On the last Sunday of July, a holiday of special pride and glory of Russia is celebrated - Navy Day. The initiative was launched in 1939, only during the Soviet period this holiday fell on July 24. Much later, in 1980, the Presidium of the USSR established to celebrate it without a fixed date. By decree of the President of Russia in 2006, Navy Day acquired the status of a memorable date in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Protecting national interests has been the main task for more than three centuries. It would be impossible without the valor, courage of military sailors, responsibility, and professionalism of workers and employees of those institutions and enterprises that are directly related to this area. And even in peacetime, there are a variety of important tasks, in addition to defending the country and demonstrating military power: ensuring safe research activities, participating in humanitarian and peacekeeping actions, search and rescue operations. The role of the Navy in the history of Russia is undeniable, and it received its first fame back in ancient times. The sea voyage of several hundred ships to the capital of Byzantium, Constantinople, which our ancestors carried out in 860, is a clear example, and a successful one at that. The Novgorod land, from which the statehood of Rus' began, had outlets to two seas: the Baltic and the White. She mastered the capabilities of the military flotilla, albeit on a small scale, but, nevertheless, preserved in history. As the state developed and gained access to the sea, the need arose to organize a permanent flotilla. The first attempts, such as the creation by Ivan the Terrible of a privateer, almost pirate fleet, were short-lived. But they became the very prerequisites that formed among the subsequent rulers of the state the understanding that: “There will be sea vessels...”. This phrase of the young Tsar Peter I was the beginning of the formation of a regular Russian fleet and a state decree approved by the Boyar Duma on October 20 (30), 1696, and is now listed as the founding day. Already by 1700 there were first results at our own shipyards, and almost immediately the opportunity for baptism of fire presented itself, and in 1714 the first serious victory was won. The founders of the art of naval combat are considered to be Peter himself, who trained as a child with his “amusing troops,” as well as F. Apraksin, M. Golitsyn. The development of the fleet took place through difficult trials and selfless feats, when Russia defended its interests and independence. Peter the Great, partly in memory of his father, established the St. Andrew's flag, which became the main symbol and battle banner until 1918. It was under Tsar Alexei that the first warship "Eagle" was built in 1667. This three-masted galliot received a special flag, a prototype approved by Peter. In 1992, the status of the flag returned, just as the status of the most powerful fleet was gradually returning. The historical peak of power last occurred in 1985, and the US Navy is considered its main competitor. Now the strength of the fleet is assessed not by the number of ships, but by naval aviation, submarines, and innovative technologies, therefore the Ministry of Defense gives priority to the rearmament of the Russian Navy. Events dedicated to the celebration of Navy Day are as impressive and majestic as itself, and take place throughout Russia. In St. Petersburg, where the headquarters is located, in any city where there are naval bases and water areas, military formations are especially grandiose, because special training takes place on the important date. These are Vladivostok (Pacific Fleet), Astrakhan (Caspian), Sevastopol (Black Sea), Kaliningrad (Baltic), Severomorsk (Northern) and other cities. You can see a parade of ships, a yacht show, boat races, aviation performances, and parachutists. The holiday begins with a special ceremonial part - raising the flag. Popular music on a maritime theme or classic bravura marches performed by orchestras will not leave anyone indifferent. Concerts are organized; theatrical performances and military sports competitions; master classes on current topics, for example, knitting sea knots. The launch of balloons into the sky in recognizable colors, the colors of the Russian flag, and fireworks are mandatory attributes of the holiday glorifying the Russian Navy and the people who serve the Motherland.

On the last Sunday of July, Trade Workers' Day is celebrated in Belarus. This holiday dates back to the times of the USSR, when employees of not only trade, but also housing and communal services were honored at the same time. After the collapse of the USSR and Belarus gaining independence, it somewhat modified its name and number. By decree of President A. Lukashenko of 1998, it was officially fixed in the calendar of professional dates and became an independent holiday for people employed in the trade sector. The importance of this economic activity, especially wholesale, for the budget of Belarus is significant, although not decisive. It is difficult to overestimate the export part for the state, in particular the trade turnover with the CIS countries and the main partner, both in import and export, Russia. The Ministry of Trade, which is responsible for this area, together with the president, is trying to develop trade, making it dynamic and attractive. Loyalty is shown to small businesses and online commerce. But at the same time, senior management closely monitors the quality of the goods and services offered and their legality. They attach importance to the presence of healthy competition and the mandatory professionalism of all employees. According to national statistics, over 650 thousand people work in the industry, and the number of facilities and retail space occupied by them has a good tendency to constantly increase. But the number of mass catering establishments, such as cafes and snack bars, is still far from necessary, although the contribution to retail sales is large. Now there are even fewer of them than there were under the USSR. For the first time on the territory of modern Belarus, establishments offering alcohol for sale, called taverns, appeared before the 11th century. The ancestors of Belarusians always knew how to trade, at least this is eloquently evidenced by historical finds. For example, using coins from early centuries discovered during excavations, one can trace trade relations with ancient countries such as Rome, the Arab Caliphate, and Byzantium. Already a thousand years ago, trade on the ancient Belarusian lands acquired a wide scale, and some fairs and bazaars mentioned in sources of the 14th-16th centuries. were known throughout the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia. Today, the state’s share and participation in the field is significant, and the celebration dedicated to Trade Workers’ Day does not go unnoticed. Various creative events are organized: children's drawing competitions on current topics, historical exhibitions. The holiday will seem attractive to many Belarusians and guests of the country: they will be interested in fairs with high-quality, branded goods, and promotions with discounts. Trade Workers' Day is significant for every resident of Belarus, because the well-being of ordinary customers depends on the professionalism, competence and responsibility of those working in the field.

International Friendship Day is one of the youngest holidays in the calendar. It was established by decision of the UN General Assembly in April 2011. The impetus for the adoption of the new date was the Declaration and program dedicated to activities in the field of cultural activities and non-violence in the interests of the whole world. Today, most people suffer from lack of attention and loneliness. Every person from an early age has the habit of immediately turning to his mother in case of any problems or failures, who will always understand, accept and forgive. However, as they grow older, relationships become different. Mom is not always nearby and becomes a support. For this reason, any of us, at the subconscious level, is looking for a “replacement” for the mother, in the form of a faithful comrade. Any true friendship is based on two key principles. The first is attraction, so-called sympathy, attraction to another person. The second is empathy, which involves understanding the thoughts, emotions and actions of another. How does friendship arise? As a rule, it arises like a leap in the everyday rhythm of events, meetings, relationships. At a certain point, we suddenly begin to experience strong sympathy and interest in another person who becomes very close to us. Compared to other people, he is incredibly good to work with, and in the general company I want to single him out. What is the meaning of true friendship? It includes the following rules: - support on an emotional level; - voluntary assistance if necessary; - timely repayment of debts and provision of services; - stories about personal successes; - creating a pleasant society for a friend; - complete confidence and trust in relation to another person. In addition, a true friend should be able not to criticize his friend in the company of other people, protect him if he is absent, show tolerance towards the rest of his acquaintances, not make scenes of jealousy, keep trusted secrets, not be annoying, not teach life, respect his feelings and choice. In friendship, one must be able to discern the advantages of the other and fully appreciate them. This feeling has some similarities with love relationships, but is much stronger, because, having quarreled with our soulmate, each of us will definitely begin to share our experiences with each other. And moral support must be extremely sincere. One of the main rules of friendship is the absence of self-interest and competition. The UN invited government organizations, as well as global and regional structures, to celebrate this event according to the cultural customs of a particular country and organize events that strengthen international communities and aimed at promoting dialogue among civilizations, mutual understanding and peace. A special point in the resolution is given to the significance of the new date in the matter of improving friendly relations between different states. Also, one of the main goals of the holiday is to interest the younger generation, in particular future leaders, in social activities that are aimed at respectful attitude towards different cultures. Every year, as part of the celebration of the date, many countries organize events promoting friendship and a tolerant perception of others. Now the World Friendship Day program has been added to their list. It should be noted that this holiday is not the only one of its kind: on June 9, people all over the planet celebrate another bright event - Friend's Day.

July 30 is World Embroidery Day. It is celebrated by craftswomen with embroidery hoops in their hands all over the world. On this day, close people are introduced to creativity, share experiences, conduct master classes and exchange gifts with handicraft friends. World Embroidery Day appeared in 2011. The holiday was established on the initiative of the Swedish Embroiderers Guild. According to Russian tradition, craftswomen who do needlework celebrate it on November 10 - Paraskeva Friday. The saint is considered the patroness of marriage, hearth and embroidery. This type of decorative and applied art existed during the primitive period and has not lost its relevance today. The ancient Indians decorated their blankets with thread designs, and the Laplanders decorated their clothes made of deerskin. Embroidery is present on ancient decorative panels and carpets, on tapestries of the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs and household items from ancient burial grounds in northern Mongolia. The East is the cradle of many types of art. The most ancient embroideries, dating back to the 6th-5th centuries. BC, found in China. Images on raw silk were made by ancient craftsmen using hair, threads of gold and silver. Later, embroidery appeared in Japan. Tapestries, fabric depicting a landscape or a scene from life, were used to decorate chairs and sofas during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Lint-free textiles with patterns were used to cover the walls of houses and churches - Reims Cathedral and Notre-Dame de Paris in France, the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Sketches for tapestries were created by Rubens, Raphael and other famous artists. Handicrafts were considered a proper occupation for a woman. Ladies of high society whiled away their time behind him, waiting for their husbands from the Crusades. Lace embroidery (Dresden Rocco) was used to decorate pastel linen and was applied to the clothes, bags and gloves of English nobles. Embroidery patterns were drawn and copied by the craftswomen themselves. The invention of printing made patterns accessible to the public. Schemes in the form of colored squares began to be published in special collections. One of the first was printed by Peter Quinti in Cologne in 1527. There are many types of embroidery: • chenille - velvety silk laces, with the help of which not only paintings for decoration were created in the 18th century. damask for wall upholstery, but also fringe; • cross stitch - one of the most common techniques for transferring a design using floss threads; • satin stitch - the use of special seams and techniques for applying a flat or three-dimensional image to fabric; • Richelieu - a technique for creating lace by stitching the borders of an ornament with a special seam and cutting out gaps in the patterns; • isothread - designs are obtained by pulling threads in a given sequence. Silk is used for single-sided or double-sided embroidery in the Chinese tradition. Threads made from it do not fade and do not lose their shine for decades. In Rus', birch bark could be used for ornament. A design was applied to it, which the craftswomen covered with gold threads. The technique was used to decorate the clothes of clergy. Gold embroidery was one of the most difficult to perform due to the use of metal threads of various thicknesses and jackets. To transfer the image, silk ribbons and beads are also used - bugles, rocale, pillars, etc. The threads are applied by needlewomen using a fern or Hungarian stitch, "forward needle", "herringbone", stem or chain stitch, oblique satin stitch, "half cross" and using others technician. The manifesto of the Swedish craftswomen who proposed to establish the holiday speaks of the importance of embroidery for promoting joy and beauty. Handicrafts allow you to show individuality and reveal hidden talents in women and men. On July 30, it is customary to congratulate embroiderers, wishing them creative success, inspiration and the implementation of the most daring ideas. With the help of threads, beads, pearls and other precious stones, they create real masterpieces, making our world brighter and more beautiful.

Tactile sensations - kisses, touches and hugs - give people joy and psychological comfort. Scientists believe that modern man lacks physical proximity and close contact with other living beings - relatives, friends or pets. Hug Day, celebrated on July 30 in the United States since 2018, aims to bring attention to this problem. There are several legends explaining the appearance of the holiday. One of them says that student Juan Mannu, who flew to Australia, felt very lonely - no one met him or waited for him in a foreign country. He stood outside Sydney Airport with a sign that read "Free Hugs." One of the women passing by came up to the sad Juan and said that she also felt very bad. They hugged each other, giving each other mutual support. This is interesting: Psychologist and writer Louise Hay claims that a person needs at least 4 hugs a day to survive, strengthen the psyche and immune system, and 8 to maintain vital functions. According to another legend, the tradition originated in one of the US universities, the dean of whom was famous for his severity. He flew into a frenzy when he saw couples hugging on the campus. The students decided to play a joke on the teacher. When the dean once again caught the lovers kissing, the resourceful young people said: “Today is Hug Day!” Americans love holidays, so the annual Share a Hug Day quickly became a tradition. This is interesting: In Bolivia, Venezuela and Argentina, on the second Sunday of November, it is customary to celebrate Family Hug Day. As it turns out, “hugs” are also important for representatives of a number of professions. In the United States, there are two identical holidays on April 4 and April 25 - National Newsboy and Plumber Hug Days. It has been noticed that children who received little parental affection before the age of 7, including gentle touches, do not experience feelings of love in adulthood. “Hugging” promotes the production of endorphin, a hormone that reduces pain and causes a feeling of euphoria. This is probably why International Hug Days are celebrated 4 times a year - in December and January, helping to warm up in the winter cold, and twice in the summer. This is interesting: The longest hug in the world is listed in the Guinness Book. The record was set by a pair of Danes. Monika and Lars Schmidt hugged for 40 hours and 43 minutes with a 10-minute break every 2 hours. As a reward, the couple received 10 thousand crowns (more than 1.5 thousand dollars). Tight hugs, devoid of any sexual connotation, strengthen and stimulate the immune and nervous system. They not only give positive emotions, but also increase self-esteem and relieve the fear of loneliness and depression. Hugs help relieve stress by participating in the production of oxytocin, which normalizes blood pressure and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Throughout Share a Hug Day, various thematic flash mobs and other events are held. On July 30, people will embrace loved ones, neighbors, work colleagues and even strangers in friendly hugs. The tradition of Share a Hug Day emphasizes the importance of attention, warmth and genuine care, helping to strengthen relationships between people.

Divers and divers use a bulky air tank to dive underwater. A snorkel with mask and fins are basic equipment for snorkeling enthusiasts. It is chosen by those who are not ready to spend time and money on diving lessons and buying expensive equipment, but want to get acquainted with the underwater world by swimming near the surface of the sea or ocean. This type of outdoor activity gets its name from the snorkel, a tube used for breathing. For the first time, divers tried it together with a mask in the 20s. XX century Before this, for thousands of years, people used pipes made of reeds and bamboo for breathing. Pearl divers dived for shells wearing wooden-framed glasses and a nose clip. The prototype of the modern device appeared in 1925 thanks to Giuseppe Finzianieri. The Italian built a tube from a rubber hose that allowed him to breathe without raising his head, and was attached to his glasses. This material was corroded by salt water. The tube quickly failed, so Fincianieri’s invention was not popular. In 1930, the American Andre Gerlay came up with the idea of ​​using transparent silicone instead of rubber. It captivated with its durability and low cost, which allowed a large number of people to start snorkeling. A mask with a snorkel mounted on the front was patented in 1938. Its invention belongs to the French fisherman Max Ferrier and his partner Albert Mejan. Today, a snorkel with a single-lens mask is attached to an assembly and is used by outdoor enthusiasts or underwater photography enthusiasts from different parts of the world. At low sea or ocean temperatures, divers wear wetsuits; in the tropics, a shirt with UV protection is sufficient. A holiday has been established in honor of freediving. Every year, World Snorkeling Day is celebrated on July 30th. Who invented the holiday and why this particular date was chosen is unknown. In honor of World Snorkeling Day, which is often called snorkeling, various events are held: from master classes to mass diving swims. World Snorkeling Day is celebrated by adventure lovers who enjoy exploring the underwater world and its inhabitants without diving to a depth of 10 m or more. July 30 is an excellent occasion to get involved in freediving: master diving with a mask and snorkel for swimming underwater. Noisy groups of friends and family members will add a special flavor to the festive sailing. Diving with like-minded people is not only an exciting and fun activity, but also safer than swimming alone. Snorkeling lessons take place in a pool, river or sea. Some extreme sports enthusiasts, such as Tiffany Trump, the youngest daughter of the former US President, prefer to combine diving with swimming surrounded by sharks. Fans of swamp snorkeling navigate routes in murky waters, without fear of mud and tirelessly attacking insects. Traditional places for snorkeling are the coastal areas of the Mediterranean, Ionian and Adriatic seas, Indian and Pacific oceans. Lovers of active recreation and unity with nature come here to celebrate World Snorkeling Day.

UN Holidays - World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Holidays of Ukraine - Day of Trade Workers

Cuban Holidays - Day of the Martyrs of the Revolution

According to the folk calendar, July 30 (July 17, old style) is the day of Marina and Lazarus. The name of the holiday was taken from the church calendar - the day of honoring the memory of Marina of Antioch and Lazarus of Galicia. Marina was born in the 3rd century in Antioch (modern Türkiye). She learned about Christ from her nurse and by the age of 13 she was baptized, after which her pagan father disowned her. At the age of 15, the girl received a marriage proposal from a local ruler, but in those years there was persecution of believers in Christ, so they tried to force Marina into idolatry. She was tortured with fire, water and iron, but the Lord healed her wounds, and many residents, seeing this miracle, believed in God. Then the ruler ordered Marina to be killed. The story of Lazarus began in Lydia (in modern-day Turkey) in the 10th century. From his youth, nurturing love for the Almighty, Lazar became a monk in the Palestinian monastery of St. Sava. Years later, the monk was elevated to the rank of presbyter, then he moved to his native land on the Galician Mountain. Other monks began to come to him, and subsequently Lazar built a monastery there. The saint lived to a ripe old age and gave up his soul to the Lord at the age of 72. On this day, people often observed flashes of lightning without rain. They even associated a legend about the rebellious daughter of the sea lord. The girl secretly left her father and headed to the earthly world, and now every year on this day he angrily remembers his daughter, sending flashes of blue lightning to the heavens. Lightning without rain has always been viewed with concern. The people at Marina and Lazar once again tried not to look at such reflections. The reason for this was concern about the fields, which could catch fire from a lightning strike, and then the entire grain harvest would burn out. On this day, residents prayed to the saints, asking them to protect the field from fire. And Marina was also approached with a request to protect her household from illness and poor health. If Marina and Lazar noticed insect disturbances, they prepared for inclement weather. The day itself predicted the weather for the beginning of autumn: what it was like was what was expected for the autumn season. The downpours that occurred promised frequent precipitation in the fall and plenty of snow in the winter. A cloudless, hot day meant that the winter season would be harsh and with little snow.

Orthodox holidays on July 30:

Memorial Day of the Holy Great Martyr Marina of Antioch

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Svyatogorsk

Memorial Day of the Holy Fathers of the Six Ecumenical Councils