The UN Assembly established World Youth Skills Day in 2014, which is celebrated around the world on July 15. Boys and girls should enter adulthood with not only a basic education, but also professional skills. This is very important because... young people are 3 times more likely to become unemployed than adults. Every fifth employed boy or girl on the planet lives below the poverty line. World Youth Skills Day is designed to draw attention to the vocational training of young people to facilitate their search for qualified work and their integration into society. During World Skills Day, various events are held that are aimed at educating boys and girls: lectures, seminars, exhibitions, trainings and other thematic activities. During the year, young people have the opportunity to undergo training at institutions providing vocational training services. This is interesting: Since 1974, in the USSR, training and production plants have been operating that helped high school students obtain a working specialty. Boys and girls learned the basics of office work and programming, studied to become car mechanics, radio equipment assemblers, cutters, hairdressers, and watch and shoe repairmen. A profession could be obtained by visiting both the UPC (Training and Production Plant) and manufacturing enterprises. To support the UN initiative to establish Youth Skills Day, the WorldSkills movement operates. It holds competitions for students and workers under the age of 22. Young people from around the world demonstrate their professional skills and achievements there. Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET is a thematic project of the movement. It provides educational institutions with a platform to obtain information about specialties that are relevant to the needs of modern society: • software developers; • graphic designers; • installers of telecommunications equipment; • specialists in robotics, mechatronics and additive technologies (layer-by-layer building of objects using 3D printers); • masters of industrial design, etc. This is interesting: Since 1940, in the Soviet Union, vocational and railway schools functioned in the Soviet Union to create state labor reserves, and factory training schools were opened. They, like universities, operated even during the war. Former schoolchildren received specialized secondary education in schools and technical schools. After graduation, the state employed graduates according to the specialty they received. Charities, foundations and social movements participate in World Youth Skills Day events. They are looking for sponsors to finance social projects aimed at overcoming unemployment and acquiring professional skills for young men and women - representatives of the most active part of the population.

On July 15, an unusual holiday is celebrated in all respects - the Day of Russian Laziness. Why Russian? Laziness has long been considered one of the characteristic features of our national character. She appears in the plots of many fairy tales, and proverbs and sayings have been written about her. Are Russians really much lazier than representatives of other nations? How is this holiday dedicated to laziness celebrated? Russians are lazy, Italians are loving, the British are reserved, the Japanese are hardworking - all these are tenacious stereotypes that cannot be eradicated and continue to live even in our time, when borders between states are becoming arbitrary and nations are actively mixing. Laziness is a universal problem. In Christianity, it is included in the list of mortal sins. Today, ordinary laziness has undergone metamorphosis and received a new, more sonorous name - procrastination. This term hides the same human reluctance to do anything. The only difference is that procrastination does not mean pushing through the sofa, but going headlong into any other business and endlessly postponing the only important thing for later. From a biological point of view, laziness is a vital thing. This is the signal that the body gives when it needs rest, both physical and mental. This “protective reflex” helps to save important resources, preventing their unjustified waste, since “important work” sometimes loses its relevance after rest and no longer requires completion at all. But the abuse of laziness is a dangerous habit that can ruin a person’s life and turn him into an “amoeba.” In our folklore you can find a lot of proverbs and sayings about laziness. The image of the lazy Russian was formed not without the help of foreign guests who often came to Rus' and later described local life in voluminous essays. In many ways, our folk tales contributed to the elevation of laziness to the status of one of the key characteristics of the Russian person. The well-known Emelya, unlike his hardworking brothers, was kicking ass and resting his sides on the stove. After the hero of the fairy tale caught a magic pike, his life changed dramatically. Wishes began to come true; Emelya even rode to his audience with the Emperor on his favorite stove, so as not to have to get up from it again. Surprisingly, in the end the hero continues to resort to the help of the miraculous pike. Emelya is happy with his beautiful wife, but he never had to really work hard. Could this fairy tale become a powerful justification for the cult of laziness among Russians? Of course not. This is a dream of a simple and carefree life, which is embodied in folklore. This is also common in other cultures. Another iconic hero who was dubbed “lazy” is the glorious hero Ilya Muromets. He spent 33 years on the same stove as Emelya. As modern researchers say, Ilya from Murom, who became the prototype of the epic hero, was not in bed out of laziness, but because of health problems. The debate about what exactly the hero was sick with continues to this day. If you thoroughly understand this issue, it is difficult to imagine that a Russian person who worked in the fields, raised livestock, and later built factories and raised virgin soil, could be lazy. There is only one answer to this question - rest. Lie in bed, treat yourself to something delicious, read a book, watch a movie. The most important thing on this holiday is not to work, since Laziness Day is dedicated to quiet rest and emotional relaxation. You can get together with like-minded people and relax together in a large group, it will be even more fun to enjoy laziness.

Margarine is used in the culinary, baking industry and home baking. A fatty product based on vegetable oil is cheaper than its dairy counterpart and has been used in the cuisines of different nations of the world since the mid-19th century. Margarine appeared thanks to the developments of a French chemist with the Russian name Hippolyte Mege-Marie. The scientist was able to emulsify beef fat, which was refractory, with milk and rennet extract from a cow's stomach. Margarine was the result of a search for an alternative to butter, which most French people living during the era of Napoleon III did not have the money to buy. The boom in popularity of the product occurred during the hungry post-war years of World War II. Today, this fatty product, the appearance of which was greeted with hostility by dairy producers, is the most popular substitute for butter. Mezhe-Mourier received a patent for his invention on July 15, 1869. The date of its registration coincides with an annual holiday - the birthday of margarine. The spread, a cheap analogue of butter, is yellow in color. Like melted Indian ghee, which has long been used in cooking. Olive oil also has a light yellow tint. The product, created by a French chemist, was distinguished by its white color with a pearlescent tint. Therefore, the inventor called it, without further ado, margarine, by analogy with the ancient Greek “margaritarion” (“pearl”). The product is used for preparing snacks, convenience foods and baked goods. Margarine is in demand by people diagnosed with lactose intolerance. In addition to being cheap, it attracts consumers with other characteristics. The product does not contain trans fats or cholesterol and contains vitamins A and D. The popularity of margarine among people with average incomes and above has been brought about by the growing interest in plant-based foods in modern society. Refusal of animal products is one of the requirements of the “green agenda”. Most margarine, 4 million tons per year, is produced in the USA. America is followed by Pakistan with 1.8 million tons and India with 1 million tons. Russian consumers became closely acquainted with European analogues of butter in the 90s. At that time, television actively broadcast advertisements for the vegetable-fat spread “Rama” from the German brand Unilever. Smart marketing and the lack of opportunities to purchase more expensive products led to the fact that Rama Olivia and Rama vitality with emulsifiers and palm oil fractions were literally swept off store shelves. The products of the German concern did not become a revelation for residents of the post-Soviet space. Margarine appeared in the USSR in the 1930s. thanks to food industry engineer S.S. Ilyin. He not only developed its recipe, but also organized production throughout the country. The quality of Soviet margarine was an order of magnitude higher than foreign spreads. It was made by emulsifying animal fats and vegetable oils, combined with fermented milk or water, depending on the variety. Next, the mass was cooled and subjected to mechanical processing, similar in digestibility, taste, consistency and appearance to butter. The basis of Soviet margarine was animal fats (pork, beef and even whale), vegetable oils (sesame, sunflower and cottonseed), fresh or canned milk, beet sugar, dry or fresh cream, salt and vitamin supplements. The quality of this natural product, which was also available in powder form, did not raise any complaints. Soviet margarine was used to produce canned food, confectionery and baby food. Modern butter substitutes are often inferior in quality and composition. However, today it is difficult to imagine the culinary and baking industry without its analogues. The Birthday of Margarine invites you to remember the high standards of Soviet fat and oil products and the history of the appearance of margarine.

The Volga has been the main Russian transport artery for centuries. There was a trade route along it that connected the country with the East through the Caspian Sea and Astrakhan, and then with Central Asia, Persia and other regions. Since 1627, near the walls of the Makaryevsky Monastery, 100 km from Nizhny Novgorod, one day a year, under the supervision of church authorities, who received a fee for this, merchants sold goods. Since 1641, the fair began to operate throughout July. For the convenience of visitors, a guest courtyard and storage rooms, bathhouses and overnight accommodations were built. By 1817, after a fire at the old location, the fair moved to Nizhny Novgorod. For this reason, by order of Alexander I, who understood that the presence of a shopping center on the Volga was very important for the country's economy, the reconstruction of the Winter Palace was suspended. Time has proven that the king was right in allocating money for construction. In the 19th century There was a saying in use: “Petersburg is the head, Moscow is the heart, and Nizhny Novgorod is the pocket of Russia.” In honor of a large-scale event, the opening of a wholesale and retail trade center in 1822, a holiday was established. July 15 marks the birthday of the Nizhny Novgorod Fair. The buildings within which auctions took place, circus and theatrical performances were given, cathedrals for representatives of all faiths and hotels constituted a unique architectural ensemble. The stone fairgrounds were built according to the design of the Spanish engineer Augustin Betancourt and the architect Auguste Montferrand. The Gostiny Dvor is located on an earthen embankment and was surrounded by a bypass canal to prevent fire. The fair had the first modern sewage system in Europe, which was important for the comfort of 200-300 thousand guests staying in one place in the summer. In addition to engineering research, the complex of trade buildings was distinguished by its original architecture. Thus, the buildings in the Chinese Rows, where tea was most popular, according to Montferrand’s idea, had the shape of pagodas, which attracted the attention of travelers. The opening of the fair was attended by not only merchants, artisans and factory owners, but also ordinary people, for whom booths and circus tents worked, ballet troupes and opera singers performed. In 1833, A.S. visited the Nizhny Novgorod fair. Pushkin, who shared his impressions of her in “Eugene Onegin”: “Everyone fusses, lies for two, and there is a mercantile spirit everywhere.” Nicholas II and his wife, members of the government, foreign delegations, cultural figures such as Maxim Gorky and others came to the city at different times. By July 15, merchants flocked here every year on loaded wagon trains and barges, on steamships and by rail. Goods were brought from all over the Russian Empire and from the countries of the East - China, Iran, India and Afghanistan. On the first day, with a large crowd of people, representatives of the clergy served a prayer service at the Main House. Business transactions began after the ceremonial raising of the fair flag. The shops of Gostiny Dvor sold oriental goods (fruits, spices, precious stones, dishes, silk and textiles) and Russian goods (grain, cloth and other fabrics, furs and iron from the Urals). Wine, paints and glue were brought from Europe to Nizhny Novgorod. Until 1863, the Nizhny Novgorod Fair worked for exactly a month, then - 40 days. The trade ended with a thanksgiving service on August 25, but sometimes it was extended until September 1 and even 10. Drinking tea from a saucer became part of Russian everyday life thanks to the fair in Nizhny Novgorod. Here the ritual of tasting it was formed, becoming part of the lifestyle of the townspeople, who were among the first in Rus' to become acquainted with the Chinese drink. The hallmark of the fair was the Nizhny Novgorod harpists, who played in the orchestras of numerous restaurants. In 1896, the newly invented cinematography appeared at the fair thanks to the entrepreneur Shar Oman. For many years, the Nizhny Novgorod Fair acted as a magnet that attracted a diverse audience to the city. At the beginning of the twentieth century. Due to the advent of railways, the economic center on the Volga lost its former importance and status. In memory of its former greatness, the Birthday of the Nizhny Novgorod Fair is celebrated annually on July 15.

Rock painting arose almost simultaneously with the advent of fire among primitive people. Charcoal was used to depict scenes of hunting animals and everyday scenes. The material is still used today by painters to hone their artistic skills. Charcoal is easy to use - it easily lies on paper and is erased, allowing you to draw contour lines of an image and create rich tonal transitions from deep black to light gray. The material, which was used by artists before the advent of graphite pencils during the Renaissance, is one of the most common painting techniques. July 15th is Charcoal Drawing Day. The first mention of this technique dates back to the 15th century. At that time, artists actively used charcoal. Pressed, leaving blacker and greasy marks, was invented only in the 20th century. To transfer the image, rough paper or special paper produced for drawing with charcoal is used. A perfectly smooth surface is not suitable for this, as the material crumbles from it. An interesting effect can be achieved by using charcoal to transfer an image onto canvas, linen or watercolor paper. The material is in demand both for sketches, sketches on primed canvas, and when creating full-fledged works of art of various genres: portraits, still lifes, landscapes. In graphics, he conveys light and shape well, volume and clear details: shadows, cracks and wrinkles on faces, creating multi-layered and deep images. Coal is very expressive and differs from other artistic materials in the softness of its lines, matte and velvety strokes, as well as the subtlety of transitions. With its help, incredible and very realistic paintings are created. The famous American sculptor and artist Robert Longo chose coal as the main material for drawing on paper. Looking at his graphics, it’s hard to imagine that we are looking at paintings rather than photographs. The artist compares the results of his work with the etchings of Francisco Goya and the black and white films of S.M. Eisenstein, sketches, storyboards and paintings by the director, considering his work to be quite primitive. R. Longo claims that charcoal helps him convey the imprints of the collective unconscious: what people draw while thinking about something of their own or talking on the phone. The black and white image, despite its apparent simplicity, very well conveys the complexity and versatility of the surrounding world. Leonardo da Vinci, Giovanni Tiepolo, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso and Ilya Repin knew this. Charcoal drawing uses rubbing, soft shading and cross-hatching techniques. At the end, the work is sprayed with varnish or other fixative, covering the paper with a thin layer of film. Charcoal Drawing Day is a good reason to try your hand at one of the most ancient techniques and compete with famous painting masters.

The first mention of a plant with juicy green fruits is contained in Indian manuscripts, which are 6 thousand years old. Cucumbers, which originally grew in Indochina, eventually began to be cultivated in other regions. A wild berry called the "vegetable of Egypt" is found in the Bible and treatises of Ancient Rome. The cucumber came to Europe under Charlemagne - in the 8th century AD. In Rus', fruits from seeds brought from Byzantium began to be grown in the 10th century. Over time, the vegetable began to be included in many national dishes: rassolnik, okroshka, beetroot soup, vinaigrette and other salads. Every year on the third Saturday of July, during the harvest of this crop in central Russia, the Cucumber Festival is celebrated in Suzdal. The festival program includes performances by folk dance and song ensembles, competitions, master classes on figure cutting and cooking dishes from the vegetable beloved by many. In the Museum of Wooden Architecture, where the festival is held, shopping arcades are being built that convey the atmosphere of a traditional Russian fair. Each of the three, “Salting”, “Craft” and “Obzhorny”, offers festival guests its own program. Here they taste jam and cucumber pies, make amulets and buy memorable souvenirs. The first festival was held in the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve in 2001. The place for celebrations in honor of the annual plant of the pumpkin family was not chosen by chance - Suzdal has long been considered the birthplace of the cucumber. With proper care, the crop gives a good harvest even on a small plot of land. Vegetable gardening, the cultivation of horseradish, onions, garlic and cucumbers, was the most important occupation of the inhabitants of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality back in the 12th century. The tradition has not been interrupted for centuries. Under the USSR, cucumbers from home gardens not only ended up on the owner’s table, but were also sold. Technological progress has given farmers such a miracle of the chemical industry as the greenhouse film. Instead of building bulky wooden structures with glass frames, gardeners opted for lightweight structures with wire arches. In greenhouses, cucumbers grew quickly and abundantly, so in the summer season the harvest from Suzdal was sold at the collective farm markets of Vladimir, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl and even Arkhangelsk. Thanks to vegetable gardening, local residents were able to survive the harsh 90s. The cucumber is still the pride and symbol of Suzdal today. Ancient traditions of growing vegetables attract tourists to the city from other regions of the Russian Federation and from abroad. The shopping arcades amaze with the abundance of pickles, cucumbers of various varieties and sizes, which are sold by local gardeners and gardeners. The festival program includes gastro tours, visits to ancient Russian attractions and crafts fairs, where products of Suzdal craftsmen who are fond of folk crafts are presented. The festival, which lasts 3 days, traditionally ends with the launch of a cucumber doll into the sky.

Turkish Holidays - Democracy and National Unity Day (Demokrasi Ve Milli Birlik Gunu)

Lithuanian holidays - Battle of Zalgiris Day (Battle of Grunwald Day)

UK Holidays - St. Swithin's Day

According to the folk calendar, Bereginya is celebrated on July 15 (July 2, old style). On this date, residents honored the great Slavic deity - Bereginya, calling her a good spirit-protector of worthy people. People often imagined Bereginya as a young fair-haired maiden in a long dress. She appeared to travelers or those lost in the forest, showed them the way to their native lands and protected them from attacking goblin, merman, mermaids or ghouls. In Slavic mythology, there was not one Bereginya, but several. Residents believed that they became wooers who died before the wedding, girls or maidens-suicides who had experienced abuse. However, unlike dangerous mermaids, they protected good people: they helped residents fill their nets with fish, irrigated fields with moisture during drought, and protected children from drowning. The symbol of Beregini was called a weeping willow or birch. Therefore, on this day, residents came to these trees, bowed low and asked for happiness, love and prosperity. Young families should have planted a birch tree in their yard during this period. And it is no coincidence, because it was considered a strong amulet against evil spirits. But on the day of Beregini, lovers and unmarried girls bewitched their boyfriends. They placed a birch branch at the threshold and invited their beloved to visit. When he passed through the threshold, the girl quietly removed the twig, hid it and read a plot for the guy’s long-term love for her. Residents believed that on this day Bereginya came to the home of good people, sat down at the loom and made fabric for the whole family. That is why the people began to embroider a good goddess on towels. On her holiday, housewives brought towels out into the morning dew so that they absorbed the power and strength of nature. Then they wiped their face with it, believing that such a ritual would give more energy and health. With the advent of Christianity in Rus', the inhabitants mixed the image of the spirit of Beregini with the image of the Mother of God. Therefore, the holiday was often called the Day of the Mother of the Raw Mother of God, the Day of St. Peter the Great, or the Day of the Cheese Mother of God. On this date, the peasants prayed to the Mother of God to give a rich harvest of bread. If you noticed the first yellowness on the trees on this holiday, you were preparing for early cold weather in the fall. An abundance of berries in the forest was observed during the harsh winter season. Fine days were predicted if they saw active splashing of carp in a pond. Flocks of winged ants announced the approach of rain. But open holes in the anthill, on the contrary, promised dry weather.

Orthodox holidays on July 15:

Memorial Day of St. Photius of Moscow, Wonderworker of All Russia

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Feodotyevskaya

Feast of the Akhtyrka Icon of the Mother of God

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Pozhaisk

Feast of the Placing of the Venerable Robe of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Blachernae