On February 16, archivists of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation celebrate their departmental holiday - Archive Day of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation. The archive of the Ministry of Energy is a huge information base in which documents created during the activities of both the Ministry itself and its predecessors are stored, compiled and used in daily work. This is a gigantic amount of data necessary for the functioning of the Unified Energy System and the entire fuel and energy complex of our large country. This includes data on the electricity sector, production, transportation and processing of oil and gas, coal, peat and shale industries. The archive contains scientific and technical documentation, legislative acts, design and regulatory documents that regulate various aspects of the energy sector, including relationships between business entities, the development and implementation of development programs, issues of international cooperation and much more. The work of the Ministry of Energy archivists is far from public. Their activities, invisible to the general public, ensure the functioning of the basic sector of the economy, on which the development of other sectors, the living conditions of people, and the energy security of the country depend. This is daily, sometimes routine, work on processing numerous requests from industry enterprises and individuals, preparing copies of documents for subordinate entities, analytical services, design organizations, etc. The discreet work of archive workers is necessary for the uninterrupted operation of the entire energy system, so that there is always light and warmth in our homes, institutions and enterprises. The history of fuel energy in Russia is usually counted from the beginning of the development of coal deposits in 1801. The electric power industry began to develop at the end of the 19th century, when the first electric lamps appeared on the streets of Moscow, and the country’s first hydroelectric power station was launched near St. Petersburg. Mass electrification of the country is associated with the implementation of the GOELRO plan in the 1920-30s. In January 1939, the People's Commissariat of Power Plants and Electrical Industry of the USSR was established, which was subsequently transformed into the Ministry of Energy. For the needs of the new People's Commissariat, on February 16, an independent unit was allocated from the Technical Archive of the Central State Administration of the USSR, which then became the archive of the Ministry of Energy. Therefore, the archivists of the Ministry of Energy consider their professional holidays not only the day of the power engineer and the day of archives, but also February 16 - the day of the archives of the Ministry of Energy.

According to tradition, Slavic pagan holidays are associated mainly with nature and the events that occur in it. All the rituals that were performed by our ancestors were aimed at being in the mercy of Mother Nature. Therefore, the Slavs celebrated holidays on a special scale, noisily and cheerfully. However, not all holidays were celebrated as was customary. We are talking about a Slavic folk holiday called “Pochinki,” which was celebrated on February 16, immediately after Candlemas. Little is known about its second name - the day of Semyon and Anna There was no fun on this day; all household members were at home. There was no time to visit Pochinki for guests; every good owner was busy with work. The proverb “Prepare the sleigh in summer and the cart in winter” suits this day perfectly. There was a belief that the earlier you start the day, the better you will please the spring itself, so the peasants got up very early. They were in a hurry to prepare everything before the earth awakened after winter sleep. We only paused for lunch and then got back to work. The first thing on Pochinki was to put in order everything that had been used in the spring and summer. For example, men inspected the entire farm, checked barns, repaired agricultural tools, diligently preparing for plowing and sowing. It was interesting that the repaired horse harness was hung in a prominent place in the yard, as an indicator of a skillful owner. The women did laundry, prepared traditional salamata (porridge with cracklings) for lunch, sorted through chests, washed kitchen utensils, put things in order in all corners, throwing out stale rubbish. Even the children did not sit idle; there was feasible work for them too. The kids handed things, carried things, and ran around on small errands from their parents. Unmarried girls worked especially hard. It was believed that if you were lazy on this day, family happiness would bypass them. They said that on Pochinki even the Domovoy himself became a good helper for his masters. In the evening the whole family gathered at the festive table. After the meal, dances or competitions were held in which unmarried girls demonstrated their skills. It was often at this time that future mothers-in-law noticed the bride they liked for their son. This is how the Repairs ended among the Slavs: with benefit for everyone.

Navy reconnaissance officers are engaged in collecting information about the location of enemy groups, their intentions, numbers and weapons. The data obtained is used by the naval command to assess the situation and make decisions about the start of hostilities. Professionals demonstrate restraint and fortitude, the ability to conduct covert surveillance, capture prisoners, make predictions based on interrogations, and wield various types of weapons. Since 1998, Russia has celebrated Navy Reconnaissance Day on February 16, a holiday established in honor of resourceful, intelligent, patient and physically strong warriors. The date of the celebration was not chosen by chance. In 1938, by Order No. 003 of the People's Commissariat of the Navy, intelligence management from February 16 began to be carried out by the RO NK of the Navy. The holiday was given official status in modern Russia in January 1998. Every year in February, intelligence officers receive congratulations from management, colleagues, relatives and friends. For the holiday, books are published about the participation of representatives of the naval community in various combat operations, and meetings are organized with naval intelligence veterans. Professionals operate at any time of the day in extreme conditions, regardless of weather conditions and other factors. They are capable of crossing water barriers, participating in defense or oncoming combat with the enemy. Navy reconnaissance officers are fluent in any weapon, sapper shovel, and knife for the purposes of self-defense and for raiding enemy fortifications. They march many kilometers through areas with difficult terrain, know how to equip shelters and camouflage them using available means. Naval reconnaissance officers easily determine the coordinates of enemy targets and objects, use devices for signaling, surveillance (radio stations and night vision devices) and listening to enemy conversations. Military personnel with secondary education, experience in participating in sports competitions and training in martial arts training sections are allowed to master the basics of the specialty. Among the personal qualities of a Navy intelligence officer, self-control, skills of synthesis and analysis, and the ability to concentrate for a long time, despite external stimuli, are especially highlighted. In addition to visual acuity, they must be able to detect camouflaged objects and enemy targets, have a good memory and eye. The outcome of a naval battle or a battle conducted jointly with ground forces depends on how much information is received by the reconnaissance officer and how completely it is reported to the commander. Ambush, raid, capture of a prisoner, observation and questioning of local residents are among the many methods of conducting intelligence operations. After completing military service, high-level specialists find application for their abilities in civilian professions. Sea scouts become topographers, huntsmen, commercial hunters, tourism instructors, tunnelers and gas rescuers. The holiday is celebrated on February 16 by both active and retired military personnel. In honor of Reconnaissance Day, ceremonial events and exercises are held in all fleets and flotillas of the Russian Federation, the leadership presents awards and thanks to Navy personnel.

The inspirer of the Juche ideas in the DPRK was the leader of the country from 1948 to 1994. permanent leader - Kim Il Sung. After the death of the head of state, his son, Kim Jong Il, took over his post. Throughout all the years of independence of North Korea, Juche continues to be the main idea and worldview, at the center of which is the person and the revolutionary impulses of the people, leading to state self-government. Two public holidays have been established in honor of national ideologists and leaders. The Day of the Sun is celebrated on April 15 - it is dedicated to the date of birth of Kim Il Sung, the “Great Leader” and “Sun of the Nation”. On February 16, 1941, his son Kim Jong Il was born in a partisan camp. Therefore, this date falls on Shining Star Day, which received its name after the death of the leader of the nation in 2011. This holiday was established in honor of Kim Jong Il, who is popularly called the Grand Marshal, the Center of the Party, the Beloved Leader and the Bright Star of Paektusan. Day of the Shining Star is a non-working day, but millions of Koreans do not spend time idly in honor of the holiday, but go to rallies and party meetings that are organized throughout the country. Residents of the DPRK revere Kim Jong Il as a man who has done a lot for the well-being and prosperity of his people. The leader of the nation, according to the Koreans, made a valuable contribution to the treasury of Mithraic philosophy, since in all his works he convincingly defended the ideas of socialism and the primacy of the interests of the masses. In his works, Kim Jong Il relied on the proletarian leaders of the past: Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Enver Hoxha and his father Kim Il Sung. According to the official ideology, no country in the world, except the DPRK, can boast of free 11-year school education, medical care and housing, which are provided to people in cities and villages. Under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, new power plants and factories were built in Korea, and the country's defense capability was strengthened to protect against external enemies - the United States and Japan. These achievements of the country are the merit of its leader, whom the people vigorously honor on February 16. Day of the Shining Star has been celebrated annually since 1982. The largest celebrations in honor of Shining Star Day are held in the capital of North Korea, Pyongyang. The holiday includes mass gymnastic performances, plays and concerts, fireworks, military demonstrations and dance evenings. Millions of Koreans visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on February 16, where the mausoleum of the DPRK leaders is located. For Kim Jong Il's birthday, an exhibition of orchids of a variety named after him is being held, and the Children's Union of Korea (analogous to the Pioneer Organization of the USSR) is accepting new members into its ranks.

The aroma of the air at the end of winter is incomparable. Spring smells of melted snow and earth, wet rotten leaves and trees that begin to exude a peculiar smell. For some it is sweet, for others it is bitter. In February, streams have not yet begun to flow and the buds on the trees have yet to swell; it is far from intoxication with the aromas of tulips and daffodils. But the soul already longs for warmth, spring renewal, freshness and purity. Therefore, February 16th is an unusual Smell Search Day. Each country experiences spring differently. Her scent in Japan is cherry blossoms and rapeseed fields. The air in the Land of the Rising Sun in spring smells of herbs and flowers. Decorative cherry is a symbol of Japan. People watch the blossoming sakura buds while sitting under a tree and doing hanami (“flower admiration”). This process is an integral part of national culture. In the newspapers of the prefectures where cherries grow, you can find the following information: “Today, sakura has bloomed by 30%.” In Canada, in the spring the aroma of pine needles, tree resin, grass and maples revived after winter is in the air. Austria smells like blossoming honeysuckle flowers, fringed lily and flannel flower. In Ireland, due to the humid air, the aroma of spring is felt much more strongly than in other countries. With the arrival of warmth, the smell of blooming rosehip, cedar, wet leaves and oak moss begins to smell, the smells of which are carried to all corners of the island by a strong wind. The aromas of the natural area and the city are different. In the French countryside, as the weather warms up, the smell of roses, meadow grass and lilies is in the air. If you decide to bottle the scent of spring Paris, you will clearly notice notes of lily of the valley, pink and white magnolias, cherry and tulip. From India you can bring back as a souvenir the air with the smell of moisture of tropical forests, jasmine, rose and sandalwood, earth and clay. Each person's sense of smell and preference for fragrances is individual. Therefore, in honor of this unusual holiday, you can try to compile your own olfactory dictionary (from the Latin olfactorius - fragrant, fragrant). It contains a description of smells and their shades. For example, patchouli exudes a woody, moist and earthy aroma at the same time. Oak wood contains notes of sourness and tannins, while the soil after rain contains silt and mushrooms. Spring has its own unique aroma that cannot be confused with any other time of year. With the arrival of warmth, the air becomes clear and clear, fragrant with mimosa, hyacinths and daffodils. Breathe it in deeply and feel the special spring aroma on Smell Search Day!

Tropical fruits are a frequent guest of our table. Fresh pineapple went from being an exquisite delicacy to a popular dessert just a couple of hundred years ago. Its homeland is considered to be Brazil, from where the fruit, thanks to the Tupi Indians, spread to the rest of South and North America. The Portuguese and Spaniards brought it from overseas colonies to Europe, giving it the name pineapple based on its appearance. Today, pineapple is added to desserts and hot dishes, made into juices, and eaten fresh or canned. Fruit pulp is used in the production of cosmetics and aromatic oils. Thanks to the enzyme brommeanine, isolated from the fruits and stems, the plant is in demand in the manufacture of dietary supplements for weight loss. Breeders have been working for centuries to improve the taste of pineapples. Ideally, the fruit pulp should be tart, sweet and juicy at the same time. In honor of their favorite delicacy, gourmets have come up with a funny holiday - February 16 is Fresh Pineapple Day. This fruit appeared in the diet of Western Europeans thanks to Christopher Columbus. The discoverer of America discovered the plant in Guadeloupe and, being amazed by the taste of the unknown fruits, decided to bring them to his homeland. The tropical delicacy was liked by the Portuguese and Spanish nobility, and later it was appreciated by residents from other parts of the world. So, today in China, not a single New Year's feast is complete without pineapple, according to the signs of bringing good luck and happiness. The fruit brought from America was very expensive. At the court of Charles II, it was customary for the nobility to appear in public with pineapples under their arms, thus demonstrating their wealth. The king of England and Scotland wanted to possess this symbol of luxury and ordered the construction of greenhouses for the delicate tropical fruit near London in the 1670s. On this occasion, he was depicted in the painting by artist Hendrik Dankaerts "Gardener John Rose shows Charles II the first pineapple grown in Europe." During the Renaissance, fermented pineapple wine was used by Europeans in religious rituals, and the fruit was hung near the entrance to the house as a symbol of hospitality. After the fruit began to be grown in the tropics of many countries around the world - in the Philippines and Hawaii in the USA, Vietnam, China, Brazil, Thailand and Costa Rica - it became available to people with different income levels. The fruits of a perennial plant of the Bromeliad family contain a large amount of useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body: vitamins, organic acids and minerals. Therefore, Fresh Pineapple Day is a good reason not only to enjoy the sweet and juicy fruit, but also to take care of your own health.

Every year on February 16, Lithuania celebrates its main national holiday - the Restoration of the State of Lithuania. On this day, Lithuanian flags are solemnly hung in all Baltic countries, in accordance with the current interethnic treaty. In 1918, a meeting was held in Vilnius, where representatives of the Lithuanian people drew up a document proclaiming the restoration of an independent state. This act was signed by all 20 delegates participating in the meeting. Unfortunately, neither the document itself nor its copy have yet been found. According to Lithuanian media reports, the textual content of the act, established in the most difficult conditions, is short and succinct, but its value is undeniable. However, to this day no one knows where the original is kept. According to many witnesses, when Soviet soldiers entered the country in 1940, the head of the clerical department removed the document from the presidency, after which the act disappeared without a trace. The road to independence was thorny and long due to the fact that Germany put strong pressure on the Lithuanian government to form a union. Officials had to maneuver between German interests, the army that was in Lithuania, and the demands of their people. The reaction to the news about the restoration of an independent state was quite restrained. The German government was prohibited from publishing the act; its text was printed and distributed underground. The activities of the Council were interfered with in every possible way, and the Germans had no intention of ending control over Lithuania. The situation changed dramatically in the fall of 1918, when the German Empire lost the First World War. Soon the Lithuanian cabinet of ministers was created, and the Council itself achieved control over the entire territory of the state. Independence nevertheless became a reality, but Lithuania had to take part in several armed conflicts that finally confirmed it. Despite the fact that the original act could not be found, it has not lost its legal force. The document serves as a legal explanation for the existence of an independent Lithuanian state both during the interwar period and after the events of 1990. It reflects the main principles of the country's structure, which are also formulated in all Lithuanian constitutions. In addition, the act became the main document in 1990 after the country seceded from the Soviet Union. Every year on February 16, in honor of this significant date, mass events are organized in major cities of Lithuania, including concerts, street performances and ceremonial processions.

February 16 (February 3 - old style) in the folk calendar is the day of Semyon and Anna, but more often the holiday is called the Guardian of Babies or Pochinki. It is on this date that Christians in the church honor the memory of the Monk Simeon and the prophetess-widow Anna. The story goes that Simeon lived in Jerusalem and, when he was translating the Holy Scriptures, he saw the phrase that a virgin would give birth to the Savior from an immaculate conception. Then an Angel appeared to Simeon and said that he would go to the Lord after a personal meeting with the Savior. When the newborn Jesus Christ was brought to the church for dedication, the elder saint was over 300 years old. At that moment, the prophetess Anna was in the temple, who informed the people about the arrival of the Messiah. People prayed to Saints Semyon and Anna for the health of newborn children and for the cure of their illnesses. Hence the name of the date - Guardian of Babies. According to tradition, peasants did repairs on Semyon and Anna. Women sewed up holes in clothes, sorted through chests, put things in order, and men repaired equipment for arable work, carts and horse harnesses. It was believed that the earlier one began preparing for work, the more work would be completed in warm weather. In the evening, families gathered at the table, and the housewives served salamata - a simple and cheap dish. It was prepared in the form of jelly porridge, cooked from barley, rye or wheat flour. Seasoned with oil and added lard and garlic for taste. On the day of Repairs, the owners protected the horses from the brownie, since he could intimidate them at night. To do this, they tied a whip or the owner's onuchi to the horse - something like footcloths in felt boots. The brownie sensed the master's spirit and did not dare to approach the horse. In order to appease the naughty brownie, porridge, milk or sweets were prepared for him at night and placed near the stove. If you saw an abundance of snow on Semyon and Anna, you expected frequent rains in the summer. Screaming sparrows outside the window heralded the approach of spring. People believed that it was forbidden to wear black clothes or ask for a loan on this day, as this would lead to trouble.

Orthodox holidays on February 16:

The Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of the righteous Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess on February 16. The images of these saints are associated with the recognition of the Messiah in the baby Jesus and with the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. According to legend, the righteous Simeon lived an unusually long life. He was one of the learned men who were commissioned by King Ptolemy of Egypt to translate the Holy Scriptures into Greek. Simeon received the book of the prophet Isaiah, where there was a mention of the Virgin who would give birth to the Son of God. Simeon understood that a girl who did not have a husband could not bear and give birth to a baby, and therefore doubted the truth of the prophecy. The translator decided that there was an error in Isaiah’s words that needed to be corrected immediately. But as soon as his hand reached out to the pen to carry out his plan, the appearance of a heavenly angel forced Simeon to stop. God's messenger reproached the learned man for his unbelief and punished him with a long life until the appearance of the Messiah. Years passed, Simeon grew old, but did not die, and in the year when he was 360 years old, fate brought him to the main temple of Jerusalem. Here he met the married couple Joseph and Mary with their firstborn in their arms. The ancient elder, seeing the boy, recognized him as the Savior, about whom the prophets wrote hundreds of years ago. Taking the child in his arms, Simeon predicted his future glory, after which he blessed the holy parents. There, in the Jerusalem temple, an elderly woman, Anna, was present. Everyone knew a widow from a noble family, who, since she lost her husband in her young years, did not leave the temple, spending time in prayer and fasting. For many years, Hannah prophesied the birth of the Son of God, instilling hope in the hearts of the afflicted. The righteous Simeon and Anna are obligatory figures on the icon of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Prayers were addressed to the gray-haired old man and the righteous widow for the health and happy fate of the newborns. In Rus', the day dedicated to Simeon and Anna was called Pochinki. The tradition of repairing household equipment and preparing for the coming spring had roots in the very way of peasant life. Each family member had his own obligatory duties and tasks. Thus, older family members are engaged in updating horse harnesses and harnesses. Pochinki had its own folk signs about the weather: - increasing cold weather could be suggested by smoke or steam spreading over an icy river; - the coming of strong winds and snowstorms was predicted by a cat scratching the floor in the house; - night frost indicated that there would be no thaw during the day; - large snow flakes directly indicated a very rainy coming summer.

Memorial Day of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Japan