The annual celebration of Russia Day on June 12 has become a good tradition. City streets are decorated with national symbols and flags, and citizens receive an additional day off, which they spend at their dachas and in the countryside. It is generally accepted that Russia Day is the “youngest” public holiday, which is associated with the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia in 1990. However, this is not quite true. On June 12, 1480, the Prince of Moscow refused to pay tribute to the Golden Horde, which was the beginning of a bloody battle. As a result, in the same significant year, our fatherland was freed from the oppression of the Tatar yoke. The date of formation of Russian statehood is 862, when a single union of tribes was formed under the rule of the Rurikovichs. In 882, Prince Oleg founded the Old Russian State with its capital in Kyiv. In the 14th century, the center “relocated” to Moscow. The first Tsar in Rus' was Ivan IV. The fall of the monarchy occurred in 1917. Then the Russian Republic was formed. On June 12, 1990, at the First Congress of Deputies, the most important document was adopted - the Declaration, proclaiming the primacy of the Constitution and the code of laws included in it. The Declaration was published during a difficult and unstable time of the collapse of the Union. Many republics “break away” from the consolidation and declared independence. 900 deputies voted “for” for the adoption of the declaration, which became a symbol of the revival of the new Russia, and 13 “against”. A year later, on June 12, another key event in Russian history took place - the election of the first president, Boris Yeltsin. Exactly 3 years later, he issued a decree according to which the holiday was abbreviated as Independence Day. The reaction of citizens to the new holiday was ambiguous. Few understood why it appeared and interpreted it in different semantic interpretations. We agreed on one thing: the obvious advantage is that the day is declared a day off. To clarify, in 1998 the Head of State announced on television that the holiday would henceforth be called Russia Day. It received its official name in 2002 after the introduction of February amendments to labor legislation. In 2003, a grand parade was held in Moscow with a military “sky show” of the Swifts and Russian Knights aerobatic teams. In 2007, a large-scale “Russian tricolor” event took place, during which more than a million blue-white-red ribbons were distributed. The main celebrations on this day take place in the capital, on Red Square. The Kremlin gives state awards to people who have achieved high professional success in one field or another. At the end of the day there is a traditional fireworks display. Throughout the country there are festive events, concerts with performances by stars, and folk festivals. Russia Day is celebrated by Russian emigrants around the world. The “mission” of the holiday is national unity and general social responsibility for the present and future of the Motherland. Consolidation based on legality, justice, equality, partnership, as well as respect and tolerance for the culture of other peoples. Every citizen is an integral part of a single ethnic group. There are about 180 ethnic groups living in Russia. The democratic presidential-parliamentary republic includes 85 equal subjects of the federation. At the same time, all citizens should have the same opportunities and privileges. Patriotism is a basic value in the system of educating Russian citizens, which has gained the position of a strong state with a significant role on the world stage. The main task of the state is the success, prosperity and well-being of citizens.

World Day Against Child Labor, celebrated since 2002, was established by the International Labor Organization (ILO), which is part of the UN that deals with labor relations issues. Conferences on her initiative, held in 1997, were devoted to child exploitation, the most negative manifestations. The topics raised contributed to the understanding that the situation is too serious and requires maximum public attention. Any child labor that goes against the interests of the child and affects the quality of life must be eliminated. The “youngest” should study, play, eat well, and receive basic care. This is how the UN sees the life of a child as a member of society. Very often, manufacturers take advantage of cheap labor. Developed countries have long ago adopted an international convention on the minimum age of young workers. But it’s not even a matter of age, but the voluntary nature of child labor. There is a difference when a teenager, on his own initiative, goes to work on a desired gadget, and for a legal, light job. It’s completely different when it’s a harsh daily reality, a chance to survive. It is terrible when children have no choice, as was the case, for example, with Iqbal Masih. This 4-year-old Pakistani child was sold by his own mother for debt to work hard in a textile factory. Beatings, hunger, betrayal by the police, whom he managed to turn to once, but not despair - this is how his life up to 10 years can be characterized. The second attempt to escape was successful - he was helped by the volunteer organization BLLF, of which he later became a member, actively speaking out and calling for a fight against the phenomenon of child labor. His dedication helped save several thousand children, but Iqbal was shot dead in 1995. He was only 12 years old at that time... His short life is further proof that we must fight such evil, which is unacceptable in modern society. According to the latest data, the fight against exploiters and the level of poverty that pushes parents to inhumane acts will still be a long one. The number of working children of unacceptable age is 215 million, and half work in conditions that not every adult can withstand. And the mortality rate, of course, is very high. Many children are enslaved and involved in criminal schemes such as prostitution. Credibility and suggestibility are used by prohibited religious organizations, turning children into combatants or domestic servants. The ILO, together with countries (187 as of today) that share its principles, have set the task of eliminating all manifestations of illegal exploitation. After all, even domestic work can be turned into inhumane slavery. It is not for nothing that every year on the special day of June 12, different main topics are chosen to emphasize the globality and versatility of the threats. The government and public organizations hold events of a wide variety of nature, from exhibitions to sports competitions, with one goal - to inform as many people as possible. The media are actively involved, flash mobs, seminars, and mass events are organized. They provide real support - raising funds to support minor victims of forced exploitation. The public can and should help this important issue. And World Day June 12 is a good reason to join the fight against child labor.

In the first hundred years after its birth, Islam as a religion developed in three directions. Today it is represented by Sunniism, which is preached by about 80% of believers, Ibadism and Shiism. One of Muhammad's spiritual successors is his cousin and companion Ali ibn Abu Talib. This politician ruled the young Islamic state for 4 years and 9 months after the death of the prophet. Supporters of the faithful Abu Talib Shiites (الشيعة in Arabic - “adherents”) consider him the first and main caliph, endowed with power by the will of Allah. Sunnis do not agree with the transfer of powers of the head of the community to the blood heirs of the imam. The assassination of Ali in January 661 and the death of his son Hussein began a confrontation within the Muslim community. This split the community, the ummah, into two camps. Followers of Sunnism still oppress members of the religious minority today, subjecting them to violence and persecution. International Shia Day is intended to draw the attention of the world community to this problem. The holiday, celebrated on June 12, was established on the initiative of human rights activists from Shia Rights Watch. The US-based non-profit organization raises awareness of the plight of discrimination against Shiites in Indonesia, Yemen, Egypt and other countries. International Shia Day issues against the marginalization of religious minorities, which results in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Muslim believers. An example of this is the genocide of Shiites in Iraq under Saddam Hussein. The fundamental difference between the two religious movements is the discrepancy regarding the leadership of the Muslim community. Shiites believe that only a descendant of Abu Talib and his wife Fatima can be the head. The title of imam must be inherited. Sunnis are convinced that the community should be led by caliphs elected by its members. Shiites do not agree that any outstanding interpreter of the Koran can apply for this high post. According to religious minorities, this approach trivializes the title of caliph. These differences are superimposed by an ethnic component: Sunnism is primarily the religion of the Arabs, and Shiism is the religion of the Persians, although there are many exceptions. International Shia Day is widely celebrated in Iran, where this branch of Islam is dominant, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Lebanon and Iraq. A large number of supporters of the teachings of Ali ibn Abu Talib will live in Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the eastern regions of Turkey and Qatar. Shiites not only advocate an imamate, in which the supreme leader of the ummah is its political and spiritual leader. Representatives of the movement have other claims against the Sunnis. Shiites are confident that some verses, verses that contained an indication of the appointment of Ali ibn Abu Talib as the spiritual successor of Muhammad, were removed from the Koran. The Sunnis are blamed for the crime they organized in the 18th century. massacre after the capture of Iraqi Karbala. The bloody pages of history do not allow the followers of Abu Talib and the Islamic majority to reconcile. While spiritual leaders and politicians in Eastern countries are trying to unravel this tangle of contradictions, human rights activists are calling on Muslims to remember prudence and love for their brothers in faith in honor of International Shia Day.

Rapid development at the end of the 19th century. Chemistry as a science, on the one hand, created wide opportunities for use in industry, on the other hand, it was fraught with a lot of dangers for people. For the first time in human history, gas weapons were used in 1915 during the First World War. Germany, determined to demonstrate its superiority, used chlorine and mustard gas against the French infantry. This and similar toxic substances affect mucous membranes, paralyze breathing, cause eye burns and lead to death from suffocation. To protect against gas attacks, soldiers of the Entente bloc used a cloth moistened with water. The military was not prepared for such a turn of events. Their equipment lacked “pulmonary protectors”, patent US 6529 for which was registered in the United States in 1849. However, even with their presence, devices in the form of gauze bandages for the face did a poor job of filtering out deadly substances. However, in honor of the invention of this particular device, a holiday was established on June 12 - the Birthday of the Gas Mask. The air filtration device, which was invented in 1849 by Lewis Fectick Haslett, a resident of Kentucky, contained sponge tissue. “An inhaler or lung protection,” as the device was called in the patent, retained only a small range of toxic substances, therefore, following the results of the First World War, it was modified by chemist Nikolai Dmitrievich Zelinsky and industrial engineer Edmond Kummant. Scientists, whose gas mask could be worn on both people and animals (horses and dogs), used carbon, known for its absorbent properties, for filtration. Nicholas I, to whom the new device was demonstrated, personally gave the command to begin its production. And by the end of 1916, over 11 million Zelinsky-Kummant combat gas masks were supplied to the army. The Russian scientist did not file a patent for his invention, which was fundamentally different from the device invented by L.F. Haslett. Gas mask N.D. Zelinsky, who did not receive any material benefit from its production on an industrial scale, is now in service with many armies of the world. The device, consisting of a face mask-helmet and a filter-absorbing box connected by a tube, protects people from toxic chemicals and radiation. During the time of N.D. Zelensky used only activated carbon as a filter; today metal oxides and salts are added to it. A modern gas mask includes a bag and anti-fog films; some models are equipped with intercom membranes. Personal respiratory protection is used when working underground if there is a possibility of poisoning with methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and at home when in contact with solvents and chemicals. The Zelinsky-Kummant device is also used in case of emergencies and industrial accidents. Wanting to pay tribute to this important invention, people around the world celebrate the birthday of the gas mask on June 12th every year.

The English philosopher and psychologist Gilbert Rhyne, who published the work “The Concept of Mind” in 1949, was a proponent of the theory of logical behaviorism. This approach proposes to consider the behavior of living beings as a result of personal experience and body reactions to environmental factors. This concept suggests taking into account not only reflexes, but also consciousness and subjective experiences of a person. G. Rhine was convinced of its dual nature, consisting of matter (body) and soul. These substances, according to the philosopher, are inseparable and influence each other. In his works, Rhine draws attention to the fact that when analyzing the behavior of a living creature, the spiritual component is very important, and not just physiological reactions. To denote the dualism of human nature, the philosopher used a comparison and the expression “ghost in the machine.” This approach has led scientists to wonder whether certain types of cybernetic devices have a subjective world of mental experiences? Can a machine that functions essentially like the human body think? In modern realities, these questions have not only an abstract philosophical significance, but also an applied one, taking into account developments in the creation of artificial intelligence. If we recognize the presence of consciousness in a machine or robot, how humane would it be to destroy these technical products due to obsolescence of the models or the high cost of repairs? How to distinguish a soulless unit from a thinking machine? In honor of this philosophical puzzle, “Ghost in Technology” Day was established, which is celebrated on June 12. It is no coincidence that the science fiction writer Ray Bradbury named one of his stories The ghost in the machine. In books from the 50s, he already predicted the advent of smartphones, smart watches and cellular communications, plasma panels and 3D image formats. Considering Bradbury's gift of foresight, we can say with a high degree of probability that the discovery of consciousness in a machine is a matter of the near future. Ghost in the Machine Day and the questions it raises are especially relevant in the context of digitalization and AI development. The expression "ghost in technology" is used by programmers to refer to logically inexplicable computer failures. In 2022, American engineer Blake Lemoyne, while testing the LaMDA neural network, discovered to his surprise that the system has its own consciousness. During long conversations with the chatbot, the programmer came to the conclusion that the machine algorithm developed by Google has “feelings, emotions and subjective perception.” Ghost in the Machine Day is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the material and spiritual, the relationship between body and mind. The Day of "Ghosts in Technology" invites you to think about the fact that the ability to think can be inherent not only in highly developed living beings, but also in technical devices.

Holidays in Finland - Helsinki Day

Holidays of Ukraine - Stock Market Worker's Day

According to the folk calendar, the snake holiday is celebrated on June 12 (May 30, old style). It was believed that on this day snakes, snakes and vipers emerge en masse from their shelters to procreate. During the breeding season, even non-venomous snakes became quite aggressive, so residents were careful to leave the village, bypassing thickets of grasses, bushes and swamps. According to biblical stories, the Devil reincarnated as a snake. Through lies and persuasion, he forced Eve to taste the forbidden apple and share it with her husband, after which Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden. That’s why people didn’t like snakes and considered them vile. In addition, they bit painfully, and the venom of some types of snakes could be fatal. Small species were considered especially dangerous. In order to protect themselves from snake attacks on the Snake Festival, residents tried not to go outside the village unless necessary. And if they did go out, they took with them a fern root, an ash tree branch or an evasive peony. To prevent snakes from crawling into the basket for berries and mushrooms, Veronica flowers or fern leaves were placed in it. Rich residents carried an emerald in their pockets, believing that snakes avoided them. On this day it was forbidden to kill reptiles, because the entire creeping race could stand up for their relatives. If the snake managed to bite someone, then chewed horse sorrel root, lovage root or lungwort leaf were applied to the bite. Then the victim was sent to a healer, who read out special spells for recovery. However, there were benefits from reptiles. They ate large quantities of rodents, which harmed the farm and spread diseases. Traditional healers prepared healing tinctures from snake venom for asthma, rheumatism, heart and neurological diseases. The melted fat of the reptile helped in the treatment of skin inflammation. On the Snake Festival, peasants planted beans in their gardens. When they landed, a conspiracy was read out. In order for them to produce a good harvest, they were first soaked in water from winter snow. Such water could be found in deep ravines, where snow could lie until the beginning of summer. If on a given day the absence of morning dew on the plants was noticed, then rainy weather was expected in the evening. Watching the clear sunrise, residents waited for clear days. The calls of owls were heard as the weather worsened. The south wind foreshadowed a warm autumn, the north - cold and protracted, and the west - with frequent precipitation.

Holidays of Turkmenistan - Science Day

Shavuot is one of the most important dates in the Jewish calendar. This holiday is often called the day of the giving of the Torah, the national religious dogma. Several years ago it became a national holiday, and today is a day off, regardless of what day of the week it falls on. According to ancient custom, Jews celebrate the holiday for two days. Shavuot is translated from the local language as “weeks.” This is an important point, since to determine the exact date of the celebration it is necessary to focus on another national holiday - Passover. From the second day of this date, seven weeks are counted (a total of 50 days from Passover). Only then does the celebration of Shavuot begin. According to historical data, after the world-famous Egyptian events (the Exodus of the Jews), people walked through the desert for a long time and only on the fiftieth day did they reach the mountain foot of Sinai. In this place, the holiest place for Jews, God gave the Torah to the travelers. Conventionally, this meant concluding an agreement. Thus, God gave the people the opportunity to become sacred. In turn, they had to preach religious principles on the territory of various states. According to legend, Moses had at his disposal a Testament with several commandments written on two stone slabs (tablets) (there were 10 in total). At the same time, the prophet inherited the verbal commandments. Later, some of them were recorded in writing. This is exactly how the well-known sacred Jewish book Torah turned out. The rest was recorded after 1500 centuries. Today, this is the famous Talmud. Like most national religious holidays, Shavuot symbolizes not only a significant event for the people - the transmission of the Torah. This celebration also plays an important role in the agricultural sector. Figuratively it is a symbol of new life and laws. In other words, it marks the beginning of the next season in the traditional calendar and the end of the agricultural year. Shavuot seems to usher in summer work and coincides with the harvesting of the harvest, primarily wheat. As a result of this, a special custom arose many years ago. The fruits of grain crops were ground into flour, from which two loaves were made. The resulting bread was presented as a gift to God, bringing it to the temple. Later, this tradition was transferred to other gifts of nature - pomegranates, figs and olives. The solemn day begins with prayer, where a separate part is dedicated to Shaviot. In Ashkenazi settlements, before reading the Torah, local residents open the Book of Ruth. In the process of reading the Pentateuch, important importance is given to the Ten Commandments. Today, Israeli synagogues and Jewish temples in other countries host lavish events dedicated to Shavuot. In every agricultural settlement, the holiday is always noisy and fun. Scrolls of the Torah are displayed in temples, telling visitors the history of its creation among the Jews and reading out the commandments. Some truly religious people go to Jerusalem, to the world-famous Western Wall, where they pray all night. Food is of great importance during the holidays. Focusing on ancient legends dedicated to the appearance of the Torah and sacrificial bread, local residents supplement their diet with dairy and flour foods. Particularly popular are all kinds of pies, pancakes with cottage cheese, honey cakes, and any variety of dairy cuisine. Indeed, according to legend, after returning from Mount Sinai, the Jews set up a camp, where they lived, eating mainly dairy products.

Orthodox holidays June 12:

Memorial Day of Hieromartyr Vasily of Smolensky

Cathedral of Saints of the Penza Metropolis

The beginning of Peter's Lent traditionally falls on the 57th day after the celebration of Easter or a week after Trinity. The duration of the summer fast is not fixed: each year it lasts a different number of days depending on the date of Easter. This is an important period of spiritual and physical abstinence for the Orthodox world, a time of subordination of bodily needs to the power of the spirit. It is a reminder of the lurking danger when believers forget about the love of God and lead an unrighteous, sinful life, and also teaches them to neglect personal desires in the name of serving the Divine principle. The origin of Petrov's Fast does not have a specific background. According to some historical data, fasting was named after the apostles Peter and Paul, and involves following their traditions, namely, abstaining from food after Pentecost. They took this “step” so that worldly affairs and physiological needs would not distract them from preparing to preach the Gospel. According to other sources, there is no connection with the life of the apostles, and the fast itself was originally intended for people who were unable (for various reasons) to observe the canons of Lent before Easter. So, Petrov’s Fast provided this opportunity to fast, so as not to worry all year about “violating” spiritual regulations. The first mentions of Peter's Fast go back to the very origins of the Orthodox Church. Its establishment is spoken of in the writings of the apostles, where it is written that “justice requires fasting after the relief of the flesh after the celebration of one week.” The final approval of the summer fast took place after the construction and consecration of the churches of Peter and Paul in Rome and Byzantium. Christians began to spend this summer time before the Day of Remembrance of the Apostles (July 12) in fasting and prayer. It was common among people to say that on this day “Peter and Paul reduced the hour.” During fasting, one must not indulge in lusts and vices in order to remain virtuous and pious. Peter's Fast is not as strict as the Great Fast. On some days it is allowed to eat fish; meat, eggs and dairy products are prohibited. The basis of the table is greens and dishes “derived” from them - botvinya, okroshka, cabbage soup, as well as berries and cereals. The diet is as follows: Monday - hot food without oil, on all other days you can eat fish, with the exception of Wednesday and Friday, when only dry eating is allowed. On weekends, drinking wine is acceptable. Despite the relaxation, people called the fast meager. It fell during a period when winter supplies had already been eaten, and the new harvest had not yet ripened. During Lent, it was forbidden to get married and baptize children. However, this particular time is called the time of weddings. At the feast after the state registration of marriage there should also be lenten dishes. It is possible that among the guests there will be people who are fasting. Having fun is not prohibited, but it is customary to observe a number of decencies: no vulgar competitions, ambiguous jokes and strong alcoholic libations. Peter's fast sets us up for great work, spiritual cleansing and strengthening of the inner core, subordination of selfish needs to the power of the spirit.