On January 19, the entire Orthodox world celebrates the most important Christian holiday - Epiphany, or Epiphany. The day when Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River is rightfully one of the most sacred church holidays. On the eve of Epiphany, January 18, there is a strict fast. Water holds a special meaning for believers; all life on the planet arose from water consecrated by the Holy Life-giving Spirit. Water is the beginning of life, the source of life. With His Baptism, the Savior sanctified simple Jordanian water, and since then, every year throughout the Christian world there has been a blessing of water - the consecration of water. The ceremony begins in the church, during the service, and then the clergy and parishioners go in procession to the nearest body of water, where ice holes in the shape of a cross - Jordan - have been cut in advance. After this, traditional bathing begins. Believers prepare for this day in advance, because not everyone has the courage to plunge into an ice hole in winter. However, every year there are more and more people who want to wash away their sins with holy water, although the weather in January is usually frosty. It is believed that after the consecration of the Jordan, all water in the Orthodox world is holy, even that which comes from the tap. Therefore, people who were unable to come to church for services can draw baptismal water without leaving home. The secret meaning of the ritual of people is washing with water. It was believed that just as the flesh gets rid of dirt with the help of water, so the soul is able to cleanse itself of sins before the Almighty. After Baptism, Jesus revealed the secret that he is the Son of God, who came to Earth to help humanity earn the forgiveness of the Father. On January 19, Christmastide ends, and therefore it is believed that all the evil spirits that had previously been rampant on the territory of the earth are drowning in the hacked-out Jordans. Since Baptism, it is strictly forbidden to guess; it is believed that, apart from troubles, such a procedure does not foreshadow anything. Epiphany is a major religious holiday, believers wait for it and prepare according to all the rules.

On January 19, Russia celebrates Pathologist Day. This holiday is dedicated to people who have chosen one of the most unusual professions. Contrary to misconceptions, pathologists do not only autopsy corpses to determine the exact cause of death. They also conduct intravital microscopic diagnostics of patient biomaterials, which are sent to them by oncologists, surgeons, urologists, and gynecologists. An autopsy is performed by pathologists only if the person died of natural causes in a hospital or at home. When it comes to violent deaths, forensic experts take matters into their own hands. A pathologist is a specialist in the field of pathological anatomy, that is, a person who studies deviations from the norm that occur in the body. The history of this scientific and applied discipline is rooted deep in antiquity. For religious and ethical reasons, dissection was discouraged in many cultures. For example, in Ancient Egypt, before mummification, organs were removed from the human body, and this procedure was carried out by special priests - paraschites, whom the rest of society treated with great contempt. After opening the body of the deceased, they immediately threw the knife aside. The Egyptians believed that at this moment a force emanated from the corpse that could harm living people. After completing their work, the paraschites had to go to the desert and perform a purification ceremony, otherwise they were not allowed into any house. Herodotus described in detail the process of preparing corpses for mummification in his work. Herophilus was the first European physician to use autopsy. A representative of the Alexandrian school, a student of Praxagoras of Cos, together with his student Erasistratus, dissected not only corpses. There is historical evidence that they performed vivisection. King Ptolemy II Philadelphus sentenced some criminals to a special type of death penalty, and they ended up on the table of doctors who dissected them alive. Unfortunately, the works of Herophilus and his student have not survived to this day, but Aulus Cornelius Celsus, one of the Roman scientists, wrote in detail about the vivisection technique that they practiced. It is worth noting that this procedure was performed to study human anatomy, that is, for good purposes, but the condemned died in hellish torment. Religion quite often created obstacles for doctors who studied human anatomy. Sometimes it got to the point that researchers had to dig up fresh corpses from graves under the cover of darkness. They were committing a real crime, which, if caught, could cost them their lives. The official “birth” of pathological anatomy is associated with the publication of the first pathological treatise by the Florentine physician Antonio Benevieni. His work was based on twenty autopsy procedures. The author described a total of almost 200 different pathologies of internal organs. The entire history of pathological anatomy is divided into three large periods, each of which is directly related to the research methods used. At first, pathologists learned about the human body exclusively through autopsy. Then they moved on to more advanced microscopic examination and finally, in our time, molecular diagnostics appeared. In the process of development of this science, the achievements of related disciplines - histology, biochemistry, molecular biology - were actively used. In Russia, the first book on pathological anatomy was a translation of the work of the English doctor M. Baillie, which the author supplemented with his own treatise on the relationship of this discipline with other areas of science. It is believed that the development of pathological anatomy in Russia and Europe began in parallel. At first, pathologists did not have their own department, so they were trained in anatomy courses. The founder of the first school of pathologists in Moscow was Alexey Ivanovich Polunin.

The holiday of Yar-Tur, or Turitsa, falls on January 19 according to the new style. The aurochs is a now extinct wild bull. This powerful great-grandfather of modern cattle lived in the Eastern Hemisphere until the 17th century. In Slavic mythology, Tur is the son of the goddess of fate Mokosha and the god of the three worlds Veles. He possessed remarkable strength, inherited from Perun and Veles, so he was sometimes called a buoy-tur. According to pagan beliefs, this mythological bull was the patron saint of shepherds, guslars and buffoons. He was often depicted surrounded by seven faithful cows. The cult of the divine bull was preserved in jewelry (pendants with the image of a bull's face), in items of clothing (the famous horned headdresses of fashionistas), in games and dances. Later, young bulls began to be sacrificed to Perun, and then to the prophet Elijah, who replaced him. During the celebration of Turitsa, the priests performed their magical rituals, created protective amulets, and the elder of the clan negotiated with the shepherds about the upcoming spring-summer work. Future workers were invited to a festive meal, which necessarily included kutia, vzvar and sochivo, as well as intoxicating drinks. The shepherds were fed very heartily and generously so that they would not be offended. After all, the safety and health of the herd depended on their work. On Turitsa, the cheerful guys put on their sheepskin coats inside out, pretending to be bears. Then they staged mock fights with each other. The youth spent the entire evening in noisy games and tomfoolery. Towards nightfall, one of the guys dressed up as a bull and started chasing the girls. Such comic catch-ups and games continued for a long time, then they were replaced by girls' fortune-telling for the future. This day was considered the day of initiation, that is, the day when boys become men. They went into the winter forest to hunt, simultaneously demonstrating their ability to light a fire, cook food, and arrange a place to spend the night. Thus, Turitsy is an ancient holiday rooted in pagan beliefs.

On January 19, according to the new style, there is the Slavic holiday of Vodokreshchi, or Vodosvet. This day is associated with pagan beliefs, but after the adoption of Christianity, its traditions were intertwined with the church holiday of Epiphany. Vodosvet marked the end of Christmastide. From this date, the Slavs began preparing for the wedding season (small wedding), consecrated reservoirs and swam in a special ice hole, later called Jordan. Before the adoption of Christianity, the ice hole was decorated with multi-colored ribbons and rags, and after that a cross was placed. Before plunging into the hole to cleanse oneself from filth, a person had to throw grain or bread into it. According to legend, after Vodosvet it was impossible to wash clothes in the ice hole for twelve days. Of particular importance was the eve of Vodosvet - Epiphany evening. The Slavs believed that on the eve of January 19, the water was filled with special power, becoming clean and healing, that is, light. This is where the name of the holiday comes from. Light water was collected and used for washing and cooking. It was sprinkled on dwellings, stables and outbuildings. It was strictly forbidden to take water out of the house: this could bring great misfortune. According to pagan traditions, on the night before the Water Light, fortunes were told. People believed that on this day, like on Easter, the heavens open. Only the most pious people could see this miracle. If at such a moment any person prays and asks the Lord for the most secret things, then the wish will certainly come true. There was a belief that if you place a bowl of water under the images, you can see it moving when you pray. This means that Jesus himself came down and sanctified it. In some areas, shows were held on this day. Dressed up girls lined up on the river bank, where the Epiphany ice hole was cut, and the guys looked out for their bride. The hay that had previously been lying on the tables for two weeks was removed that day and given to the cattle. People believed that this would improve the taste of milk and protect cattle from witchcraft. Also on this day, peasants read special words to protect their homes from fire. Crosses were drawn on the doors with chalk: this protected the house from the invasion of demons. On January 19, the old people went outside the outskirts and collected Epiphany snow. It was poured into the well so that the water would always be fresh and tasty. It was also placed in the oven to protect the home and given to livestock. Jugs were filled with snow, then the resulting water was used throughout the year to treat dizziness, seizures and diseases of the limbs. Sometimes on this day they burned manure in the gardens so that their dead ancestors would be warm in the next world. The Slavs believed that in front of Vodosvet the Fire Serpent raged and flew over the villages, looking for a sweetheart. Having found a girl, he turned into a handsome young man and made her fall in love with him. After this, nothing could save the unfortunate victim: without her beloved, she withered and wasted away. Only one thing saved us from the Serpent - the Christian cross, which was painted right on Vodokreshcha. It was unsafe to be in forests and open water bodies on this day. The Slavs believed that by January 19, the borders between the worlds were thinning and all the evil spirits were creeping out to harm people. Signs for Vodosvet: • Many stars in the sky - a lot of white sheep will be born. • If there is a lot of snow, then bread will be born. • Clear weather on Vodosvet foretells a lean year. • Dogs bark a lot and for no reason - it will be a good year for hunters.

Swimming in cold water after visiting a steam room has long been practiced in Rus' as a way to harden the body and get rid of illnesses. For the purpose of symbolic cleansing from sins, Christians visit holy springs throughout the year. At Epiphany, immersion in ice water three times takes on special meaning and power. It is believed that on January 19 (January 6, old style) John the Baptist bathed Jesus in the Jordan River near the village of Betha-Vara. Therefore, every year on this date there is Ice Diving Day. Winter swimming in street ponds ends with Christmastide - a festive period of time that lasts from Christmas until Epiphany Eve. According to doctors, diving into an ice hole is a shock therapy for the body, so it is useful only for healthy and seasoned people. The rest should stop at dousing with cold water at home and taking a contrast shower. However, despite the warnings of doctors, believers with health problems plunge into the font with the hope of healing, deliverance from sins and cleansing of the mind. The tradition of diving into an ice hole among Orthodox Christians is associated with memories of how Jesus sanctified the Jordan River with his ablution. It is believed that on the night of January 18-19, the grace of the Holy Spirit descends on running and standing waters. The tradition of immersion in an ice hole is not a church rite and is not prescribed by the charter. Immersion in cold water as a ritual is not mentioned in ancient Christian sources. From a church point of view, on January 19, it is imperative to defend the divine service in the temple. Not only bathing at Epiphany, but also fasting, receiving communion and reading prayers helps to achieve healing, enlightenment of the mind and relief from despondency. Orthodox believers began diving into the ice hole en masse in the late 1980s. This was due to social changes in society, a revival of interest in the church and the Christian religion. Despite the fact that neither in Ancient Rus' nor in pre-revolutionary Russia the tradition of cutting through ice and plunging into the font at Epiphany did not exist, bathing gradually became a favorite folk pastime and spread beyond the country. Today believers from Belarus and Moldova, Ukraine and Kazakhstan are diving into the ice hole. On January 19, 2007, Epiphany bathing took place for the first time in the capital of China, Beijing. On this day, Orthodox people collect water, upon which the grace of the Holy Spirit has descended, into containers for washing, ingesting on an empty stomach, or adding to food. The beneficial properties of H2O have been scientifically confirmed. Epiphany water becomes soft and biologically active due to a change in structure - a decrease in acidity and an increase in electromagnetic indicators. Researchers find a scientific explanation for this: on January 19, once a year, a large accumulation of radical ions is observed in the Earth's lithosphere. Their concentration gives the water healing properties. Atheists are convinced that this process is natural, and the Christian church is simply using this natural phenomenon for its own purposes. Due to the decrease in electrical conductivity in Epiphany water, the growth of microorganisms is suppressed. Therefore, it is truly distinguished by its special transparency and purity. The ritual of washing three times in ice water with reading prayers, anointing with myrrh and oil has great religious significance for the soul of the believer and has practical benefits for the body. Therefore, on January 19, every year, thousands of Russians celebrate Ice Diving Day by plunging into icy plunge pools at night.

A decrease in the function of recording, storing and reproducing information in the brain has a negative impact on human life. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's syndrome, amnesia and other memory disorders have been the subject of scientific study for centuries. Aristotle was interested in the ability of the human brain to process and store large amounts of information. The scientist was convinced that memory is a property of both body and soul. In 1880, cognitive function began to be viewed from the perspective of modern biology. Thanks to Hermann Ebbinghaus at the end of the 19th century. memory began to be studied from a scientific point of view. The German philosopher proposed dividing it into 3 types: sensory, short-term and long-term. The scientist also owns the concept of the forgetting curve and the learning curve. In 1904, the theory was put forward that life experiences leave traces in the neurons of the brain. This organ is capable of forming memories in a person when he is still in the womb. Research by the American Karl Lashley has confirmed that traces of memory are scattered throughout all parts of the brain. It encodes, stores and retrieves information. Without memories, a person becomes deprived of the past, tabula rasa (in translation from Latin - “blank slate”). In honor of the vital function of the brain, January 19th is celebrated as Day of Good Remembrance. Loss of information about past events is observed in 70% of older people. They suffer from memory disorders due to age-related organic changes in the brain. Mnestic disorders in young people and middle-aged people are diagnosed due to fatigue, mental pathologies, bad habits or traumatic brain injuries. Cognitive disorders are treated through drug therapy and training during psychocorrection. Improving memory is facilitated by maintaining a healthy lifestyle - good sleep, playing sports, walking in the fresh air, giving up bad habits. Good Memory Day is dedicated not only to methods of treating cognitive impairment, but also to disease prevention. A good memory is the result of regular intellectual exercise, reading fiction, watching and discussing popular science films and documentaries. Studying a foreign language, solving crosswords and puzzles, playing chess and other forms of leisure at any age help train the brain and its ability to store information. In honor of Good Memory Day, people open photo albums and reminisce about their childhood and teenage years. On January 19, it is customary to make donations to organizations that help people with various forms of dementia. A day of good remembrance is a great occasion to call or meet with family members or old friends, capturing happy moments in life in photos and sharing them on social networks.

It is human nature to experience positive emotions, which are transformed into affectionate behavior and a reverent attitude towards others. Many people radiate affection not only to children, parents, lovers or friends, but also to animals and plants. Caring and caring for everything on Earth is a manifestation of high moral qualities and an understanding that everything in the world is interconnected. People depend on the fauna and flora on the planet just as living and inanimate nature depends on us. Understanding this immutable truth led to the establishment of the Day of Tenderness for All Beings, which is celebrated on January 19th. Tenderness Toward Existence Day appeared on the calendar in the early 2000s and has been celebrated annually since then. This Day was established to popularize the idea that any life has value, regardless of the degree of intelligence and other differences between living beings and each other. Tenderness is one of the most vivid experiences, a manifestation of warmth and love. On January 19, this feeling is traditionally demonstrated to surrounding people, animals, plants and even insects. Showing affection and care is not unique to humans. Despite the fact that in most animals the dominant behavior is the instinct of reproduction, they also know how to love. Dogs, cats, foxes, ducks, pigeons, flamingos, and dolphins show tenderness to their fellow creatures. Their touching relationship often becomes an example for people who lack spiritual subtlety and inner warmth. The desire to hug a person and press him to your heart is common to both women and men. However, prevailing stereotypes in society require the stronger sex to remain a stone wall, demonstrate invulnerability (“Boys don’t cry!”) and lack of sentimentality. But tenderness is not a synonym for weakness or vulnerability, a kind of “cloud in your pants.” She is a manifestation of care and love. Tenderness is a delicate and careful attitude towards loved ones. The holiday encourages men to abandon their inhibitions and demonstrate gentle behavior and the heart-tugging joy of meeting their beloved woman, child and other loved ones. Anna Akhmatova owns the following poetic lines: Tenderness is a manifestation of affection, care and selflessness; there is no strict calculation or desire to manipulate anyone behind it. The pace of modern life, distrust of the world and others completely deprive people of trust and sentimentality. They become stingy in expressing many feelings and emotions. A person loses the ability and courage to give tenderness, to enjoy it, enveloping loved ones, pets, and plants in the garden. The initiators of the unusual celebration, celebrated on January 19, do not agree with this state of affairs. In honor of the holiday, they encourage everyone to open their souls and hearts to generously share care and affection with other living beings.

On January 19 (January 6, old style), according to the popular calendar, Epiphany is celebrated, also called Holy Epiphany. According to biblical tradition, on this date the baptism of the son of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Lord, Jesus Christ, took place. There were usually severe frosts at Epiphany. The day before, people kept a one-day fast, and at dawn they went to a reservoir and made a hole in the ice in the shape of a cross. The village priest read a prayer service and lowered a cross into the hole, after which the water was considered blessed. The peasants believed that such water had healing properties and helped against various ills. Everyone took water from the reservoir and carried it home. According to legend, the one who first took the baptized water was healthy for a year. The faster they brought it home, the more the land yielded. And the one who spilled the water or fell with it was overtaken by misfortune. Blessed water could be stored for a year without spoiling. They washed themselves with it, splashed it on sore spots, sprinkled the house in the corners so that evil spirits would not enter. They also drank it themselves for better health and poured it into livestock so that they would not get sick and would have more fruit. Christmas time ended at Epiphany, and New Year's decorations for the house were put away until next year. From Christmas to the eve of Epiphany, fortune-telling was performed, which was considered a sinful act in the church. To remove sin from oneself, one had to plunge into the blessed water of a frozen reservoir three times. This is where the tradition of swimming in the ice hole on this day came from. By signs on Epiphany holidays they learned about the future harvest. If there was a strong snowstorm, then the fields produced a lot of grain in the summer. The night with bright stars promised a rich harvest of forest berries and legumes. The dog's long barking foreshadowed an excellent hunt for animals and birds. If water seeped into an ice hole above the ice or fog shrouded the river, people expected the water to overflow its banks in the spring.

In honor of artists representing the underground in painting, cinema, music and literature, an unusual holiday was established, celebrated on January 19. It is dedicated to informals and rebels who are cramped within the framework of officialdom. The first sprouts of counterculture, opposing itself to the traditional art forms of bourgeois society, arose in the United States in the 1950-1960s. In the USSR, the underground appeared a little later - 10-15 years later. A striking example of this is the Bulldozer Exhibition of 1974, during which paintings by 20 artists whose vision of art did not correspond to the party line were destroyed. In memory of these pages of history and in honor of all dissident creative people, a holiday was established - Outlaw Artist Day. For a long time, jazz, like punk and rock music, was considered bad manners against the backdrop of classical works. Street art with graffiti still finds it difficult to fit into the generally accepted framework, which does not welcome artists’ experiments with traditional genres and styles. However, new trends in art over time begin to take their rightful place among the classic works. Artist as Outlaw Day is celebrated by nonconformists whose creative views contradict ideological dogmas, aesthetic principles of mass culture and the mainstream. Representatives of the underground are often persecuted by censorship and the authorities for their irreconcilable position. Yes, these artists are characterized by shockingness, a spirit of rebellion and provocation. They live by their own rules and often express dissatisfaction with the state ideology. However, what was recently considered underground, over time becomes a classic of modern art. Jazz, the music of black people, was banned for decades. But the combination of the power of African rhythmicity and European melody was able to overcome the existing dogmas of this genre. T. Monk, A. Blakey, D. Gillespie, D. Ellington, B. Holliday and B. Goodman are world-famous masters of jazz improvisation. At various times, at the dawn of the emergence of movements, representatives of academic art were attacked by impressionists, Dadaists, primitivists and abstractionists. Now their paintings adorn the art collections of museums around the world and private collections. Everything new is well forgotten old. This maxim applies not only to fashion, but also to the underground. Its representatives create works of art, largely relying on the existing achievements of human culture. The new appears as a result of overcoming prohibitions and violating classical canons; it arises at the intersection of various genres and trends. Every creative person has the right to freedom of expression. Therefore, all rebels and informalists who create contemporary art and defend their point of view on the world around them celebrate the Day of the Outlaw Artist on January 19.

Healers of ancient Rus' used potions based on medicinal herbs and grains to heal the sick. Plant elixirs were used as poisons in the courts of kings, love spells, or, conversely, destroying relationships. January 19th is Potion Brewing Day. In honor of this comic holiday, you can easily create a love potion or a tincture of eternal youth. Gods in many world religions possessed immortality. To do this, they only had to introduce a special drink into their diet. Thus, the gods of Ancient Greece ate ambrosia, Ancient India - amrita, Iran - ha omu, and Ancient Egypt drank the water of immortality. In Russian fairy tales there are references to miraculous rejuvenation with the help of apples and boiling milk. Koschey the Immortal received the nickname for his unique characteristics. Is it really possible to make an elixir that prolongs life? In the film "The Recipe for Her Youth" the heroine L. Gurchenko tells the audience about the remedy of the medieval alchemist - Hieronymus Makropoulos. With the help of this potion, the body rejuvenates, and the person begins to live forever. The singer Emilia, the daughter of an alchemist, at 300 years old, looked 30, no older. I would like to use the elixir recipe to prepare a magical drink on January 19 in honor of Brew a Potion Day. But its ingredients are quite difficult to find. Judge for yourself, how can you get crocodile tears without risking your life? On Potion Brewing Day, women who imagine themselves to be witches prepare drinks that arouse love from the opposite sex. In ancient times, their obligatory component was mandrake root. In shape it resembles a human figure. Therefore, the root of the perennial plant, which was also called the witch’s potion, was credited with healing and magical powers. The magical properties of the drinks are given not only by the unique composition, but also by the magic words spoken during the brewing process - spells. This procedure is akin to household magic, and the preparation of elixirs itself is very reminiscent of the creation of healing potions by healers in Rus'. The witches spoke both to the remedy itself, putting the necessary information message, and to the sick organs of the patients: joints, teeth, etc. The ancient Druids knew many recipes for herbal potions. Enchanted potions are actively used for treatment by shamans of Mexico, aborigines of the USA and Australia, and representatives of proto-civilization - wild tribes living in the wilds of the Amazon and inaccessible areas of Africa. Their recipes cannot be used by residents of central Russia - most herbs, roots and plant seeds are endemic. Therefore, those who celebrate Brew a Potion Day brew magical elixirs on January 19 using improvised means, relying on potions books and their own intuition.

The safety of the civilian population is considered one of the main directions in the political system of a legal society. Helping people in case of emergency is not an ordinary job, but a professional responsibility of 911 service employees. Belarus Rescuer Day takes place every year on January 19th. The holiday was established according to the decree of the President of the state Lukashenko in February 2000. This date is celebrated by employees of various organizations: firefighters, emergency rescuers and all those whose profession is related to the protection of the country's citizens. Due to the fact that the fire department did not have the ability to cope with most accidents, in the spring of 1991, a rescue service department was developed to carry out immediate emergency rescue actions. Thus, the formation of the country's Ministry of Emergency Situations began. In the fall of 1994, the Ministry of Emergency Incidents and Protection of Citizens from the Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident was formed. A few years later, it was joined by a specialized fire service, removed from the structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 1999, Lukashenko signed a decree of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus. As a sign of gratitude to the services of the representatives of this position, a holiday dedicated to them was established a year later. The motto of the rescuers is “Professionalism, courage and honor.” All intelligence officers possess these qualities. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus is a modern, incredibly powerful and well-organized rapid response system, every second being on the highest level of combat readiness, and professionally regulating the tasks of preventing and eliminating fires and other man-made and natural incidents. Currently, the republic's rescue service covers several thousand combat departments, with over 6,000 technical equipment. The EMERCOM system contains about 17 special services, in particular: diving and fire service, emergency rescue unit, chemical safety department, etc. Today, the state has organized a full-fledged system for preventing and eliminating various emergency incidents. No matter how reliable the technology is, the human factor performs one of the most important tasks. Therefore, the effectiveness of the actions of rescuers primarily depends on their professional skills. Training of workers for emergency departments is carried out at two universities of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Baha'i Holidays - Feast of the Nineteenth Day of the Month of Sultan

International Fetish Day first originated in the United Kingdom as National Fetish Day, which was held in 2008. The following year it became international and began to be celebrated on the third Friday of January. International Fetish Day is a "day that belongs to everyone who has a fetish" that raises awareness and support for the fetish and BDSM community, opposes discrimination against these communities, and encourages these communities to talk more openly about their sexuality. International Fetish Day is a day of support for the BDSM community. It originated in the UK as "National Fetish Day" and was first held on 21 January 2008. The first International Fetish Day was held on January 16, 2009 (the third Friday of the year). The main goal of International Fetish Day is to raise awareness and support for the fetish community, encourage its members to talk more openly about their sexuality and combat the social stigmatization of erotic fetishism. BDSM is a type of erotic practice that includes dominance and submission, role-play, restraint and other interpersonal interactions. Given the wide range of practices, some of which may be used by people who do not consider themselves BDSM practitioners, inclusion in the BDSM community and/or subculture usually depends on self-identification and sharing experiences... On International Fetish Day, members of the fetish community are encouraged to wear purple clothing to indicate their membership in the community. This event is known as "Perverts Wear Purple." There has been controversy surrounding the slogan "Perverts Wear Purple", primarily due to the fact that many in the BDSM community distance themselves from the "pervert" label. Others in the community believe that using the word "pervert" is perfectly acceptable. For reference: