a step towards your happiness. We all have a soulmate, and life is too short to waste it on someone who doesn't appreciate you. If a person is not treated with love and respect, a breakup is inevitable. “You’d rather starve than eat anything, And it’s better to be alone than with just anyone,” these are the lines from the rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. The day of giving up unnecessary relationships is a celebration of honor and dignity, a holiday of self-respect and self-love. And if you realize it's time to break up, follow the call of Dump Your Significant Jerk Day - dump your jerk.

Orthodox holidays on February 4:

The Orthodox Church honors the Day of Remembrance of the Apostle Timothy on February 4. Timothy is one of the 70 apostles who spread the Christian faith in the first century, not counting the disciples of Christ and the Apostle Paul. It was Paul who became the teacher and mentor of Timothy, whose inclination towards Christianity developed from early childhood under the influence of his mother and grandmother. There lived a young man in the territory of Asia Minor in the city of Lystra, who was visited several times by the Apostle Paul with sermons. Paul's first speech and the miracle of healing the lame man, revealed to the townspeople, influenced the worldview of Timothy's older relatives, and planted the seed of faith in the child's soul. During Paul's next visit to Lystra, the young man was ready to devote himself to missionary work. The apostle baptized the new disciple and made him his assistant. Timothy followed Paul, becoming his constant companion, running errands and helping him preach the true word. Missionaries visited many cities and lands in pursuit of their goal. After the martyrdom of Paul, Timothy finds himself in the city of Ephesus, where he becomes a disciple of the evangelist John the Theologian. Timothy united the spirit of the two great apostles, and after John was exiled to the island of Patmos, he became the bishop of the Ephesian Church. Around 96 AD, during one of the pagan holidays, the bishop tried to reason with the rampant idolaters of Ephesus. But the pagans, embittered with Christians, hiding their faces under ritual masks, attack and kill Timothy. The relics of the holy man were subsequently transported to Constantinople and buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles not far from the graves of St. Andrew the First-Called and the Evangelist Luke. During the pogrom by the crusader knights of Constantinople, the holy relics were stolen and transported to Italy. Centuries-old folk traditions have associated many signs with the day of St. Apostle Timothy. February 4 is considered the coldest day of the year, even birds do not fly out of their shelters, and people should not go far from home. Work was not prohibited, so the household had to be put in order. And also preparing for spring, and noticing weather signs: - a sunny day for the imminent arrival of spring warmth; - a lot of snow for a bountiful grain harvest; - a blizzard is swirling, which means it will last at least a week. There were other signs not related to the weather. If a baby was born on February 4, then his character will be as severe as the frost outside the window. The girls tried to remember the dream they had after Timofey's Day and use it to find out the future. The beauties also competed in sledding. The owner of the sleigh that rolled the furthest will certainly become rich in flax yarn in the coming year.

On February 4, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of Remembrance of St. Macarius of Zhabynsky, the Wonderworker of Belevsky. The monk lived in the 16th and 17th centuries. His life coincided with the cruel reign of Ivan the Terrible and the terrible time of troubles. All the more amazing is the Christian feat of Macarius, who became the founder of the Zhabynskaya Vvedenskaya hermitage. In his youth, the monk became a monk under the name Onuphry, and becoming a monk in his mature years, in 1585 he founded a monastic monastery. Thirty years later, the holy place was completely devastated and burned by Polish troops. But Onufriy was given the strength to build new stone ones instead of the old wooden walls. In place of the ashes, a beautiful temple and a gate with a bell tower rose, the ringing of which could be heard far throughout the area. But the monk himself preferred to retire from the desert into the thicket of the forest, where he indulged in prayer alone, enduring hunger and cold. A legend is associated with this period of Onuphrius’s life, testifying to his miraculous power. One day a wounded Polish soldier found himself in a deep forest. Having fought off his army, the Pole moaned, leaning against the trunk of a spreading pine tree. The groans of the unfortunate man were heard by a nearby monk, whose Christian mercy did not allow him to pass by the suffering enemy. The Pole asked for a drink, and when Onuphry advised him to go to a source of water, he replied that in his condition this was impossible. The monk declared that nothing is impossible for God and struck the ground with his staff. At that same second, a toad spring gushed out from under the ground, and the wounded Pole drank from the spring water. When the monastery restored by the monk grew stronger and began to prosper, Onufry decides to become a schema-monk. He entrusts mentorship over the monastery to one of his students and accepts the schema under the name Macarius. The saint's righteous life ended in 1624; the monastery brethren buried his body on February 4, opposite the gates of the monastery. After the death of Macarius, the veneration of his holy relics began, which were initially kept openly, and later in 1721 the relics were placed under cover. In the 18th century the monastery fell into disrepair. For many years, the memory of the feat of the ascetic Macarius seemed to be erased from the memory of Christians, but in 1788, the abbot of the Zhabynsk Hermitage, Jonah, solemnly honored the Monk Macarius on the day of his burial - February 4. Another plan of Jonah was to reveal the relics of the saint, but Macarius, who appeared to him in a dream, strictly warned him not to commit this act. Despite this, prayers addressed to the monk always found his merciful response. And miracles of healing performed in the name of Macarius Zhabynsky continue to this day.

Memorial Day of the Venerable Martyr Anastasius the Persian

Council of New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church