On January 13, Russia celebrates Russian Press Day. On this day, all employees related to the printed word accept congratulations. Today, more than 50 thousand periodicals are registered in our country. People from hundreds of professions work hard every day to create new issues so that everyone has the opportunity to choose a newspaper or magazine to their liking. Journalists and editors, writers and proofreaders, photographers, publishers, layout designers, in short, a huge number of people can call January 13 their professional holiday. We owe the appearance of the daily fresh press, with the latest news in our country, to Peter I; it was by his order that on January 13, 1703, the first issue of the Russian periodical press, the Vedomosti newspaper, was published. The title of the first issue was somewhat longer, and over time it changed several times. In tsarist Russia, Vedomosti quickly took root, and people eagerly awaited each new issue. And on January 1, 1870, the first subscription to printed publications was carried out as an experiment. In addition, it was allowed to subscribe to foreign press. Printing developed by leaps and bounds, and by the time the Bolsheviks arrived, more than three thousand different publications were already being published. After the revolution, the Soviet government made its own adjustments to this area of ​​life and moved the Russian press day to May 5, coinciding it with the release of the first issue of the Soviet Pravda. And only in 1991, historical justice was restored, and the holiday returned to its pre-revolutionary origins, January 13. Since 1997, the most prestigious award in the field of journalism, the State Prize of the President of the Russian Federation in the field of media, has been presented on this day. This is a particularly important day for young professionals, since the issuance of federal grants for the implementation of new projects is also scheduled for January 13. In addition to the highest awards, each publication honors its best professionals. Especially distinguished employees are awarded bonuses and gifts. Often, masters of the printed word gather on this day at conferences of various levels to exchange experiences and support young specialists. The results of literary competitions are summed up, the best works become scholarship recipients and receive special certificates, opening the way to the world of the printed word for young talents. Russian Press Day is celebrated not only by paper workers, but also by Internet workers. With today's development of the World Wide Web, there are no fewer people working on the Internet than in publishing houses. And all representatives of this difficult work have one common task - to bring the light of information to the masses, with which the pen workers do an excellent job.

The need to transmit information over long distances appeared in humans at the dawn of the development of civilization. At first, a simple but effective system of outposts was used, which sent signals using smoke, and then people began to send carrier pigeons that delivered important correspondence over long distances. This was not enough, although man has used such methods for centuries. Only by the middle of the 19th century did the telegraph appear, but over time it also ceased to satisfy the growing human need to transmit increasingly complex messages. On May 7, 1895, Russian physicist Alexander Popov presented to the general public his new invention - a unit that showed rapid fluctuations in atmospheric electricity. Translated from Latin, the word “radio” means “to emit, emit rays.” This device uses electromagnetic rays to transmit information. Today every schoolchild knows about this, but humanity managed to timidly approach the hypothesis of their existence only at the end of the 17th century, after which it lay on a dusty shelf for many years. Only in the 1830s did the British scientist James Maxwell bring it to light and confidently declare the existence of the electromagnetic field, backing up his guesses with a strong theory. A little later, the American dentist Malon Loomis told everyone about the discovery of a wireless method of transmitting information. The inventor transmitted signals through two kites, to which he had previously attached electrical wires. One of them was used as a radio transmitter, and Loomis entrusted the second with the mission of a radio receiver. It was an enterprising American dentist who was the first in the world to receive a patent for wireless communications back in 1872. Unfortunately, the document did not contain an accurate description of his invention, the drawings of which were also not preserved for posterity. Over the next twenty years, various scientists began to conduct successful experiments using electromagnetic waves. Faraday's theory turned out to be correct. It is precisely because physicists and engineers in different parts of the world began to come up with the same ideas almost simultaneously that several countries are still arguing about who owns the palm in the invention of radio. In Italy they believe that fame and honor should go to the engineer Guglielmo Marconi. In the USA they prove that the first was the brilliant Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla. In 1895 he received a patent for a radio receiver, and two years earlier - a transmitter. In Germany, Heinrich Hertz, who conducted his experiments in 1888, is considered the pioneer of methods for transmitting and receiving radio signals. The British prove that Oliver Lodge was the first. For a long time, even radio waves were called Hertzian waves. Popov and Marconi's devices could only transmit signals. For example, communication could be carried out using Morse code. Tesla's apparatus, which was based on an oscillatory circuit, was a radio signal converter into an acoustic one. Many historians agree that Popov's invention lay on the shelf for some time, as his experiments were classified because the physicist was then working for the Navy. The debate about who was the first still continues, but does it make sense? James Maxwell prepared the ground, and brilliant minds in different countries almost at the same time developed his ideas, which were literally in the air. It is safe to say that each of them made an invaluable contribution to this invention, which was undoubtedly important for humanity. We have the opportunity to transmit information at a distance. This step was the first on the path of great discoveries - telephone communications, television, the Internet. Every year on January 13, International Public Broadcasting Day is celebrated - a holiday for those who still love to listen to their favorite radio stations at home in the mornings before work or in the car while traveling.

The evening of January 13 (according to the old style - December 31) among the Eastern Slavs was called Shchedrinki, or Rich Kutia. This national holiday coincides with the Christian day of remembrance of St. Melania. Melania is a saint who patronized all Orthodox women, helping to bear and raise healthy children. Christian and folk traditions of celebrating this day are intertwined, forming the most beloved and long-awaited festival by all family members - Shchedrets. It is interesting that the rituals of celebrating this day were slightly different among the Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian peoples. For example, in the morning Ukrainian children went with good wishes to their neighbors’ yards, receiving treats in return; in the evening, the same route was taken by young people dressed up in disguise. Among the riotous crowd of mummers, there was always Malanka, a young man dressed as a girl. Such a procession through the village was called generosity. Before going to bed, unmarried girls wondered about their betrothed. Russian traditions of celebrating Shchedrinki included visiting and re-enacting Malanya's wedding. In Belarus, they also caroled and told fortunes by throwing porridge into a well and shouting “Koo-gu-gu.” The most important thing on this day, regardless of the territory of celebration, is to set a rich, generous table to which friends, relatives and people in need were invited. The owners cleaned the houses and took out the most beautiful clothes. The guests sang schedrovki - songs with wishes for well-being and health. According to tradition, the owners should give gifts to the carolers in return. If the receiving party turned out to be tight-fisted, then the carolers had the right to sing carols with comic threats and curses. It is interesting that on Shchedrinki it was customary to feed the spirits of ancestors by setting out separate dishes and cutlery for them. A symbol of prosperity was always present on the table - pork. They also often feasted on sausage: it was not without reason that they said: “Malanya is intestines, you need to eat sausage.” Thus, Shchedrinki is a traditional family holiday of the Eastern Slavs, reminiscent of the modern New Year in terms of the scope of the celebration.

Random Travel Companions Day is celebrated annually on January 13th. This unusual holiday is dedicated to the people who constantly accompany us on the road, no matter on the daily commute to work or on a long journey. It is random people, strangers to us, who sit on the next seat on the bus, or are nearby in a subway car, plane, or train. We don’t remember most of these fellow travelers and don’t pay attention to them. But these are the people who can play an important role in our lives. This happens as follows: • Necessary assistance. The modern world is such that in an emergency situation, most likely, it will not be family members or friends who will be nearby, but strangers. They are the ones who will call an ambulance for someone who becomes ill during the trip. They can prevent crime, protect against hooligans, and provide the necessary support. The mere presence of other people nearby is often a guarantee of safety in itself. These are random fellow travelers who give up their seat to a person who is not feeling well, help calm a crying child, or share water or wet wipes. • Interesting, and sometimes very useful, communication. A random fellow traveler may turn out to be a truly extraordinary person or an expert in some industry. By talking with him, you can turn a banal trip into a fascinating lecture, consultation on an issue of interest, or simply an exchange of life stories. In such a banal way, life can bring us together with a talented musician or artist, a physicist who is passionate about his work, a competent lawyer or psychotherapist. Experienced travelers are of particular interest. They will tell you about the places they have already visited, and advise where exactly and in what month it is better to go on vacation. In general, the importance of random travel companions is difficult to overestimate. After all, a person is social, often looking for communication among his environment. And not only a permanent environment, but also a temporary one that developed randomly. There is even a term called "fellow traveler syndrome" or "fellow traveler effect." This is the name for the inherent frankness of people in communicating with a person they accidentally meet on the road. Indeed, it is often easier to discuss your problems with a stranger. The fellow traveler syndrome has objective reasons: 1. There is no need to “show face” in front of a passenger you meet somewhere along the way. There is no point in maintaining a certain image, because the fellow traveler is simply not familiar with your image. Therefore, it is easier to show your weakness and uncertainty in front of him, to be sincere and vulnerable. 2. You won't meet again. Accordingly, the interlocutor will not be able to somehow really influence your destiny. And he simply won’t judge you for not taking his advice, won’t say “I told you so.” 3. A stranger can sometimes give useful and unexpected advice. He is able to assess the situation “from the outside”, to look at it from a point of view that is atypical for you. This is why advice from a random fellow traveler is sometimes more correct than from someone from your immediate circle. Of course, communicating with random fellow travelers is not always pleasant. We have all encountered intrusive or simply unpleasant people on public transport. In this case, you can, completely unwittingly, find out all the details of someone else’s life, receive unsolicited advice and assessment of your actions. But such experience can also be useful. It will be a good reason to finally learn how to build personal boundaries and hone your communication skills. As practice shows, you can come to an agreement with almost any person. Especially if you will not be in contact with him for a long time, but only during a trip on public transport.

It is important to be able not only to clearly formulate dreams and goals, but also to realize them. The creation of new areas of activity and images of the future, with all its phantasmagorical nature, greatly helps a person in life. You can start achieving your cherished desires at any time, but January 13 is especially suitable for this - Dream Come True Day. The funny Make Your Dream Come True Day does not have strict celebration traditions. On this day, you should begin to make your dream come true, starting with its visualization. To create a positive mood, you can communicate with people who inspire by example and believe in your strength. Psychologists and esotericists recommend formalizing your dream verbally and with the help of drawings, which will allow you, as it were, to attract it into your reality. A clearly drawn up plan, in which there are deadlines and stages for achieving what you want, helps very well in achieving your goal. The image created in the mind needs to be emotionally saturated, while understanding that we live in the physical world. It must have real tools to make your fantasies come true. In order to become a famous singer, you need to receive a musical education or be naturally gifted vocally, go to master classes with masters, and analyze the stages of your idol’s career. To buy a small house by the sea, you need to decide on ways to get money to make this dream come true. Receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature is unthinkable without daily literary work and the publication of written books. An important fact in making a dream come true is a positive approach and inner confidence in its feasibility. The understanding that what you want will be achieved must be unshakable. Confidence will, on the one hand, shape your behavior in the right direction, and on the other hand, will be transmitted to the people around you. There is no need to talk left and right about your cherished desire. And this should not be done at all because of superstition. This way, part of the potential and effort that could be spent on achieving a dream is lost. “A thought expressed is a lie,” asserted F.I. Tyutchev following Buddha. The poet, who was a diplomat by profession, gave advice to his contemporaries in a poem: There is a lot of wisdom and life experience in these recommendations. Not every thought expressed out loud is perceived correctly and adequately by the people around you. In addition to the risk of subjective assessment, there is a high probability of an incident occurring: what is good and a dream for one person is unacceptable and unacceptable for another. Therefore, you should not make your intentions widely public and voice your innermost desires. The Day of Dreams Come True, which was invented by no one knows who, which does not detract from its originality and importance, calls on you to stop fantasizing and having your head in the clouds. Make Your Dream Come True Day inspires you to achieve what you want - to take real actions to achieve your cherished goals.

On January 13, according to the folk calendar, the holiday is celebrated - Vasilyev's evening, also called Vasilyeva's carol or Generous evening. According to the old style, this is December 31 - New Year's Eve. The name of the holiday comes from the church date of the next day of honoring the memory of St. Basil the Great, who served as a saint in Caesarea in the 4th century. Vasiliev's day began with the tradition of preparing porridge in the morning. Before sunrise, the housewife prepared the cereal, poured boiling water over it, added cracklings and put it in the oven to simmer. When the porridge arrived, the whole family gathered to see the result. It was believed that if the porridge was burnt or the pot cracked, trouble awaited the family, but successful porridge promised happiness. The peasants devoted the evening to visiting people. The housewives set a generous table, displaying all the best that was in the house: sausages, baked meat and fish, rolls, pancakes, beer. For this reason the holiday received the name Generous Evening. Kutya (juice) was prepared from grains, honey, butter, poppy seeds and raisins. Roasted pig was the main dish of the feast. Pork symbolized fertility, wealth and prosperity. Before the feast, a prayer was read for the health and well-being of the family. People believed that the richer the table on Vasiliev's evening, the better they would eat throughout the year. They put on new clothes for the holiday so that they could dress well in the coming year. The rooms were decorated with didukh - a sheaf of straw with ears of corn, hung with ribbons and bells. Vasiliev's evening should have been celebrated with fun, so as not to be bored all year. Guys and girls dressed up as mummers and went to carol with their neighbors. The generous people sang songs, wishing health and an excellent harvest to the owners, who in return thanked them with treats and small change. The more the owners thank, the richer their life will be in the new year. Vasiliev’s evening was one of the best for fortune telling and conspiracies. Unmarried girls performed rituals aimed at finding out the name of their betrothed. They used wax, mirrors, cereals, bread, water, rings, etc. Looking at the bright stars, they predicted a rich forest harvest in the summer. The blowing wind from the south determined a hot and successful year, from the east - a large harvest of fruits, and from the west - an abundance of milk and good fishing. Warming temperatures on Vasiliev's Day foreshadowed a rainy summer.

Indian Holidays - Lohri Festival

Lithuanian holidays - Freedom Defenders Day

Swedish Holidays - St. Knut's Day (Tjugondag Knut)

Children's Day in Thailand 2024 (Wan Dek)

Orthodox holidays January 13:

Every year on January 13, the Orthodox celebrate the day of memory of Melania of Rome (years of life 383 - 439). Pregnant women pray to the saint for a favorable resolution of pregnancy and the birth of healthy children. The venerable woman came from a rich and noble ancient Roman family of patricians. Her father and grandfather were senators. The family owned lands in Europe (France, Spain, Gaul) and North Africa. Melania learned about faith in God and Orthodox traditions from her paternal grandmother. My grandmother had the same name as the holy ascetic – Melania. She renounced the world after the death of her husband. She spent all her time in prayer, asceticism, and founded a monastery on Israeli soil. When the saint reached the age of 14, her father insisted on marriage. The chosen one was the rich, respectable, 17-year-old young man Apinian. He saw the purpose of marriage as the birth of two children, who were to continue the family line and become heirs of considerable wealth. Melania was against married life, all her aspirations were directed towards God, a reclusive life. The saint invited her young husband to live as brother and sister, praying, fasting, keeping himself pure and chaste. The husband was adamant in his desire to produce heirs. He invited his wife to think about monastic life after the birth of their children. Soon the young couple had a girl. Her father doted on her, and the saint only intensified her feat in the name of Christ: she prayed, began to wear a hair shirt, and strictly observed fasting. After a short period of time, Melania became pregnant. Before giving birth, the saint spent a lot of time in prayer. The birth of my son was difficult. The boy lived for several hours; only his parents had time to baptize him, when the baby went to the Lord. After a difficult birth and the loss of a child, the saint became very ill. She was on the verge of life and death. The husband, passionately loving Melania, sobbed and made a vow to God about the beginning of an ascetic, chaste life and renunciation of carnal desires. Thus, through illness, the saint achieved the goal of her entire life: serving Jesus Christ in purity and immaculateness. Soon the couple lost their second child. The girl got sick and died. Having lost his children, Apinian saw this as God’s providence, a punishment for not listening to the requests and pleas of his pious wife for a chaste marriage. The parents of Melania and Apinian were adamant in demanding heirs from their spouses. The serious illness of the reverend's father forced her to reconsider her views. The parent, in agony, blessed his daughter and her husband for an ascetic life. Disposing of great wealth, the young couple (at that time they were 20 and 24 years old, respectively) helped wanderers, the homeless, convicted of debt, sold into slavery, the sick, the poor, and orphans. They traveled to other countries, bought land for the construction of monasteries and temples (Numidia, North Africa). Thanks to the efforts of the holy couple, operating monasteries in Palestine, Egypt, Syria, and Israel received financial support. Arriving in Israel, Melania retired to a cave, where she fervently prayed and fasted. During her 14-year hermitage, her mother and Apinian, who became her spiritual brother, visited her. The rumor about the ascetic life of the saint spread throughout the land of Israel. Girls and women began to flock to the deserted monastery. They asked Melania for spiritual guidance and support. When the number of girls exceeded ninety, a decision was made to create a monastery. The saint did not agree to the post of abbess, but served the nuns and parishioners as a slave, caring for the weakened, preaching the Lord. On January 13 (December 31, old style) in Bethlehem, the earthly, labor-filled life of Saint Melania ended. Every year on this day, Orthodox Christians remember the saint; festive services are held in churches in her honor.