On January 18, the entire Orthodox world is preparing for one of the main Christian holidays, Epiphany. This day is called Epiphany Christmas Eve or the Great Last Evening of the Lord. Preparation for the great Christian holidays, especially those included in the twelve, which include Baptism, is a very important part of the great sacrament, the threshold of it. Epiphany Christmas Eve is inseparable from Epiphany itself, since one smoothly flows into the other, between them there is a night vigil. The name “Christmas Eve” comes from the main Christian dish eaten on the day of Christmas Eve - sochiva. The importance of the celebration of Epiphany is preceded by strict fasting, and only for sochik, made from wheat grains with honey, is there an exception. According to church rules, believers should refuse food until the candle is taken out after the sacrament of the consecration of baptismal water and the morning Liturgy. In the old days, it was prepared in every home on Epiphany Eve; it was believed that whoever tasted it would taste peace and happiness. According to tradition, guests were not invited home on this day, and sochiv had to be treated to close relatives, so it was simply carried home as a wish for prosperity and peaceful skies. Each housewife had her own recipe for making sochiva; some added nuts, others poppy seeds, raisins or seeds. It was impossible to refuse the offered treat on Epiphany Eve; refusal meant attracting misfortune, so everyone ate it, even if it was a small spoonful. Today very few people cook sochi, but this tradition has still been preserved. Based on the weather on Epiphany Eve, the weather for the current harvest of the year was determined. Clear frosty weather foreshadowed crop failure and drought, gloomy stormy weather - a rich harvest, and if the night was starry - the forests would give a lot of berries. From Christmas to Epiphany there are Christmastide, which ends on Epiphany Christmas Eve. Previously, unmarried girls used to tell fortunes about their betrothed on this day. There were many methods of fortune telling: they poured wax into water, looked for their betrothed in a gallery of mirrors, burned paper, in the hope of seeing signs for the future in the ashes. Old women and young girls in the villages collected snow from stacks at night. Old women - to bleach canvas items, and girls - as a cosmetic product that can restore beauty and purity. Many people put a dish of water on the table on Christmas Eve and watched. As soon as the water in the dish swayed, it was believed that the Baptism of Jesus had occurred, and prayers could begin. Those who saw the swaying water were considered lucky, and could ask for any desire in prayers. It was believed that these prayers freely penetrated to the Savior through the opening heavens.

Slavic mythology is a bright, multifaceted world with extraordinary deities of terrible, crushing power. One of these celestial beings is considered to be Intra, the patron god of snakes, wells, life-giving springs, menacing clouds, and warrior-defenders of the native land. The ancient Slavs considered Intra a faithful assistant to the great Perun himself, his associate and right hand. He was the son of the Mother of God Zemun and the Night Sky (Dyja). The Day of Worship of God falls on January 18th. The essence of Intra has always been identified with the world of Navi, the world of spirits and the dead. It was believed that God never descends to Earth to people. The essence of Reveal is closed to him. Only from heaven could a valiant warrior exercise his influence on the lives of believers. He must constantly hold the line in the endless starry space, keeping out the forces of darkness. In his struggle, he cannot cross a certain line and appear to people. His home is the Vaults of Heaven, the palaces of boundless space. The ancient Slavs endowed Intra with amazing strength, firmness and prudence of mind. He was the only one given the honor of becoming the Guardian of the Weapons of the Gods. After each battle with dark enemies, the celestials had to transfer weapons to Intra for safekeeping. It was believed that the Guardian would correctly judge and protect the Gods from ill-considered actions caused by anger and blind rage. For believers, he was an unsurpassed fearless warrior, the intercessor of all men who sought to protect the Slavic lands from misfortunes. The all-powerful Slavic pantheon possessed secret knowledge; it was Intra who was the guardian of these great secrets of strength, wisdom and hidden divine secrets, inaccessible to mere mortals. Ancient images of God present us with the image of a great warrior dressed in unusual chain mail. This is a strong, broad-shouldered husband. His armor is marked with intricate weaving; according to legend, it shone brighter than gold in the light of the sun. The helmet is cone-shaped, pointed, to give the great warrior an even more formidable and crushing appearance. The weapons are concentrated in both hands of God - these are two large swords, so as not to leave even a single chance to the forces of evil. Intra rode on a magical unicorn, which had no equal in speed and endurance. The Slavs called the horse Indrik the Beast. Together with him, the Slavs endowed Intra with a number of insidious qualities: he is the lord of snakes, the snake king, his wife is the snake demon Paraskeva. The ancients respected and feared God. His connection with the world of the dead has always evoked in the souls of believers a sticky fear, apprehension and a desire to protect themselves from the influence of otherworldly forces. On the day of honoring God, January 18, rituals and offerings were carried out in specially erected temples and near them. At night, on the eve of the holiday, clergy and wise men performed rituals and cast spells to prevent Navi from entering the world of the living. Most often, chimneys in houses, doorways and windows spoke, because this is where evil spirits could direct their gaze. Modern researchers of Slavic mythology endow the image of God Intra with a deep philosophical meaning. It is generally accepted that the celestial being among the ancient Slavs was identified with the dark face of Perun, and was endowed not only with the right to store weapons, but also with the right to repay well-deserved retribution and revenge for traitors. This is the image of an angry punisher, a cruel judge who knows no mercy, as befits a real warrior.

On January 18, 1963, the heads of central television broadcasting created the Main Editorial Board of Programs for Children. It is not surprising that this significant date is still considered the birthday of children's television in Russia. As is known, not only to specialists, but also to ordinary parents, children’s television programs really play an important role in the development and upbringing of children.

January 18, 1943 became a special date in the history of the USSR. On this day, Soviet troops broke the blockade of Leningrad. Although the city actually remained under siege for almost another year, this event changed the situation on the Leningrad front and tipped the scales in favor of our troops. For the command of the German army, Leningrad was an important strategic object, but the main prerequisite for the start of the blockade of the city on the Neva was the plan to capture Moscow. "Barbarossa" involved combat operations in three directions. Army Group “North” was supposed to attack Leningrad, the Germans prepared Army Group “South” for Kyiv, and they planned to advance Army Group “Center” to capture Moscow. However, German troops first had to capture Kronstadt and Leningrad, and only after that a victorious campaign against the capital of the USSR should have taken place. Leningrad was the second most important city in the USSR. There were 333 large industrial enterprises operating in the Northern capital, employing more than 500,000 people. Almost 25% of all heavy engineering products and slightly more than 30% of electrical engineering products were produced in Leningrad. A huge number of factories and local industrial plants and artels operated in the region. Almost 75% of the products produced in Leningrad were intended for the defense complex. This city was a powerful economic base with enormous scientific and technical potential. His capture could influence the course of the war and tip the scales in favor of Germany and its allies. On September 6, 1941, Hitler put his signature on a directive according to which Finnish troops, together with Army Group North, were to encircle Soviet troops in the Leningrad area. By September 15, they planned to transfer part of their aviation formations and mechanized troops to Army Group Center. After the directive was signed, German forces immediately began to carry out the orders of the command. Finnish troops blocked the city from the north. They were stopped by soldiers of the 23rd Army near the Karelian Ur. Two days after the directive was signed, the troops of the North group took control of the Petrokrepost. The source of the Neva was in the hands of the Germans, which meant that Leningrad was blocked from land as well. It is September 8 that is considered the official date of the beginning of the siege of Leningrad, which as a result lasted 872 days. Encircled was most of the Leningrad Fleet, almost the entire Baltic Fleet and the entire civilian population of the city, which was once the Russian capital. Approximately 500,000 military and 2,840,000 civilians were completely cut off from the rest of the country. The area of ​​the besieged territories together with the suburbs was about 5,000 sq. km. The siege of Leningrad became a cruel test for both the military and the civilian population. They had only one way through which they could maintain contact with the outside world - Ladoga. In the warm season, communication was carried out by water, and in the winter - by ice. This only path was called the “Road of Life”. Evacuees were saved along it, and food, ammunition and medicine were delivered to the besieged city along it. From November 1941 to April 1942 alone, almost 500,000 residents were removed from the city and more than 361 tons of cargo were delivered, the lion's share of which was food. Unfortunately, this was not enough to save the remaining people from starvation. The German troops were well aware of the “Road of Life” and were regularly bombarding it. In the fall of 1941, immediately after the siege of the city began, Soviet troops twice tried to restore land communications. It all ended with the defense of the “Nevsky Piglet” - a bridgehead only 500-800 meters wide, which they held from 1941 to 1943. (with a short break). Alas, the first attempts at a breakthrough were unsuccessful. On February 14, 1944, a full-scale offensive operation by Soviet troops began, which ended with the final breakthrough of the blockade and the complete liberation of the besieged city. A year earlier, on January 18, the troops of the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts united and on the same day liberated the Petrokrepost, cleared the entire southern coast of Ladoga from the Germans and restored land communications with the rest of the country, opening a corridor 8-11 km wide.

January 18 is the Day of the Russian Air Force High Command, which is celebrated quite widely. This is not surprising, since the Air Force Main Command was founded back in 1915 by decree of Grand Duke Nikolai Romanov. Even then it was obvious that weapons, devices for waging war, and aircraft would be actively developed. People actively mastered gliders and airships (the so-called “zeppelins”), which began to be built at the end of the 19th century. It became obvious that aircraft would contribute not only to civilian needs, but also to military operations. Despite the revolution and change of power in the country, the idea of ​​preserving the country's air force also appealed to the new leadership. The government of the USSR began to actively develop this area, and in 1937 the air force became a separate independent branch of the military. Today, the air force is not only defense with the help of combat aircraft, but also the introduction of new technologies that are used in space exploration. All this allows you to perform complex specific tasks, tracking and blocking the movement of enemy aircraft even in the highest layers of the atmosphere. And it was precisely since 1915, when the Air Force High Command was first formed, that this tradition became popular. The Second World War added a special context, when it became obvious that it was air defense and air combat that became decisive in the victory of one of the sides. We can say that during the Second World War the first baptism of fire of the country's air force took place. Subsequently, the soldiers repeatedly practiced equally complex and dangerous tasks, operating in difficult conditions. In particular, Air Force officers showed particular courage when conducting combat operations in Afghanistan, about which many books were written and many programs were filmed. The statistics are also impressive. If you analyze the data on the effectiveness of using aviation, they will speak for themselves. Thus, during the Second World War, Soviet aviation destroyed tens of thousands of enemy bombers, and thousands of officers and ordinary pilots received awards and honorary titles “Hero of the Soviet Union.” In 1998, an important historical event occurred. The Air Force and Air Defense forces united, which became the second date of birth. This is how the country's new air force was formed. Before this, it was understood that air defense was a separate branch of the military. This decision was made by the Soviet government. Despite numerous reforms and structural changes, the professional holiday not only survived, but also became even more popular. Traditionally, on this day it is customary to hold charity events aimed at helping military veterans. It is customary to remember fallen heroes in world wars, local conflicts in Afghanistan, the Caucasus, and when performing other combat missions. Public organizations are also becoming more active, forums are being held, and distinguished military personnel, including those who were injured while performing assigned tasks, are awarded with certificates and cash prizes. The television broadcasting network is also changing. More patriotic programs and programs are appearing that talk about how cadets of military institutions study, what qualities officers should have, and under what conditions they have to serve in modern, relatively peaceful times. It has also become a good tradition to hold concerts dedicated to this holiday. Quite often, in large cities and even in relatively small settlements, local authorities initiate fireworks displays dedicated to the day of the Russian Air Force High Command.

Modeling a snow woman is a traditional Russian pastime. Our ancestors believed that winter natural phenomena were controlled by female spirits. To appease blizzards and blizzards, snow women were sculpted. The tradition continues today. On the streets of Russian cities and villages, with the arrival of winter, three round little men with twigs instead of arms and a carrot nose appear. With the onset of frost, the Japanese have fun by creating Yuki Daruma from two snow globes, the prototype of which is the folk tumbler doll. Giant sculptures are sculpted by residents of Europe, the USA and Canada. In America, the snowman's accessories include a hat, a pipe and a scarf; in Romania, a necklace of garlic is hung around his neck to scare away evil spirits; in France, he is dressed in a tailcoat. In honor of the popular fun, an unusual holiday was invented - January 18 is Snowman Day. Modeling fortresses for outdoor games and funny people is the prerogative of residents of countries familiar with winter blizzards and blizzards. The world record for creating snowmen within an hour belongs to the Japanese. In 2015, 1,406 residents of the Land of the Rising Sun managed to create 2,036 sculptures in 60 minutes. In some regions of Canada, such as Quebec, a snowman wearing a red cap with a bubo and a knitted terry belt is a symbol of the province. The good-natured little man's name is Bon. The Winter Carnival has been held annually in Quebec since 1854. The holiday, which lasts for two weeks in January, begins with the mayor symbolically presenting the keys to the provincial capital to the snowman. Today, funny little people are an indispensable attribute of the New Year and Christmas. However, in ancient times, due to severe frosts and dank snowstorms, snowmen resembled ferocious monsters. Cold, blizzards and powder caused people a lot of trouble, so white flakes flying from the sky and sub-zero temperatures were of little joy. Snowmen “became kinder” in the 19th century. - smiling people began to be depicted on postcards surrounded by laughing children. In Russia, this New Year's character is considered an assistant to Santa Claus. Just like the granddaughter of the main wizard - Snegurochka. The extraordinary popularity of these heroes explains why Russia has its own Snowman Day, which falls on February 26th. The German Cornelius Graetz proposed celebrating an unusual holiday at the international level in mid-January. In 2008, he and his collection of images of snowmen were included in the Guinness Book of Records. Its collection includes more than 3,000 exhibits. The date of the holiday has a symbolic meaning. Cornelius Graetz calculated that in January there is snow in most countries, and the number “18” resembles the figure of Schneemann with a broom in his hands. This is how Snowman Day appeared - one of the most favorite winter holidays for children and adults.

The anticipation of the celebration gives no less pleasant emotions than the holiday itself. An anniversary, wedding or housewarming goes by very quickly, because it lasts one or two days. Preparation for these special events takes quite a lot of time. The anticipation of future fun is associated with easy troubles and pleasant worries. The magic in the air makes your heart beat faster and lifts your spirits. January 18th is a fun day of holiday anticipation. Matinees in kindergarten and New Year's events at school require careful preparation from all participants. Sewing carnival costumes, rehearsing a performance, decorating an assembly or sports hall are important stages in creating a festive mood in adults and children. On the eve of the concert, parents, of course, worry about their children, but these are pleasant worries that give a special flair to the festive anticipation. Sometimes the dream of a miracle and the anticipation of magic are much more important than the final dance around the Christmas tree and receiving a gift from Santa Claus. Birthdays in childhood, New Year and school graduation are some of the most favorite holidays that leave memories that last a lifetime. Their anticipation causes joy and causeless fun, charges with optimism and faith that something extraordinary will happen on the scheduled day. Gifts, cards with wishes, treats and toasts are no less pleasant than preparing for the fun - decorating a home or school, finding outfits, preparing holiday dishes and beautiful table setting. Waiting for a name day, Christmas or a wedding is spent in anticipation of the surprises that loved ones will present. In the pre-holiday bustle, the hero of the occasion devotes time not only to himself, but also to the guests invited to the event. Ordering dishes in a restaurant taking into account their preferences, inviting a toastmaster, a professional photo shoot, souvenirs and other pleasant little things make an anniversary or wedding a unique and unforgettable event. The expectation of a miracle on the eve of the holiday is familiar to all its participants. It makes hearts beat in unison, uniting people of different ages, social status, interests and preferences. The anticipation of joy on the eve of the holiday is very accurately conveyed in the song lines of the bard and poetess Faina Mukhamadeeva: Bachelorette party on the eve of marriage, Valentine's Day and March 8th are the time for women to polish their appearance and take care of themselves. Buying a suit and visiting a barbershop on the eve of the wedding, the opening of the fishing season, booking a table in a restaurant to meet classmates 25 years after graduation... Men do these and other things when preparing for special events. The unusual Day of Holiday Expectation encourages us to pay attention to the state of euphoria in anticipation of miracles and happiness.

Epiphany Christmas Eve in the folk calendar is celebrated on the night of January 18 (January 5, old style). This date, according to Orthodox holidays, was considered the eve of the Epiphany, when Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River. According to tradition, people fasted and did not eat anything during the day, and when the first star lit up, they sat down at the table. First they took a sip of holy water, then began the meal. Dishes included sochivo (kutya) made from grains, honey, poppy seeds and nuts, as well as lean pancakes, dumplings and uzvar made from dried fruits. Because of the restraint in eating, the day was called Hungry Evening. People believed that snow collected on Epiphany Eve had miraculous and healing properties. In the morning they went to the forest to fetch him and brought him in buckets. Melting snow was used in the treatment of various diseases, and was stored in a tightly closed container; it did not spoil for a long time. A handful of snow was thrown into the well so that the source would not dry up. Sometimes they washed their faces with it, wanting to stay young longer. Epiphany Christmas Eve was considered a time of festivities for evil spirits. To prevent them from leaking into the house, housewives marked the doorposts and windows with chalk with a cross. If a person forgot to perform such a ritual, misfortune awaited him. This evening was the last of a string of Christmas fortune telling. Wanting to know the name of the spouse, the youth asked the first person they met for the name - whichever one was called, that was how the betrothed was supposed to be called. The girls at the crossroads called for their future spouse - if they met a young man, it was a good omen, if they were older, it was the opposite. And in order to cleanse themselves with water from the sin of Christmas fortune-telling, people swam in the ice hole. According to legends, it was forbidden to shed tears on this day, so as not to cry all year round. They avoided disputes and praise, did not remember the dead, otherwise they could attract trouble. The dreams I had on the evening of Epiphany Eve were prophetic. The peasants believed that the heavens were open for requests, and made a wish. According to popular belief, if you noticed drifting snow, you would expect an excellent harvest in the field in the summer. The cloudy sky at night foreshadowed a modest mushroom picking. Clear stars meant that in the spring the river would overflow its banks. A lot of snow on the branches promised an abundant harvest of berries. The weather on Epiphany Eve indicated similar weather on Maslenitsa.

Every person knows very well how unpleasant it is to lose things. Naturally, nothing leaves without a trace; a continuous cycle occurs in the world. One day the day comes when seemingly long-lost things return. How to return those things that, at first glance, are lost forever? Previously, there was one interesting tradition. In order to return any value, you need to light a beacon on a certain date and believe on that day. This must be done on January 18th. You need privacy in the room. Naturally, not everyone can afford to spend this day at the lighthouse. It can be replaced with a regular candle. In the evening, light it on the windowsill. It is believed that the longer the beacon burns, the higher the chances of success in finding the lost item. You should not expect your refund to happen immediately or the next day. It is believed that everything should happen within a month. Some people claim: you don’t even need to light a candle or a beacon. One warmth from a person is enough. It is important to visualize the lost item. Let go of the thought that you will never be able to find the property that is so precious to your heart. Rest assured, after a certain point in time everything will be revealed. Or you will receive a hint about what needs to be done. It's important to watch for the signs. It is believed that it originated in a small fishing town. As night fell, the mother began to tell the child about the magic of the lighthouse. They were once considered magical guides for sailors. Gradually, the children began to understand that lighthouses are symbols of hope. They began to make a wish by lighting candles. There should always be a light of hope burning in the soul; a guide is needed. Naturally, it makes no sense to engage in visualization all the time. It is recommended to perform the ritual of lighting a fire once a year. There is a special date for this - January 18. But there is no need to be too reckless about this holiday. It is recommended to prepare for it properly. Think about all the things you want back. In addition, it is necessary to create a certain environment. Make sure that no one distracts you during the visualization process. You can spend the evening not only at home. If you live near the sea, then go to the shore. A burning candle against a backdrop of stars is a wonderful sight that will make you relax. Literally immediately, magical things will begin to happen to you.

Every year on the night that falls on the very first Friday of the month of Rajab, Muslims celebrate a very important event - the blessed night of Ragaib. This night celebrates the marriage of Amina and Abdullah, who are the parents of the Great Prophet Muhammad. Also on this night, Allah accepts the prayers and requests of all believers, bestowing them with His blessings and mercy. The Arabic term "ragaib" is derived from the word "ragaba", which means to desire something, to want something, to have an inclination towards something, to make efforts to achieve certain results. The term “ragib” itself means what one desires to receive and what one is drawn to. Prayers and duas read this night have a great chance of being accepted by Allah. And such well-known methods of worship and reverence as fasting, prayer, saadaka and others, performed during these hours, will bring numerous rewards. The sacredness of this event is determined by a very important date in the history of Islam, which is celebrated by believers. It is associated with the marriage of Abdullah and Amina, the father and mother of the Great Prophet Muhammad. Muslims are sure that the conception of the Almighty happened on this day. And from the angels who descended from the clouds, the light of prophecy descends on Allah through Abdullah. To honor Muhammad, Muslims spend the whole night in prayer, and the next day they observe strict fasting. Islam says that in the month of Rajab, in particular on the Holy Night of Ragaib, the Prophet is most merciful to his supplicants. In this regard, the celebration of the event is accompanied by prayers, repentance, performing noble deeds and observing fasts. It is customary among Muslims to give gifts to the poor, the poor and the disadvantaged. On this holiday, parents give gifts to their children, and children, in turn, delight mothers and fathers with the knowledge and veneration of the holy book. Often mosques organize competitions among young Muslims to read the Koran. The night of Ragaib is the first step on the path of spiritual purification of Muslims before the great fast of Ramadan. In Islam, this holiday is considered a day of forgiveness and mercy, when people expect forgiveness from the Prophet in long hours of prayer, and the poor have the opportunity to receive help in the form of gifts. Muslims are convinced that Allah will definitely respond to the prayer read on the Night of Ragaib.

Orthodox holidays January 18:

Memorial Day of the Hieromartyr Theopemtos, Bishop of Nicomedia, and the Martyr Theon

Memorial Day of Venerable Synclitia of Alexandria

Memorial Day of Venerable Apollinaria

Memorial Day of St. Gregory of Akrita