January 11th is the Day of Nature Reserves and National Parks of Russia. This day, at the suggestion of the Wildlife Conservation Center and the World Wildlife Fund, began to be celebrated in 1997. The choice of the holiday date was determined by the events of the autumn of 1916, when Russia adopted the legal act “On Establishing Rules for Hunting Reserves,” regulating the procedure for the creation and operation of reserves. As a result, in the Trans-Baikal region on December 29, 1916 (January 11), the Russian national Barguzin Nature Reserve was established by an official government decision. The Barguzinsky Nature Reserve continues to function a century later. Now it is a biosphere reserve. This status was assigned to it in 1986 by decision of UNESCO. The reason behind the creation of natural protected areas in Russia was the activities of the Environmental Commission. Her work began in 1912 and lasted six years. Based on the plan to create a network of nature reserves on Russian lands, in subsequent years national parks, game reserves, and nature reserves were created throughout the country. In today's Russia, 49 national parks and 103 nature reserves are fully functioning. The special protective status of territories makes it possible to study the biosphere, monitor its condition and changes occurring. National parks and reserves received the legal status of objects of national heritage (No. 33-FZ 03/14/1995). The goal of a modern law-abiding society is to preserve natural attractions, plants, and animals. Parks and reserves are entrusted with the task of education and environmental education of the population. In fact, the lack of education of the population and rash behavior in relation to natural resources have led to the creation of specially protected zones everywhere on Earth. They are especially protected from thoughtless human activity. The Russian legislative framework regulates the specifics of the protection regime for national parks and reserves, regulates and controls any activity in these territories. But what does a law mean if there are no people behind it? People whose work preserves in its original form the incomparable creation of nature, flora, fauna, wonderful landscapes in various parts of the vast country deserve recognition, admiration, and support. The Day of Nature Reserves and National Parks of Russia is a holiday not only for Russian ecologists, it is a holiday for everyone who understands that the nature of the Planet without proper care and respect can gradually die, it is a day for those who think that they will leave a legacy for their descendants.

Recently, January 11 is not an ordinary date; at this time, International Thank You Day is celebrated. When they talk about this holiday, they recommend being extremely polite on this day, and trying to say the word “thank you” at least 100 times, and it doesn’t matter so much to whom - relatives, friends, work colleagues or complete strangers who have done something for you -or something pleasant and positive, even for money - for example, a salesperson in a supermarket provided you with quality service. Every day, any of us repeatedly says the word of gratitude, without thinking about its meaning. But don’t forget that it has magical qualities: it helps people please each other, express their attention and give good emotions - in general, everything without which our everyday life would turn into boredom and routine. It is not for nothing that most guidebooks intended for tourists often indicate the pronunciation of “thank you.” Said even with an accent in the language of any country, this word allows you to increase the speed and quality of the service, establish contact with strangers, and set you up for a relaxing pastime. The history of this word began over four centuries ago. The main reference date in the chronology of its colloquial use is considered to be 1586. It was then that the three-syllable sign of gratitude first appeared in the French lexicon, namely in Paris. Around the same period, our domestic analogue of the method of expressing gratitude in a different way arose. At first, the clergyman Avvakum wanted to introduce him into everyday speech, saying “God save” instead of the usual “thank you.” However, such an action failed to immediately supplant the usual form of expressing politeness. It took another three hundred years for this word to take root in society, subsequently becoming one of the main principles of etiquette. Despite the fact that the Russian language dictionary proves the “divine” origin of the way modern people are accustomed to expressing politeness and gratitude, not everyone thinks the same way. For example, Old Believers are confident that the ancestor of “thank you” is the expression “save Bai.” Bai is the name of one of the pagan creators. Therefore, they equated the pronunciation of this combination with a sinful act done against God. Psychologists are convinced that expressions of gratitude can give warmth and peace. Most importantly, they must be pronounced from the heart. It’s not for nothing that since ancient times there has been a clever belief - don’t say thank you if you’re annoyed. Give each other these words from the bottom of your heart, not only on January 11, but every day. Do not limit the use of this magic word to a special date. Let the natural gesture of respect for others become your habit throughout your life. This will help make the world more beautiful and life happier.

International Day for Equality at Work is celebrated in many countries every year on January 11th. The purpose of this international holiday is to combat discrimination in employment. Depending on the type of activity of the organization and the characteristics of the staff, the reasons for discrimination can be religion, race, age, gender, or mental or physical disabilities. In the realities of the modern world, it is very difficult to avoid the spread of discrimination in the workplace, even in those countries where anti-discrimination laws have been adopted. Deliberate intentions that result in the infringement of the rights of certain groups of people are very difficult to prove, since they are often disguised as formally acceptable. The main cause of discrimination at the employment stage is bias. Most employers often rely on intentional or unconscious bias when interviewing job candidates. However, in this matter you need to rely solely on the professional qualities and merits of the potential employee, as well as his level of knowledge and experience in a similar field. The fight for equality for all employees in the workplace has been active for several decades, but at the moment not all goals have been fully achieved and much remains to be done. During the World Economic Forum, information was announced that it would take approximately 170 years to achieve economic equality between men and women. Despite the rather pessimistic forecast, International Day of Equality at Work can help to significantly accelerate this process. This is the main purpose of approving the international holiday, which began to be celebrated on January 11, 2017. The first large-scale event dedicated to this holiday took place in England, in the Leedenhall Building. In order to express their opinions on the problem of discrimination in the workplace, many famous actors and public figures came to London. Also on this day in 2017, various events were held in Russia, Japan, Australia, the USA, Sri Lanka and other countries of the world.

World Sketchouting Day is celebrated on January 11th every year. It entered our calendar quite recently - in 2016. The holiday is dedicated to sketches, which more and more people around the world are passionate about. Sketches are small visual recordings of ideas. Simply put - sketches, quick drawings, illustrated notes. Sketchnoting is the art of spontaneous, quick drawing. Sketches perform several functions at once, allowing you to: • acquire or develop quick drawing skills; • express yourself creatively; • visually display and record a spontaneous idea that suddenly comes to mind; • effectively, simply and quickly present your idea to others; • structure, comprehend and remember information (data in the form of images faster are remembered, and also affect our emotional sphere, i.e. lead to a response). The practical benefits that sketches bring have already been scientifically proven. They really allow you to better remember information, as they simultaneously involve vision, motor skills, thinking and emotions. Also, such pictures are optimal for storing data. They are also convenient from a practical point of view. After all, you can make such a sketch almost anywhere and at any convenient time. The work will only take a few minutes and does not require artistic skills. It is not surprising that the number of fans of such original and effortless art is constantly growing. Sketches can be divided into basic components:• title (highlights the main idea of ​​the project);• frames (draw attention to the content);• graphic elements (drawings, diagrams, diagrams);• text content (handwritten inscriptions);• markers for creating bulleted lists;• shadows (bring depth to the sketch, making images three-dimensional);• separators (needed to highlight semantic blocks);• arrows (act as connectors of ideas, display the structure of the visualized note). Not all of these elements are necessarily combined in one drawing. The image can be very simple, including only a few details. Most sketches are made in one color, since when creating them it is easiest to use what is at hand - a simple pencil or pen. After all, this is the very idea of ​​sketches - quick and simple sketches without any complex preparation, anywhere. But sometimes you can find multi-color images. They can be perceived as a real work of art and are better suited for presenting any idea to others. You can experiment with the structure of the note design. Most often it is vertical, linear or radial. Also, for those who want to master the art of sketchnoting, it is recommended: • use templates or someone’s works you like, modify them in search of your own style; • experiment with fonts, look for the most comfortable and visually attractive ones; • practice more often, do this any time the desire arises; • do not be afraid to deviate from the template , try new techniques and tools. Sketches are created primarily for yourself. But feedback, interaction with like-minded people and approval are important for every person. Therefore, on World Sketching Day, people show off their own creations and look at others, talk about their working methods and learn new techniques. Nowadays it is very convenient to do this using social networks. Such interaction allows you to express yourself, find like-minded people, expand your social circle and gain inspiration for self-improvement.

Children with a rich imagination often make imaginary friends with whom they have a good time, sharing secrets and playing. Heroes of literary works, cartoon characters and simply imaginary creatures become a child’s secret friends. In adulthood, we make real friends who are trusted with small and big secrets. An unusual holiday was invented in honor of people close in spirit and blood. Secret Buddy Day is celebrated annually on January 11th. Where, when and who came up with the idea to establish a funny Secret Pal Day is unknown. However, despite the secret origin of the holiday, people in different parts of the world happily celebrate it. The ability to keep other people's secrets is a character trait that few people have. Therefore, people whom you can trust, like in confession with a priest, are literally worth their weight in gold. In honor of Secret Buddy Day, they are sent cards with wishes or invited to meet to spend time together. Friends who are ready to listen to other people's secrets help relieve the burden from the soul. Psychologists note that confidential conversations promote emotional stability and reduce stress levels. Understanding that a friend is keeping a secret helps a person feel safe. The need for protection is one of the reasons why children make imaginary friends. Therefore, a secret friend, real or imagined, is important for a person at any age. The ability to keep secrets is one of the important components of friendship. Dreams of buying your own house, winning the lottery, adultery, forgery of documents, deceiving parents, for which you are very ashamed, and other secrets are not trusted to just anyone. A person who shares the most intimate counts on the understanding and delicacy of a comrade. “He won’t leave a friend in trouble, he won’t ask too much” is a universal definition of relationships that are established between people on the basis of mutual sympathy and common interests. Therefore, a real secret friend will never “pry into the soul” and pry out information, wanting to know more than he was told. A friend who has been entrusted with a secret will not give advice on how to deal with the current situation unless he has been asked to do so. A true comrade does not judge or evoke feelings of guilt, does not flaunt the fact that he has secret information, and certainly will not blackmail. The ability to keep secrets is a great temptation and a test of a person’s reliability. With such a comrade it is not scary to go on reconnaissance, since you can trust him with yourself and your own life. Secret Buddy Day, which is celebrated on January 11, encourages people to pay tribute to one of the most valuable qualities of a person.

On Christmastide, from the first star that rose on Christmas Eve until Epiphany, it was customary in Rus' to tell fortunes. To obtain predictions, mirrors, cards, wax, rings, girls' shoes, which were thrown out of the gate, logs and chicken eggs were used. The traditions of Christmas fortune-telling have survived to this day. Today, Tarot cards, candles, saucers with magic circles and, of course, coffee grounds are used to view future events. Deciphering the traces left on the walls of the cup can make the person to whom the fortune is told either very happy or unhappy. Girls and women often dream of personal happiness and meeting that one and only person who will radically change their lives. Men, turning to fortune telling on coffee grounds, usually want to find out whether they will have the opportunity for career growth, whether financial well-being and success in business await them. For those who are ready to dream over a cup of aromatic drink and believe in predictions, a funny holiday has been established. On January 11, in the midst of Christmas fortune-telling, Coffee Dream Day is celebrated. The invigorating aroma of the drink usually leads to the activation of life processes. A morning cup of strong coffee gives you energy for the whole day or for a shorter period. But the aroma of cinnamon, cardamom or ginger added to the drink puts a person in a lyrical mood. A cup of freshly brewed coffee with the scent of spices induces dreams and sweet dreams, and puts some in a meditative mood. Reflecting on a steaming drink is an excellent opportunity to switch gears, conduct an audit of your internal resources in order to get out of a psychological impasse. In addition to mini-meditations, coffee can be used for fortune telling. To receive a true prophecy, you need to approach the process of preparing a drink from grains without haste. Traditionally, coffee is brewed in a cezve, but you can simply pour boiling water over it. For fortune telling you will need not only a cup, but also a saucer. The coffee is not drunk completely, leaving a little liquid at the bottom. Next, take the cup with your left hand and rotate it in a circle so that the grounds are evenly distributed over the walls. Then it is turned over and placed upside down on a saucer. The most important thing during all these simple operations with a cup is to concentrate on the question that needs to be answered. Usually he is bound by plans for the future and the fulfillment of his innermost desires. Coffee Dream Day is great for finding out if your dreams will come true. Therefore, it is worth taking time and telling fortunes on January 11, using your own intuition to decipher the symbols or resorting to the help of professionals.

Republic Day of Albania

January 11 (December 29, old style) is celebrated as the Terrible Day according to the folk calendar. People believed that on this day all the evil spirits crawled out of their bodies and ran into the street, frightened those they met and tried in every possible way to harm humanity. Therefore, people avoided walking late in the evening of the Last Day. Another terrible event of the day was the legend of the 14 thousand innocent babies of Bethlehem. When King Herod learned of the birth in Bethlehem of a child who, according to prophecy, would become the king of kings, he was afraid of losing power and ordered the wise men to point to the newborn. They refused to answer. The angry ruler ordered the killing of children ranging in age from a day to a year. The parents with the newborn Jesus had left the city by that time, but thousands of babies were killed. For such a crime, the Almighty punished the king with a terrible fatal disease. Hence the concern for children on the Last Day. Parents prayed for the safety of their child, did not let their children leave the threshold of the house, and placed dried thistle under the crib as a talisman to keep evil spirits away. It was believed that children's spirits visited homes with children. Evil children's spirits could frighten a baby to the point of stuttering, disturb him from sleeping at night, or drag him into the forest for disobedience, while good ones protected the child's sleep. In general, peasants spent this day at home, or went to visit people for gatherings, shared terrible stories and legends, which gave the name to the day. The girls were going to cast a spell on their betrothed, because the time of rampant evil spirits was considered fertile for fortune telling. And the children were told fairy tales and played riddles. To protect houses from fires on the Last Day, healers read home conspiracies. The ritual of burning things reminiscent of the problems that happened helped to get rid of diseases and misfortunes in the New Year. A fireplace was set up for him in the center of the village: men dragged stakes that had been placed the day before on a high mountain, old men carried straw from their beds, and healers threw coals from their stoves and read incantations. On the Terrible Day, looking at the smoke coming up from the chimney, they determined the approaching cold. If it spread along the ground, a blizzard was foreshadowed. If you saw that the horse was sleeping standing up, and the poultry climbed higher on the perch, you were preparing for severe frosts. Snow flakes were noticed before the warming. The blizzard on the Terrible Day promised a cloudy July.

Orthodox holidays January 11:

On January 11, people celebrate the Day of Joseph the Betrothed, the earthly father of Jesus Christ, the husband of the Mother of God. Revered in Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches. On this day, more than 2 thousand years ago, King Herod, fearing for his power, ordered the extermination of all infants under 2 years old in Bethlehem. He hoped that thanks to this mass murder, little Jesus, the future Messiah, his rival, would be among those killed. According to popular belief, Joseph the Betrothed Day is considered a dangerous day. The tragedy that occurred in Bethlehem during the life of the saint is projected onto today. Knowledgeable people advise not to let their children go outside on the evening of January 11; on this day, evil spirits intensify their machinations. Joseph the Betrothed is canonized. He saved Jesus while Herod was carrying out his terrible plan. At night, angels appeared to Joseph and warned the saint about the impending bloody tragedy, about the threat to the divine child. The baby Jesus with Mother Mary and his adoptive father left dangerous Bethlehem under cover of darkness, heading to Egypt. They stayed there until the death of Herod. Joseph comes from the royal family of David, but his life was spent in poverty and labor. The Saint is often called the Worker. He was a carpenter by profession, spending all his time at work and teaching his son Jesus the craft. His noble origin did not prevent the saint from working quietly, earning money through his craft, and feeding his family. The nickname “The Betrothed” was assigned to the saint thanks to his betrothal to the Virgin Mary. This was the second marriage for Joseph; from the first he had six children: four sons, two daughters. Having married the Mother of God, the saint learns about her pregnancy, is embarrassed and plans to secretly let Mary go in peace. In a dream, Joseph was told by angels the news of the divine origin of a child in his wife’s womb. The saint submits to the will of God, becomes a protector for his family, an earthly father and educator to Jesus. The Holy Scriptures last record of Joseph during the holy family's visit to Easter in Jerusalem. At that time, Christ was 12 years old. From ancient literature we can learn that Joseph lived for more than a hundred years. He was buried together with the parents of the Mother of God in the Basilica of Gethsemane, his relics are incorruptible. In sacred literature, a parallel is drawn between the images of Joseph - Mary and Jesus Christ - the Church. Just as Joseph the Betrothed became the protector for Mary, the head of the family, so Christ became the guardian and head of the Church. Every year on January 11, our ancestors went out into the yard and burned huge bonfires. All troubles and adversities were burned in the flame along with the logs, and evil spirits were expelled.

Bethlehem Infants Memorial Day

Memorial Day of St. Marcellus of Apamea