On January 7, Eastern Christians celebrate a great holiday, one of the twelve, the Nativity of Christ. The birth of Jesus Christ is a great day for the entire Christian world. It is celebrated in more than a hundred countries around the world. There is a difference between Western and Eastern Christians in celebrating this date. The Western Church lives according to the Gregorian calendar, and Christmas is celebrated on December 25, and the Eastern Church according to the Julian, and for us Christmas falls on January 7, exactly 9 months after the Annunciation on April 7, when the Archangel notified the Virgin Mary that she had been chosen for the great future of Christianity peace. And so, on January 7, the immaculate Virgin Mary gave the world the baby Jesus. He came into this world in Bethlehem, in a cave where animals were kept. In the absence of a cradle, the baby was placed in a manger, which served as a feeding trough for animals. The first to come to worship the Savior were local shepherds, to whom an Angel announced the birth of the Son of God. At that time, the Magi, ancient sages, who knew that soon the Lord would soon send his son to Earth, were already on their way from the east. Jesus was born. After the fall of Eve, humanity had a second chance to earn the forgiveness of the Almighty and gain immortality. The Magi brought gifts to the newborn, gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold was presented to kings and rulers as recognition of strength and power on Earth. Frankincense as a sign of acceptance of God, and myrrh as a reminder of the infant mortality inherent in every person. On the night of January 6-7, churches and temples hold services that tell the story of Jesus in chants. On the eve of Christmas there is a strict fast, and it ends with the rise of the first star in the sky. The entire Christian world is eagerly awaiting this star. This is the Star of Bethlehem. According to legend, it was she who showed the way to the magi to the cave. Prepare for the big day in advance. Near each temple there is an improvised cave with a manger containing a child. All believers, coming to the service, cross themselves in front of the manger, offering prayers. Christmas is a good, family holiday. Adults tell kids about the holiday, and children willingly participate in the process of preparing for a very important day. With the rising of the star, after the service, Christians sit down at the tables and the night meal begins. Each family has its own special celebration traditions. After Christmas comes the time of Christmastide - twelve holy days, during which the celebration continues.

January 7 (December 25 old style) celebrates the forgotten Victory Day over Napoleon Bonaparte. On August 30, 1814, Russian Emperor Alexander I issued a decree “On the establishment of the December 25 festival.” According to this document, on this day bells were rung and services were held in churches. The decree was strictly observed until the 1917 revolution. With the advent of Soviet power, it seemed that everyone had forgotten about the day of victory in the distant war, although the commanders of that era were revered. In 1942, the Order of Kutuzov was even introduced. In modern Russia, the memory of the war with the French has almost been erased; it has been replaced by Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. This holiday is not fixed at the legislative level, although the law on days of military glory includes the Battle of Borodino, in which our troops showed incredible courage. At the beginning of the 19th century, a new aggressor with an ever-increasing appetite appeared in Europe - France. All power over this country was concentrated in the hands of the ambitious ruler Napoleon Bonaparte, who laid the “foundation” of the statehood of modern France. Napoleon needed new lands and new vassals, so he began to expand his sphere of influence. His country is mired in endless wars. First, the French emperor undertook to restore order in neighboring countries, and then turned his gaze to the east, where the Russian Empire was located with vast territories - a tasty morsel for the commander’s ambitions. At first, the French warmly supported their ruler, but the nation’s fighting spirit gradually began to dry up. People just wanted a quiet life. Initially, Russia adhered to neutrality, but in 1805 the country entered into a coalition with Great Britain and Prussia. Together they unsuccessfully resisted French troops, but suffered a crushing defeat at Austerlitz, after which Russia concluded the Tilsit Armistice Treaty. This loss took Prussia out of the game. England also did not try to support Russia, so our emperor tried to find new allies, but to no avail. Some countries were already under France's thumb, while others were licking the wounds inflicted by Bonaparte and preferred to behave more cautiously. Relations between France and Russia became tense. Bonaparte provoked Alexander I, and in 1812 he decided to start another military campaign. The French emperor, along with 450,000 troops, crossed the Russian border in June 1812. This campaign was supposed to cover Napoleon's name with glory, but it ended in complete defeat. They were opposed by two Russian Western armies with only 195,000 soldiers. Trying to avoid a frontal battle with the enemy, the subjects of Alexander I backed down and were forced to retreat deeper into the country. Devastated lands awaited Napoleon. French soldiers suffered from hunger, heat and disease. By the end of July, entire detachments began to desert from the army. Near Smolensk, the Russians were able to join forces, but they were unable to hold the city. Our troops had to retreat to Moscow, and on September 7 they fought a general battle near Borodino, which later became the bloodiest battle of the century. Although the French lost many soldiers, the Russian troops suffered no less. They retreated again and gave Moscow to the enemy, where a fire broke out, destroying more than half of the capital. Napoleon lingered in Moscow, and when his troops advanced towards Maloyaroslavets, a turning point came in the war. The Russians have finally taken the initiative into their own hands. Already rather exhausted, the French began to retreat the same way they came six months ago. It is believed that the harsh Russian winter finally finished off the morale of the enemy soldiers. On the way, devastated lands without provisions awaited them. Napoleon's army was again starving. Of the 450,000 soldiers that the French emperor brought with him, only 25,000 returned home. The Patriotic War was virtually over. Although the Russian army was also drained of blood, Alexander I decided to continue the battle and reach Paris. The theater of military operations in the next campaign was the territory of modern Poland and Germany. Napoleon somehow managed to recruit another 300,000 soldiers, but another defeat awaited him, which marked the final end of the “golden” era of commander Bonaparte.

Distaff Day is an unofficial Catholic holiday that falls on January 7 and marks the resumption of work after Christmas. This holiday has its roots in the Middle Ages, and it has not lost its relevance to this day. Not so long ago, yarn intended for knitting and weaving was not bought, but made independently. The most common raw material for homemade threads is sheep's wool. The spinning wheel is an ancient device with an extremely simple structure. At the same time, the thread turned out to be beautiful, even and strong. Women spun both alone and in large groups, gathering for gatherings on autumn and winter evenings. Therefore, for many women it was important that the instrument looked beautiful and elegant. Spinning technology has a fairly long history. First, the thread was twisted with your fingers. Then the spindle and spinning wheel were invented. The production of thread has become a continuous process and has accelerated significantly. The first to appear were hand-driven spinning wheels, later - foot-driven ones. Improvement of the device made it possible to regulate the thickness of the thread and improve its quality. For the first time such a device was made in Ancient Rome. Further steps in improving this instrument were taken by Jurgens of Braunschweig. The product was launched using a foot drive. Both hands were involved in the process, which greatly simplified the work. The spindle was driven by a large wheel. Both parts are connected via a block. The advantage of this invention is the ability to simultaneously perform three operations at once: twisting, pulling and winding threads. The fully mechanized spinning machine was invented in 1741 by J. White. The famous “Jenny”, equipped with eight spindles, also entered the history of the spinning wheel. Not only the spinning technology as such developed, but also the drive device. At first, donkey traction was used, then steam and finally electric. The electric motor has found application not only in industrial, but also in household models. Despite its foreign origin, the spinning wheel took pride of place in the Russian hut. Antique products, which can often be seen in ethnographic museums, are real works of art. Each product is unique, decorated with inscriptions and intricate decor. It is believed that traditional wood carving originates from the manufacture of spinning wheels. The spinning wheel accompanied the woman literally from the cradle throughout her life. The umbilical cord of the newborn was cut on a spindle, and the same object was placed in the cradle. It was believed that this helps ward off evil forces. Many spinning wheels were “named” - signed. It was impossible to give such an item to another person to use. The best gift from the groom to the bride was a hand-made spinning wheel, decorated with patterns, signed with the name of the betrothed. This meant a firm intention to marry the girl. It turns out that the spinning wheel is not only a working tool. It also took part in entertainment. Riding the bottom of a spinning wheel down an ice slide is a common pastime during Maslenitsa. There is an interesting belief associated with this entertainment. The further you can travel, the longer the flaxes will grow. For many peoples, a spinning wheel is one of the key attributes of everyday life. Today these products are valued as antiques. Each of them has its own, interesting story in its own way.

In the Land of the Rising Sun, many traditional holidays are dedicated to the lunar calendar. The change of seasons in Japan is dedicated to Gosekku - five annual celebrations, one of which, Komodo-no-hi, has national status. Other holidays are not official, which does not detract from their significance. Thus, as a sign of gratitude to nature and its gifts, the Festival of the Seven Herbs, also known as Jinjitsu, is celebrated on January 7th. Jinjitsu owes its appearance to the influence of the Celestial Empire’s traditions on Japanese culture. In one of the Chinese treatises of the 6th century. there is a mention of the custom of honoring the arrival of a new calendar cycle: “The seventh day of the New Year is the day of man, when porridge containing seven green herbs is cooked.” It was believed that this light and low-calorie dish allowed the stomach to rest from the food eaten at the festive table, strengthened the immune system and warded off evil spirits. The tradition of celebrating Renzhi, the Chinese name for Jinjitsu, still exists in the southern regions of the PRC; it was followed until the mid-17th century. AD in Taiwan. Since the 8th century. AD On January 7, the Japanese eat a porridge-like vegetable soup that brings health and longevity. It contains seven wild spring herbs: shepherd's purse, Japanese parsley, turnip, bloodroot, radish, cudweed and lapsanastrum. The list of ingredients may vary depending on the tradition of preparing the dish in a particular prefecture. In addition to soup, on the 7th day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, the festive table contains products of white and green colors, symbolizing the arrival of spring and the awakening of nature. It is believed that a soup made from seven “lucky imperial herbs” eaten in the morning in honor of Jinjitsu makes a person healthy for a whole year. You can cook the liquid porridge yourself, using rice and leaves, stems and tubers of plants scalded with boiling water, or you can buy ready-made holiday kits in the store. Before starting a meal or while cutting wild herbs, folk songs are sung with the words "Before the birds of the continent (China) fly to Japan, let's take nanakusu!" By analogy with the seven spring herbs, there are also seven autumn flowers - bush clover, drupe, bluebell, valerian, dianthus and others. The bright inflorescences of these plants give the Japanese aesthetic pleasure comparable to admiring the cherry blossoms on Hanami. Despite the fact that each of the seven autumn flowers is used in herbal medicine for medicinal purposes, they are not eaten like spring herbs and are not used for making bouquets. Jinjitsu, as one of the five Gosekku ceremonies, which began to be performed at the imperial court in the Edo era, symbolizes the inextricable connection between man and nature. The Japanese sacredly honor their national culture, which is based on the traditions of their ancestors, therefore, for centuries, every year they celebrate Nanakusa no sekku on January 7th.

A sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus kicks off celebrations for International Silly Walk Day. The date of the celebration, which has been celebrated since 2011, falls on January 7. On this day, fans of the series and ordinary people with a sense of humor walk through the streets of cities in England, Brazil, Australia and Europe, using the silly gaits from the sketch. Festival organizers and parade participants say that their goal is to take their minds off daily problems. To do this, they dress up like the characters from The Ministry of Silly Walk and copy one of the silly walks. Despite the fact that the series aired on the BBC from 1969 to 1974, it became the quintessence of modern British culture and English humor, understandable to residents of other countries 50 years later. The Monty Python group has a lot of followers - connoisseurs of absurdity and surrealism in the comedy genre. Its six members, graduates of elite British universities, are called the Beatles of English humor. The legendary Western actor John Wayne was distinguished not only by his skill and masculine appearance. His unusual gait remained in history - slightly drunk and a little wobbling. One of the actor’s contemporaries said that when Wayne moved in the frame, it seemed as if he needed to change his diapers. Nevertheless, the strange, swiftly clumsy gait looked brutal, giving the cowboy additional charm. The same cannot be said about John Cleese, who played an official in a Monty Python sketch. He goes to the Ministry of Stupid Walks, raising his legs at an angle of 110 degrees instead of the standard 20, bending and straightening his knees funny. His mode of locomotion has even become the subject of study by biologists from Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, who are studying the evolution of human upright walking. An unusual gait was a trademark of Charlie Chaplin's heroes. It was originally thought to belong to a wild tramp who uses a cane to lift up the skirts of passing women. Later, the gait with the toes of his shoes placed to the sides became the comedian's trademark. As well as "sliding backwards", simulating forward movement. Michael Jackson is erroneously credited with creating the famous Moonwalk. Long before the pop singer, the “moonwalk” was demonstrated by the American jazz singer and showman Cab Calloway in 1932, and in 1936 by Charlie Chaplin in the film “Night Times.” Tap dancer Bill Bailey used the Moonwalk as he walked backstage after performing his routine. David Bowie became the first artist to use the moonwalk while remaining in place. On International Silly Walk Day, people take part in street marches in honor of the comedians from Monty Python's Flying Circus. Those who are embarrassed to go out in public can try to repeat the Moonwalk at home, record your performance and post it online. International Silly Walk Day encourages people to put aside their stiffness on January 7th and let off steam by showing their talents for transformation and a sense of humor.

Ski trail untangling day

The bright holiday of the Epiphany is one of the most long-awaited and important for Christian believers all over the world. The baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River became a fundamental event for the great holiday. In those distant times, only adults who truly believed in the one God-Savior could undergo the sacrament. This ritual is the source of faith in Christ - a completely new religion with a clear rejection of the many-faced divine pantheon. After his Baptism, Christ preached famous sermons, revealing to the whole world faith in the true God. On the feast of Epiphany, the rite of blessing of water takes place in Catholic churches. It is believed that on this day its composition becomes miraculous, exceptionally healing, capable of protecting against all physical ailments and mental torment. The first Christians tried to take water for baptism from open bodies of water: rivers, lakes, springs. Even before sunrise, they were in a hurry to make an ice hole in the shape of a cross. Then prayers of the clergy took place near the hole, after which it was possible to draw miraculous water. It was sure to be carried home in all kinds of vessels to consecrate their homes with grace, and also preserved as medicine or eaten daily as an additional source of strength and energy. It was believed that Epiphany water could protect the house from the attacks of evil spirits. To prevent evil spirits from disturbing the owners, all rooms in the house were consecrated, as well as the yard and outbuildings. People drank plenty of wonderful water to be strong and healthy for the next year. The Catholic holiday of Epiphany coincides with the day of the Three Kings - the great sages who were the first to accept and tell the whole world the good news about the birth of the Mission - Jesus. The names of kings Balthozar, Melchon and Kaspel are widely known to all Catholics. On the day of the Epiphany, every parishioner strives to bring home special chalk along with sacred water. With its help, the first letters of the names of the kings should be written on the front door of the house. Believers know that this simple ritual will ward off evil spirits and protect all family members from filth. The holiday of the Epiphany is rich in ancient customs and traditions that have become irrelevant in our time. In past centuries, after the service for Epiphany, the owner first of all hurried home. It was very important to arrive at your yard first. This promised a rich harvest and made it possible to be the first in farming: the first to complete the harvest of the future harvest, and to receive a significant increase in livestock. Also, Catholics from time immemorial have looked closely at the weather on this day, trying to predict what the coming spring and summer will be like. There are practically no old rites left in the modern Catholic faith. Water is not taken from rivers or lakes. Everything is much more modern and practical: the ritual takes place in the temple, and parishioners can get water simply from the tap. Sacred chalk is still brought home from the church and carefully stored along with water all year round. Among the old traditions, swimming in an ice hole is also welcomed, which is also considered healing and brings rejuvenation to the whole body.

Day of Banking and Financial Workers in Belarus

All Souls' Day in Armenia (Merelots)

Saphala Ekadashi in India

Victory over Genocide Day in Cambodia

Christmas is considered one of the main holidays among the people. It is celebrated on January 7 (December 25) according to the old style. According to legend, on this day Jesus Christ, the son of the Lord and the Virgin Mary, was born. Christmas is a family holiday, first of all it is celebrated among relatives. They prepare for it in advance by observing Great Lent for forty days from November 28th. On the night before Christmas, the fast ends and people set the table with 12 dishes. An obligatory dish on the table is kutia (sochivo) and uzvar - dried fruit compote. Also among the dishes are meat delicacies: jelly, sausages, baked poultry. Housewives decorated their houses for the holiday - they laid a new tablecloth on the table, placed garlic and coins in the corners, signifying health and prosperity. They placed sheaves of straw in the house, symbolizing the manger of the newborn Christ, lit a candle and made sure that it burned down completely. Household members should wear clean clothes, not swear, and read prayers before the feast. All homework was completed before Christmas. On January 7, 12 days of Christmastide began, during which people rested, had fun, told fortunes and performed carols. Young people and children, dressed in costumes, walked around the courtyards, sang carols, wishing their owners happiness and health. In return they were thanked, treated to cookies, sweets, and given coins. With carols and evenings, children visited their relatives and godparents. The obligatory characters in carols were fellow villagers dressed up as goats and bears. The goat symbolized the well-being of the family, its fur was stroked to promote good luck, and the bear was represented as a symbol of strength. The carolers wore an octagonal star on a pole, signifying the night star under which Jesus Christ was born. Among the customs common at Christmas were maiden fortune telling. Unmarried young ladies gathered after sunset and cast a spell on their betrothed. Women performed rituals to exorcise evil spirits from the corners of the house. To do this, they took a nettle broom, poured boiling water over it and swept it in all corners. People believed that if a man entered the house first on Christmas morning, happiness would come to the family. The appearance of a woman promised female illness. If two people come in, the family will avoid quarrels and illnesses. If the frost lasted for three days at Christmas or the growing moon was visible at night, a bountiful harvest was determined. A strong snowstorm foreshadowed a cool summer. A cat seeking warmth meant a cold snap was coming. Christmas Day predicted similar weather for Peter's Day, July 12th.