Every year on January 31, the world celebrates International Jeweler's Day. This holiday dates back to the times of primitive society, when the idea of ​​jewelry arose, and it was this that laid the foundation for the emergence of jewelry activities in the future. Everyone knows how Ancient Greece and Kievan Rus were famous for the history of jewelry. The value of precious stones has not changed over the years and centuries, but the fashion and beauty of the products themselves have often changed their direction. The first “jewelry” items were made from shells, animal fangs, leaves, flowers, berries and other improvised materials. And then it came to stones, for the processing of which a grinding procedure arose. This process provided the opportunity to wear smooth stones around the neck as talismanic pendants. After some time, this method of grinding ordinary stones was improved and began to be applied to precious gems, knowing their specific meaning. With the advent of metal, jewelry became more attractive and convenient to use. On this day, people can admire the beauty of jewelry works and visit exhibitions of jewelry masters. And also buy yourself some jewelry you like. Some jewelry stores give good discounts to their customers and also hold promotions to pamper their customers and give them the opportunity to buy luxurious jewelry from the great masters of their craft. In the modern world, jewelers are helped by special equipment, which is being improved every year, and craftsmen produce unique jewelry that greatly delight connoisseurs of beauty. Although this holiday is not official, on this day we can say a big thank you to the jewelry craftsmen for their painstaking and hard work, because when buying jewelry, we see the finished result, without even knowing how much effort and time was invested into it. The profession of a jeweler is not suitable for everyone, because for this you need to have a huge set of all unique qualities. Have excellent vision, correct posture, flexible fingers, a healthy heart and composure. Everyone is familiar with such famous names as Carl Faberge, Aaron Basha, Charles Lewis Tiffany and many other talented craftsmen who create unique products for the soul and body.

Every year on January 31st in Russia they celebrate a holiday - the Birthday of Russian vodka. For many years now, any significant event, be it a solemn date or mourning the death of loved ones, has not been complete without this national drink. The birthday date was not chosen by chance. According to historians, it was on this day in 1865 that the great Russian scientist D.I. Mendeleev received a professorship. He was able to successfully defend his dissertation, which was directly related to ethyl and devoted to the topic of combining alcohol with water. But it only touched on the study of the specific gravity of solutions under various conditions. How exactly alcohol would affect the human body was not at all of interest to Mendeleev and was not the subject of his study. Vodka appeared much earlier than the birth of the scientist himself - in the 10th century. Therefore, the connection between the birthday of an amusement drink and the day a chemist receives a professorship is purely mythological. Historians consider the Persian doctor Ar-Razi to be the founder of vodka. Although, the result of the experiments of the eastern doctor can hardly be called modern vodka: he was able to obtain ethyl alcohol. However, this particular circumstance serves as a starting point in the chronology of the legendary drink, since ethanol is the main ingredient of vodka. It is worth noting that at first alcohol was used exclusively for cosmetic and medical purposes. At exactly what time ethanol began to be used as a recreational drink, historians have not been able to find out. However, already in the 14th century. the process of making alcoholic beverages settled on Polish territory, and in the 16th century. The Scandinavians began to engage in similar activities. In Russia, the appearance of ethanol is associated with three dates that contradict each other: the 11th, 14th and 16th centuries. Therefore, the peoples who introduced our ancestors to alcohol are called different: some believe that they were Genoese, others are sure that they were Varangians. However, this issue is not of particular importance. Much more interesting is the time when true Russian vodka appeared. There is a legend about this, according to which the founder of the traditional drink is the monk Isidore from Moscow. Vodka was revered by many historical figures such as Dmitry Donskoy and Peter the Great. And now, having become many times stronger, the alcoholic drink still occupies a leading position in the choice of drinks by residents of the Russian Federation. During the reign of Catherine II, vodka was sold in buckets, since the bottles we are used to today did not yet exist at that time. In those years, this drink was very expensive. Peter I came up with a special award in the form of a medal “For Drunkenness.” Together with the collar and chain, its weight was more than 8 kg. They “handed” it to the most notorious drunks in the police department. It was impossible to remove the medal on your own, and you had to wear it for seven days. When celebrating the birthday of vodka, do not forget that this drink is good only in moderation and with a good snack.

Art has probably been around as long as human civilization. It is valued both for its beauty and for the happiness it gives to those who see it. The first artifacts of human art discovered by archaeologists date back to the Stone Age. Over time, various art forms such as painting, music, theater, sculpture, dance, poetry and photography developed. Of the wide range of works of art created in the world, the works that bring us to tears or joyful laughter stay with us for a lifetime. Whether we are moved by music or glimpsed into the soul of an artist through his work, art has the power to change us, to inspire our hearts. Art allows a person to express their own imagination and creativity. It is also a form of communication that overcomes language barriers. Art plays an important role in various aspects such as recreational therapy, raising awareness and evoking all kinds of emotions. This day encourages us to explore many genres of art and get inspired. "The purpose of art is to wash away the dust of everyday life from our souls." - Pablo Picasso The history, origin and year of Inspire Your Heart with Art Day are unknown. The founder of this Day is also not exactly known. However, the celebration of Art Day is supported by various arts organizations. The day is designed to celebrate all forms of art and their impact on your heart. Explore many genres of art as each art is valued and appreciated in its own way. Art is a form of feeling that inspires, uplifts and touches the soul, heart and mind. This day is the best time to take a closer look at art and understand what the artist is trying to say through it. Open your mind and heart to listen to art as it has the power to inspire our hearts. Because art comes in many forms, there are countless ways to celebrate. We provide only brief information on how to participate. We hope this inspires you to spend your day bringing art into your heart.• Visit an art gallery• Attend a theater performance• Read a good book• Listen to good music• Attend a ballet• Start creating your own “masterpiece”• Teach someone play a musical instrument or teach yourself• Watch an inspiring movie• Share your art with others.

Waterproof adhesive tape was invented by American Richard Gurley Drew. The engineer patented a film made of artificial material for use in production and in everyday life on January 31, 1930. On this day, the funny Scotch Tape Day is celebrated - a holiday paying tribute to adhesive tape.

For residents of the Northern Hemisphere, January frosts, snowstorms and blizzards cause a lot of trouble. The expression “hell cold” is often used to describe the internal sensations of the winter cold. The oxymoron arose by analogy with the underworld, which most of us associate with heat, heat and fire, in which sinners are tortured. In winter, frost literally penetrates to the bones of residents of Alaska, Yakutia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Kazakhstan and the mountainous regions of Italy, where thermometers drop to -41...70 °C. Therefore, January 31 is celebrated as Hell's Cold Day. The fun Hell is Freezing Over Day holiday makes people think not only about harsh climates and adverse weather conditions, but also about life after death. Many people imagine hell as a kind of purgatory in which devils fry people in frying pans. St. Augustine spoke of the underworld as a place where fire torments the bodies and souls of sinners. If we turn to the poem by Dante Alighieri, we get a different impression about hell, the place of residence of demons. The great Italian poet describes in the “Divine Comedy” the afterlife, consisting of 9 circles of hell: “In the very center of the Underworld is the icy Lake Cocytus. Like in Viking hell, it is incredibly cold here. Apostates frozen in the ice rest here...” Similar description The afterlife is contained in a hadith - a legend about the Prophet Muhammad from Abu Hurayrat: “... the most severe cold in winter is the second exhalation from a place in hell where punishments occur with the intense cold “zamharir”. The English language has a lot of idiomatic expressions that enrich speech and make it more figurative. Thus, the phraseological unit “When hell freezes over” (“When hell freezes over”) is used to denote something that will never happen. Those who celebrate Hell's Cold Day resort to one trick. In honor of the funny celebration, people do things that were planned for “when the cancer whistles on the mountain” or even “after the rain on Thursday.” January 31 is an excellent occasion to do something that you have never promised to do before and under any circumstances. In Christianity, the underworld is a fiery hyena, a place of torment for the souls of sinners after death. Islamic scholars and theologians (Ibnu Rajab, Ibn Abbas and others) talk about hell as a place where people’s bones break with a crunch due to severe cold, and their bodies are torn into pieces from the frost. The method of posthumous punishment for Muslim apostates and sinners is zamharir - very strong cold. Therefore, instead of a figurative name for the holiday, Hell is Freezing Over Day, it takes on a literal meaning.

On the beach sand, people leave handprints and foot prints, write their names, draw palm trees and the sun. Frost-covered windows, on which frost weaves intricate patterns, provide no less scope for creativity. The hand just reaches out to draw something on snow-covered cars and benches, powdery park paths and the icy surface of the river. In winter, with its long nights, people really lack warmth and light. Day of Drawing the Sun on Snow helps to overcome seasonal depression and warm the soul - an unusual holiday celebrated on January 31. Any creative process gives pleasant emotions and lifts your spirits. Sand therapy helps a person get rid of negative energy and stabilize their emotional state. Modeling a snowman, building a fort out of ice and drawing on the surface of the snow also has a positive effect on the emotional state of adults and children. Therefore, in winter you need to take advantage of every opportunity to spend time outdoors and show off your artistic talents. For drawing, a slightly compressed cover is most suitable, rather than fluffy, freshly fallen snow. Because it will stick to the brush, and the paint will lie unevenly. Lush snow can be compacted with your feet. The painter should choose a tree branch, a brush, a spray bottle for spraying paints or a sponge as tools. On a snow-white “sheet” you can draw a graphic image of the sun or make it colored. Watercolors, acrylic paints and gouache are suitable for this. They are diluted with water and then poured into a spray bottle. In 1962, a song about happiness, the victory of good over evil, life over death, was sung for the first time in the Soviet Union: According to one of the psychological theories, the sun with rays in a child’s drawing is a child’s image of his mother. Children draw the most dear and favorite image most often. You can check the accuracy of this statement on January 31st. According to the observation of psychologists, if a child has problems and misunderstandings with his mother, he will draw the sun on the snow without a smile. The more rays diverging from the star in all directions, the better the contact between mother and baby. The sun is a symbol of life, the awakening of nature, truth, the victory of light over darkness, and the yellow color is happiness, warmth and pleasure. The image of a round disk with twelve or sixteen rays is present on the coats of arms of Japan, Argentina, Uruguay, Latvia, Bolivia, and Angola. The yellow sun symbolizes Chara Manipura, life force and divine creative energy. Therefore, on many Russian icons there is an image of the luminary. Pagan solar deities were often drawn in the form of a circle with a human face, for example, Yarilo and Dazhdbog among the Slavs, Amaterasu among the Japanese, and Helios among the ancient Greeks. In honor of the holiday, the sun on the snow can be depicted not only with a smile, but also with eyes and nose. In anticipation of spring, our ancestors called for it, baked cookies in the shape of larks from dough, performed other rituals, and organized folk festivals. Today these traditions are followed by the Rodnovers. The day of drawing the sun on the snow is one of the many ways to awaken nature from winter sleep and bring the onset of spring and warmth closer.

Human activity in the development of nature has led to the extinction of many species of fauna. Thus, the population of mountain and desert zebras is now under threat of extinction. These mammals belong to the order of equids; their closest relatives are horses and wild asses. The black-and-white beauties, native to Eastern and Southern Africa, were first destroyed in the 18th century. after the arrival of Dutch settlers. The meat of quagga, savannah zebra, and boer was used for food; shoes, waterskins, and other accessories were made from the skin. The last representative of this species was killed in 1878. The skin of a “tiger horse” (as the ancient Romans called zebras) is one of the popular hunting trophies on safaris held in South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia and other African countries. The population of equine mammals is declining not only due to shooting, but also due to abnormal droughts, depriving the animals of a food source. Wildlife advocates are highlighting the gradual extinction of two of the three existing species - the Grévy and the mountain zebra. The National Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Institute of Zoology and Conservation Biology, and other organizations initiated the appearance of a special date on the calendar. January 31 is International Zebra Day. The colors of these amazing animals have been the object of close study by scientists for decades. There are many versions of the purpose of black and white stripes, but none of the explanations satisfies the minds of researchers. Initially, scientists suggested that the colors serve to camouflage and disorient enemies - lions, cheetahs, tigers and alligators. Indeed, the black stripes on the body of the quagga zebra were located on a sandy background, therefore they served as camouflage, allowing them to visually merge with nature. There is also a version that such colors are necessary for thermoregulation in hot weather conditions. The latest hypothesis was put forward about stripes on the skin that save zebras from annoying insects such as horseflies, which are disoriented by the unusual pattern. Scientists cannot agree on the unusual coloring of the “tiger horse”. But they have clearly established that the striped pattern on the body of each animal is individual and is not repeated in other representatives of the species. International Zebra Day encourages people to take action to protect the lowland (Burchellian), Cape mountain and Grévy's zebra. These animals can live in captivity, as they can be trained and domesticated. But the natural habitat of zebras is the South African savannah, the highlands of South Africa and Namibia. "Striped horses" must live and reproduce in natural conditions. Preserving unique animals on the planet is the main goal of International Zebra Day.

According to the folk calendar, Afanasyev Day is celebrated on January 31 (January 18, old style). Its name comes from the church date of honoring St. Athanasius the Great, who served as Archbishop of Alexandria in the 4th century. In his youth, Athanasius’ mother sent him to church to serve the Almighty. When he reached the rank of bishop, he fought against the heresy of Arius, an ardent opponent of the Christian church. The saint traveled to churches, spread the word of God and denounced the supporters of Arius. Due to the cruel slander of the Arians, Athanasius was forced to go into hiding. After Emperor Valens ascended the throne, the bishop returned and continued to lead the Alexandrian Church. Among the people, Afanasyev Day was sometimes called Afanasy-Lomonos. Just on this day, bitter frosts struck and residents traveling far from home sometimes received frostbite on their noses, hands or feet. Hence the name “break your nose.” The peasants tried to spend their days indoors and move quickly in the cold so as not to freeze. On Afanasyev's day, rituals were performed to expel witches from the village who had returned from the Sabbath. Usually demons flew into a home through a chimney and stove. Elder people secretly invited healers into the house so that they would speak to the stove opening at midnight. The healers also drove an aspen stake into the gap between the wall and the roof, and poured ashes from seven different stoves into the brazier. For their work, healers were presented with a decent payment. It was believed that operations should be avoided on Afanasyev Day, because they could end unsuccessfully. They did not conduct legal proceedings so as not to lose the dispute. The boy's baptism was postponed to other days, otherwise he could be struck by male diseases in the future. It was forbidden to change housing, or quarrels would begin between household members. The blizzard on Afanasy foreshadowed a long winter. If the sun appeared in the sky at noon, they expected the imminent arrival of spring. Looking at the decrease in water in reservoirs, they predicted a hot, dry summer. The warmth that arrived on Afanasyev Day predicted a small harvest of root crops in the summer. Frosts were expected when they saw a clear border around the moon or sun.

Orthodox holidays on January 31:

On January 31, the Holy Church celebrates the Day of Saints Athanasius and Cyril, Archbishops of Alexandria. Saint Athanasius was born in the third century AD in the Egyptian city of Alexandria and in his youth witnessed the terrible persecution of Christians by the Emperor Diocletian. After the end of the persecution, the future saint received an excellent education in his hometown, because Alexandria was rightfully considered the center of learning. It was here, along with ancient sciences, that Christian literature began to be studied. During that period, a new teaching appeared in Alexandria, undermining the foundations of the Christian faith. The priest Arius, a man of great learning, argued in his sermons that Jesus Christ is not god, but only a man. Many believed his convincing evidence, and Deacon Athanasius had to convince the false teacher, pointing out his errors. But Arius persisted and even called some church ministers to his side. Athanasius was forced to convene a church council, which condemned the teachings of Arius as heresy. During the period of struggle against Arianism, the saint wrote his great work “On the Incarnation of the Word,” where he connected the pressing problems of the church with the teachings of the apostles. After these events, Athanasius becomes a bishop, despite being too young. But the Arians found support at court, and supporters of the heretical teaching managed to convince the basileus of Arius’ repentance. After the heretical priest returned from exile, confusion began in the Christian church, and Athanasius became the object of slander and slander. For 10 years, the bishop's name was involved in many scandals, which displeased the emperor. As a result, out of 50 years of episcopate, Athanasius spent about 12 years in exile, but the people always defended their beloved archpastor. Saint Cyril lived in the first half of the 5th century. After receiving an excellent education, Kirill retired to a monastery, where he spent six ascetic years. After returning to Alexandria, Cyril was ordained deacon and then elevated to archbishop. Having become the head of the Alexandrian church, the bishop was faced with injustices committed by some priests. Novocian and his followers preached that those who stumbled could not return to the fold of the Christian faith. Kirill condemned this position, saying that one can retreat even under torture, which means that those who repent must be forgiven. Later, the heresy of the monk Nestorius spreads, and the foundations of the Orthodox faith again risk being undermined. The assembly in Ephesus condemned Nestorius, but the monk continued to persist. Slander flew towards Bishop Kirill, and the slander was followed by arrest. After the truth was restored, Cyril returned to the leadership of the department, which he ruled until his peaceful death in 444. Folk omens associated the day of remembrance of the saints with particularly severe frosts. It was believed that on the last day of January it was possible to fight evil spirits, for which amulets were made. By weather phenomena one could find out what year it would be: - blizzard in late spring; - thaw for a stormy summer; - circling ravens to severe frosts; - clear sunset to long, prolonged frosts; - circles around the day and night luminaries mean a very strong cold snap.

The Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of Saints Cyril and Mary, parents of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, on January 31 and October 11. Living in the vicinity of the Horde threat, the couple showed the highest example of raising a son capable of the feat of a true Christian in the most difficult times for the faith. Rostov boyar Prince Kirill married a girl of unknown origin at the end of the 13th century. Despite their prosperity and high position, the couple preferred to live far from the city in rural silence. There they were engaged in manual labor on a par with ordinary peasants, Kirill did a lot of crafts, and Maria sat up late at handicrafts. Those around them noted the Christian kindness of the boyar couple, their respect for church rules and rituals, sympathy for the poor, and hospitable attitude towards strangers. The couple had several children, one of whom was destined to become the spiritual mentor of the entire Russian people. Maria learned about the extraordinary gift of a child when she was pregnant. At the Divine Liturgy, the baby cried out three times in his mother’s womb during the Cherubic Song immediately after the words of the priest “Holy of Holies.” Those around also heard the child’s exclamation, which was very surprising. Realizing that she was carrying an extraordinary child, Mary observed fasts and church instructions with special zeal, and in agreement with her husband, she decided to dedicate the born baby to the service of the Lord. In 1314, on the third day of May, a boy was born, who, after the prescribed forty days, was carried to church for baptism. The priest sensed the baby’s special purpose, informed those around him and gave the boy the name Bartholomew in memory of the holy apostle. Attentive parents immediately began to notice the peculiarities of little Bartholomew. The baby observed fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays and completely refused the mother’s breast if Mary’s food contained non-lenten food. Growing up, the boy continued to abstain, and the mother, despite her worries, supported her son in his resistance to temptation. The hardships of the Horde invasion did not bypass the Rostov lands, and boyar Kirill and his family had to move to the city of Radonezh, Moscow principality. At the age of 20, Bartholomew asked his parents for their blessing to enter a monastery, to which he received consent, but only when the time of death of Cyril and Mary arrived. Other children of the elderly spouses had already managed to create their own families, and only Bartholomew could continue to delight their old age. Shortly before their death, both Cyril and Maria decide to devote their last days to prayers within the walls of the monastery. In 1337, a couple of schema-monks went to the Lord and found their last refuge in the land of the Intercession Monastery. Before his death, the couple managed to bless Bartholomew to become a monk, after which he took the name Sergius, gathered disciples around him and founded the Trinity Monastery, later the famous Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Many people came to Father Sergius for help, many began to visit the grave of his reverend parents and notice that their prayers did not go unanswered. A custom has developed among pilgrims - before coming to Sergius himself, one should pray before the relics of Cyril and Mary. Over the past centuries, faith in the intercession of the holy spouses grew stronger and multiplied, and Saint Sergius became not just a key figure in the history of Rus', but hope and strength leading to revival.