In the northern part of the Black Sea, on most of the Crimean Peninsula, is the Republic of Crimea. The main city of which is Simferopol. The republic has its own flag, anthem and coat of arms. Over all the years of its formation, the Republic has gained vast experience in state building. From presidential to parliamentary government. On March 17, 1991, an all-Crimean referendum took place, where residents of the peninsula voted for autonomy within the Ukrainian SSR. This was the first referendum in the Soviet Union. The USSR collapsed a few months later. But Crimea remained autonomous within Ukraine, which many historians considered surprising and illegal. On March 16, 2014, another referendum was held, in which 97% of Crimeans expressed a desire to reunite with Russia. Crimea became part of the Russian Federation. The document was signed by the head of state of the Russian Federation and the mayor of Simferopol. But the Ukrainian government did not recognize this fact. Legally, the Republic of Crimea and the hero city of Simferopol became part of the Russian Federation. On December 29, the law was signed and the date was set - January 20. Now this date is a holiday and day off for the peninsula. All of Russia celebrates the celebration together with the inhabitants of the peninsula. Traditionally, guests and residents of Crimea receive congratulations from the highest officials of the Republic. Massive celebrations, concerts and various events dedicated to the holiday take place throughout the peninsula. The annual motorcycle rally dedicated to the holiday attracts thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts. On the eve of Republic Day, lectures are held in all schools of Crimea, where children are told about the long and difficult formation of the Republic. In some gymnasiums you can listen to this lesson in three official languages, which is a great achievement for Crimeans. Previously, education in educational institutions was in Ukrainian. Such actions revive in people patriotism and love for their Motherland, respect for each other. The head of the region encourages everyone to take part in the celebration and congratulate the youngest Republic of Russia on the holiday.

January 20 is the Day of the Office Work Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The celebration of this day was initially established on January 7 (order No. 301 of May 19, 1997). The date set according to the old style was changed in 2003. By order No. 5 of 01/05/2003 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, January 20 was declared the Day of the Office Work Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The holiday was established in honor of the Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Various archival records indicate different years of formation of the Chancellery: 1802, 1803, 1804, but the day remains unchanged - January 7. The office work service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the same age as the Ministry, created in 1802 during the formation of new centralized management bodies in the country - a fact that speaks of the primary role of office work in government affairs. The rules for office work were drawn up already at the initial stage of the functioning of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. V.P. Kochubey, appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, studied the work of institutions, identified a number of shortcomings, and changed the order of office work to eliminate them. Headed the Office of M.M. Speransky, 45 people served under him. The main functionality of the Office is the protection of state secrets and documentation support for the activities of the Ministry. The paperwork procedure - solving any issue and consolidating the result in a document - probably arose simultaneously with writing. Creation of documents, accounting, movement, storage are necessary activities of the administrative apparatus. Oral speech, words, agreements reached and decisions not recorded on paper are often forgotten, distorted, questioned, and not implemented. For more than 200 years, employees of the clerical service have been conscientiously engaged in document support for the management of the Ministry, are a reliable guarantor of the protection of secret documents, accurately process incoming correspondence, accept written and oral requests from citizens, and monitor the timely resolution of situations regarding them. The work efficiency of people working with Ministry of Internal Affairs documents depends on the personal competence and professionalism of each employee and affects the organization of the work of the entire ministry. Recognition of the importance of the work of office clerks is the holding of an annual competition “The best employee of the office work service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.” The Winners have the opportunity to receive the next title ahead of schedule. We wish each employee of this complex, painstaking service to be the best, most competent and happiest, to receive an extraordinary title, salary increase and promotion ahead of schedule.

January 20 is the time to remember about an unusual and unique bird, because on this day there is an international holiday - Penguin Awareness Day or, as it is also called, Penguin Awareness Day. Everyone knows that penguins cannot fly, are good swimmers and live in large colonies. But this is the only thing that most people know, and January 20 is just the day to devote to studying them. Archaeological excavations indicate that the ancestors of modern penguins lived during the time of dinosaurs and were larger in size than the largest representatives existing today. The emperor penguin weighs half as much and is 50 cm shorter compared to Kumimanu biceae, which lived during the prehistoric period. According to archaeologists, despite its large size, it was no different from a modern penguin. Not all representatives of the penguin family were able to survive to this day; often it was humans who had a hand in this. As a result of human actions and climate change, some populations are on the verge of extinction and their numbers have declined in recent decades: Galapagos – 50%; magnificent (hoiho) – 85%; great crested – 70%; spectacled – 70%. Penguins are the only birds that move while standing, which is why they seem clumsy and slow. But water is their element; some of the penguins are capable of diving to depths of up to 200 meters, and when swimming, they reach speeds of up to 10 km/h. They feed on fish and crustaceans, swallowing them in the water. During molting, which lasts up to several months, birds have to sit on a very strict diet, since they do not swim at this time and are deprived of the opportunity to get food. At this time, the body uses up internal fat reserves. Penguins are amazing creatures that live far from us, but they are also a part of our planet that needs to be preserved for future descendants.

One of the most beloved dairy products around the world is cheese. It is highly valued for its taste by both not particularly discerning consumers and true gourmets. For many peoples, the culture of cheese making is a source of national pride. The top 5 countries where true connoisseurs of a product based on milk, rennet and sourdough live include France, Switzerland, Spain, Finland and Italy. The population of these and other countries annually celebrates World Cheese Lovers Day on January 20th. The average Frenchman eats 25.9 kg of this wonderful product during the year, a German - 24.3 kg, an American - 14 kg. There are from 900 to 2,000 varieties of cheese, the most popular of which are Gouda and Maasdam, feta and Gorgonzola, ricotta and mozzarella, cheddar and Camembert. People learned to make this fermented milk product at home more than 8,000 years ago. Thus, Emmental, like Brie, was invented in the first millennium AD, Parmesan - in the 13th century, Roquefort - at the beginning of the 15th century. The recipe for the popular "Russian" variety was developed in the USSR in the 1960s, as was the famous processed cheese "Druzhba". In relation to wine, the concept of “terroir” applies - a combination of natural factors of a particular area that give the drink a unique taste and aroma. This also applies to cheese. To produce original mozzarella, Italian buffalo milk is required. Real dor blue (translated from German as “blue gold”) is made in Bavaria in the town of Lauben, halloumi - in Cyprus and other Mediterranean islands, cotija - in Mexico. In France, 36 varieties of cheese have names associated with the region of production. The country even passed a law in 2014 to control and protect cheeses based on their geographic origin. Just as real champagne can only be produced in the Champagne region, so the soft blue mold Bleu de Terminion can only be produced in the Terminion region, and Vue Boulogne can only be produced in the city of Boulogne-sur-Mer. The delicious casu marzu (“wormy cheese”) is brewed in Sardinia. It is a waste product of cheese fly larvae. The dairy product is considered a national treasure in many countries around the world. The culture of cheese making is developed in all parts of the world. Greece, Switzerland, Germany, France and Holland made an invaluable contribution to the development of this craft. Rich cheese-making traditions exist in the Baltic and Caucasus regions. Each European country has unique varieties of cheese created on its territory, the recipes of which are widely known. The most popular ones, when reproduced on other continents, are transformed into new brands, such as Italian parmesan into Goya parmesan in Argentina. On World Cheese Lovers Day, cheese fans, farmers and large producers hold master classes, exhibitions, festivals and fairs. You can purchase products made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep and other animals. Restaurants join the celebration and offer tastings of the best cheeses available. Most varieties are ideally combined with wine, while others add a piquant taste to popular dishes: pizza, lasagna, a variety of salads and baked goods. To check whether this is really so, you need to uncork a bottle of sparkling wine on January 20, prick a piece of Dor Blue on your fork and celebrate World Cheese Lovers Day.

Walking has many benefits, and walking outside is much more fun than walking on a treadmill. Walking outside also provides vitamin D, which 75 percent of adults are deficient in. Walking can improve your mood because chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine are released during and after walking. Walking can reduce depression, and it is more effective if you walk outside. Walking can also benefit the brain by helping the growth of new brain cells, which can help fight memory loss and dementia. Walking is good for your heart: it can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart attack. It can also reduce your chances of getting lung cancer, help you burn fat, strengthen your bones, and keep your skin healthy by helping your body produce more collagen. In the last few years, marching people with ski poles have often been seen on city streets. Their enthusiasm is not affected in any way by weather conditions or time of year. Interest in Nordic or Finnish walking has increased significantly recently, and therefore it is understandable why people who care about their health are interested in this sport. Although it is difficult to call Nordic walking a sport. Are there any competitions for walking with ski poles? And people get carried away by this activity and say that they become younger, healthier, cure the blues, high blood pressure and other diseases. Is this really true or is it just propaganda? So, Nordic walking is easy if you are not afraid of causing surprised or even mocking glances from passers-by. Just imagine, it’s summer, it’s hot outside, and you’re walking along the sidewalk with ski poles. No, the prospect is not pleasant, and therefore Finnish walking is a collective activity. When you go with a group you are no longer ashamed, but on the contrary, you feel like you are part of something original and correct. In response to the amazement of passersby, you can simply smile mysteriously, let them wonder what you are doing. On the other hand, it would be better to practice Nordic walking in a park or a country road than on a polluted avenue or a broken sidewalk. For walking you will have to buy two ski poles with slate spikes (good for winter and ice), and for summer you will need special tips. Clothing should be comfortable, breathable, mainly made from natural fabrics, because you will probably sweat. You don’t need any specific shoes, but comfortable, simple ones, for example, sneakers. When choosing a place and time for walking, think about your safety. A park in the city center is great, but not when you have to walk home in the dark, listening to every rustle. You can be so frightened, for example, by the same squirrel that meeting a maniac is no longer scary. Do not walk alone, carry with you a means of protection against stray dogs and bad people. Your well-being and life are more important than the Finnish walking marathon. By the way, the poles themselves are also a good means of protection, but it’s better to walk with a group - it’s more fun and not scary. Nordic walking is easy to learn. There are video lessons on the Internet. In addition, in big cities you will find a trainer and you will be able to master this art even faster. In the end, you can learn from those who have been walking for a long time and are ready to share their skills. Nordic walking is suitable for people of any age. It is carried out by young people and pensioners, cinema stars and their fans. It is believed that vigorous walking with poles stabilizes the cardiovascular system, eliminates cholesterol, normalizes blood pressure, increases muscle tone, prevents the development of atherosclerosis, improves memory, helps restore health after injuries, heart attacks, etc. It may seem that Finnish walking is a real panacea, but there are still many ways and means in the world to achieve the stated results. It’s another matter if you like marching with sticks in your hands and you like regular walking or going to the pool less. Then of course, sticks in your hands and good weather! 1. Visit a therapist and tell us about your desire to take up walking. Take your medical card, do not hide your ailments from the doctor. Most likely the doctor will not object, but there may be exceptions. Don't risk your health. 2. Prepare your equipment. The clothes have already been said, all that remains is to talk about the sticks. They come in different lengths depending on the height of the owner. Multiply your height by 0.68 to get the length you need. The cost of ski poles varies, but it is better to rent. What if you don’t like it, what then? 3. If there is a Nordic walking club in your city and they sell memberships, don’t rush to open your wallet. I repeat, what if you don’t like it? Sign up for a test walk, listen to your body, hear yourself, do you like it or are you led by laudatory stories and advertising? Imagine that you have attended a few classes, learned to walk correctly most of the time, and are now enjoying your time with new acquaintances. This means that luck has smiled on you. No, it’s not difficult to learn to walk; it’s much more difficult to get into the company of like-minded people with whom it’s easy and pleasant to talk while walking. It is precisely the fact that Nordic walking helps to bring people together that explains its therapeutic properties. How nice it is to go out with like-minded people in the evening, when the city is no longer buzzing and there are almost no cars in sight! Transparent air, the rustle of leaves, puddles from the recent rain and the peace that envelops all nature, puts your nerves in order, helps you solve problems, find answers, and take a break from the bustle and worries. When walking becomes an automatic act, a person becomes immersed in himself and the fatigue from worries goes away, as if it never happened. People suffering from depression find this very useful. As they say, walking clears your mind! To summarize, it should be noted that Nordic walking is an opportunity to improve your well-being and physical fitness, meet new people, look younger, lose weight, improve your mood and acquire a good habit. You don't need to spend a lot of money or radically change your life. A small adjustment in the form of a half-hour or longer walk will pay big dividends soon. Celebrate the day with a walk outside. Go for a walk with family or friends, or spend some quiet time alone. Take a nice leisurely stroll or a brisk walk. Take a walk around the neighborhood, through a forest or park. Buy special poles or adapt ski poles and take up Nordic walking. Walk outdoors and play sports more often. Your body and mind will thank you for it! Be healthy!

Coincidences that are strange from the point of view of probability theory often make people think about the intervention of higher powers in their lives. Science cannot explain the cause of fantastic events and their sequence. What is the probability that a book will fall off the shelf and open to a page that contains the answer to the question asked? Why on earth would a friend you remembered 5 minutes ago suddenly call after six months of silence? These and other non-random coincidences are discussed on January 20 on the Day of Amazing Coincidences. “A brick will never fall on anyone’s head for no reason,” Woland said in “The Master and Margarita.” Perhaps everything that happens in our lives has a cause-and-effect relationship that is invisible and incomprehensible to an ordinary person. The nature of most coincidences is inexplicable from the point of view of mathematics, statistics, and the laws of social existence. The prediction of accidents is explained by intuition, the manifestation of clairvoyance and other abilities of the human psyche, which are preceded by signs of fate. History knows of cases when, by a strange coincidence, some passengers did not get on a train or plane due to being late. This saved their lives by not dying in the disaster. 14 people who had booked cabins and were crew members missed out on the ill-fated Titanic due to an unexpected twist of fate. Some were delayed by business, others were given special signs on the eve of the trip: for example, businessman John Middleton had a terrible dream about a shipwreck for a couple of nights in a row. He shared the story of the Titanic disaster with his family and friends. Mark Twain was born in 1835 as Halley's Comet passed the Earth. The cycle of movement of this celestial body is 76 years. By a strange coincidence, the writer who predicted exactly this date of his death died on the first day of the comet's passage near the Earth in 1910. The circumstances of death are related to Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy. Both US presidents died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head on Friday before the big holidays - Thanksgiving and Easter. Both were accompanied by their wives on the last trip in their lives. Both Lincoln and Kennedy had 4 children, secretaries named Mrs. Lincoln, and the successors of the two presidents were called Johnsons. Fortune is repeatedly favorable to some people. An American named Matthew survived the attack on the towers in New York in September 2001 and the attack on the Bataclan theater 14 years later in Paris. Nurse Violet Jessup worked on the ship Olympic, which collided with the cruiser HMS Hawke in 1911, survived the Titanic disaster and was not injured in the sinking of the hospital ship Britannic, which hit a mine in November 1916. For such amazing luck, the woman received the nickname Miss Unsinkable. The cartoon "The Simpsons" predicted Trump's triumph in 2000 - 20 years after the businessman won the presidential election. 3 days before Hitler’s attack on the USSR, Soviet archaeologists discovered the tomb of Tamerlane. The tomb of Genghis Khan's heir was located in Uzbekistan. The inscription on it warned: “Whoever opens my tomb will free an invader more terrible than me.” This did not stop archaeologists who did not believe in superstitions, and on June 22, 1941, the country was attacked by fascist invaders. The amazing day of coincidences, which is celebrated on January 20, makes us think that many coincidences are not accidental. They are a consequence of the action of laws of the Universe unknown to people, about which humanity still knows so little.

Day of National Mourning in Azerbaijan

Physical impairments and mental disabilities impair the quality of life of people with disabilities. American Annie Hopkins drew attention to the need for social protection of members of society with disabilities. On her initiative, the 3E Love movement was organized in 2007, the emblem of which was a heart-shaped wheelchair. Annie Hopkins encouraged people with different abilities to start enjoying life, embrace the diversity of society and empower each other with the power of love. The creator of the symbol and brand Unity, which produces clothing for people with disabilities in Chicago, died in 2009 from complications after a medical procedure. In memory of Annie Hopkins, January 20 is International Day of Acceptance. The holiday calls for tolerance, public education and participation in the lives of people with disabilities. Their acceptance of themselves and their problems is the path to a fulfilling life in society. The initiator of the annual International Day of Acceptance was Annie's brother, Stevie Hopkins. He decided to continue his sister's mission by promoting the 3E Love movement and its principles. The international symbol of acceptance in the form of a wheelchair has become a trademark of Unity. Annie Hopkins is not the first person to voice the need to help people with disabilities. Over the past decades, there has been an active campaign in the West to change society’s attitude towards people with disabilities. The term “inclusion” has become especially popular - the inclusion of all people in the life of society, regardless of their linguistic, social, physical, mental and other characteristics. Integration into society is available to both adults and children. Their inclusion in the educational process and other spheres of social life is not limited. Changing attitudes towards people with disabilities also means correctly naming their problems. Alternatively, children born with Down syndrome or cerebral palsy are called gifted, special or sunny. People with disabilities - disabled people who have been injured or have health problems from birth. International Day of Acceptance calls for accepting and educating the diversity of society. The holiday has been celebrated annually since 2010. On January 20, people change their photo on a social network for one day to a symbol invented by Annie Hopkins. Bringing 3E Love to life is about embracing, learning, and empowering each other. The movement’s website offers an opportunity to order a T-shirt with its logo, thereby expressing solidarity with people with disabilities. In honor of the holiday, the International Symbol of Acceptance is sent out, sharing stories about people with disabilities whose lives have changed for the better thanks to 3E Love.

Holidays in Latvia - Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of the Barricades 1991

January 20 (January 7, old style) according to the folk calendar, Ivan Brazhnik is celebrated. It takes its name from the church day of honoring the memory of John the Baptist. And we call the day Hawkmoth for the use of intoxicating drinks for good purposes. From Christmas to Maslenitsa it was time for weddings, as fasting ended and it was allowed to eat meat. The boys' parents sent matchmakers to the girls' families. Usually weddings were arranged by agreement between couples in love, but it happened that girls did not get married of their own free will. In order to shed fewer tears in their married life, the girls were allowed to drink a little wine on the day of Ivan the Brazhnik. There was a tradition in the morning, before eating, to take a sip of water collected the day before in the consecrated river. The peasants believed that it protected a person from the inside from the influence of evil spirits and helped to gain health for a year. In addition, beer was brewed on Ivan-Brazhnik from honey and hops. They drank it in small quantities, believing that it would relieve various sorrows. In the period from Ivan-Brazhnik to the beginning of Maslenitsa, boys and girls met at gatherings, but with work in hand. In some areas the day was considered a holiday, people rested. Caring owners fed their livestock with bread cakes and salt, sometimes treating them to pancakes while reading out spells. This ritual was performed for a good offspring in the spring. Ivan-Brazhnik's future was judged by weather signs. If severe frosts set in and lasted for up to seven days, a sharp warming was expected after them. A clear month in the sky foreshadowed a river flood in the spring. Snowfalls predicted that Maslenitsa would also have snow. If it is wet or foggy outside, it means that the field will produce well in the summer, and if it is sunny, the summer is expected to be dry.

Orthodox holidays on January 20:

Among the Orthodox Church dates there are many memorable days dedicated to John the Baptist. One of them falls on January 20, this is the Cathedral of the Baptist and Baptist John. The date is directly related to the feast of the Epiphany, which falls on January 19. John the Baptist was a contemporary of Jesus Christ and a very famous person of his time. His entire life's path was connected with the prophecy of the coming of the Savior. The Baptist was a long-awaited child in a well-born family that had remained childless for a long time. The birth of John was a divine miracle for his elderly parents. As a baby, the future Baptist was almost killed by order of King Herod, who ordered the destruction of all the babies of Bethlehem. But the mother, warned by an angel, managed to escape with her son into the desert. The Baptist's father died, having hidden the secret of the escape of his wife and son from the soldiers carrying out Herod's orders. Ascetic life in the desert has become familiar to the Forerunner; he wears clothes made of skins and wool, eats locusts and wild honey. At the age of 30, the Prophet became known for his preaching throughout the Jordanian country. He called the people to repentance, recalling the commandments of the Old Testament; his speeches often mentioned the imminent coming of the Messiah and the approach of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Forerunner baptized many, dipping them into river waters and praying, cleansing their bodies with water and souls with repentance. During the next baptism, Jesus was among the crowd. The Prophet immediately realized who had come to him and expressed surprise, realizing that he was talking to the son of God. But Jesus answered that his baptism was a work of righteousness that must be done. During the Forerunner’s prayer, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a snow-white dove, and the true essence of Christ was revealed. John, preaching about the truth, did not remain silent about the crimes of the royal family, for which the king’s wife Herodias hated him. By spreading slander, she achieved the arrest of the Forerunner. And then, involving her own daughter in the crime, she forced the king to sentence the Baptist to execution. The Orthodox Church venerates John the Baptist as one of the most important saints, ranking immediately after the Mother of God in importance. The prophet appears as one of the main prayer books for humanity before God, who has earned this right with his ascetic life and fearless delivery of the truth. In Slavic rituals, the holiday of the Cathedral of the Forerunner is called the Winter Wedding Party, Ivan Brazhnik, Lazy Day and other similar names. Early in the morning they drank baptized water on an empty stomach, and after the festive meal they brought the remains of the ritual food to the cattle so that they would not get sick and would be fruitful. From this day on, the end of the winter holidays began, giving way to a time of everyday household chores. Finally, the bans on spinning and sewing were lifted, and it was possible to go into the forest without fear of meeting a pack of wolves and evil spirits. After Midsummer, the time for matchmaking began. In families with marriageable girls, grooms and matchmakers were waiting, preparing beer for the guests as a mandatory treat. This small wedding season lasted until Maslenitsa.