One of the important holidays after Easter, the moving date of which directly depends on it. The name Pentecost reflects this: Trinity is celebrated on the 50th day after the Resurrection, always falling on Sunday (8th after Easter in Orthodoxy). According to legend, on this day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, manifesting itself in the form of a flame. This is how the third hypostasis of the one God appeared. This significant act took place in the Zion Upper Room in Jerusalem. In fact, being the first church, the walls of this room have seen many episodes associated with holiness (for example, the Last Supper) and, of course, have suffered over a couple of millennia. Now restored, everyone can visit this special place of power, because the Israeli government has provided free access. The sign was manifested in the amazing ability of the apostles to broadcast in different languages. This is a relevant act, because the idea of ​​religion can only be conveyed to people by preaching, and in their native language. On the very first Trinity Sunday, about 3,000 people were converted to Christianity. Another well-known visible appearance of the Holy Spirit can be considered a dove, but only during the Baptism of Jesus, which was reflected in icon painting (the earliest examples date back to the 6th century). And you can read about the event in some of the gospels (Luke, John and others). Historical documentary evidence can be found in the unique Didache, a written monument dating back to the end of the 1st century. It was there, in chapter 7, that the great formulation was first mentioned: “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The Greek preacher and defender of the Holy Scriptures, Clement of Alexandria, did not question the apostolic creation of this document. The importance of the Holy Spirit for the Christian church cannot be overestimated. After all, it is his demonstration that makes it possible to attract non-believers under the divine wing. Miraculous healings, the gift of wisdom and knowledge, visions and prophecies - all these are manifestations of the third hypostasis. What is distinctive is the service itself. The holiday falls on Sunday, and besides, it has the meaning of the Lord (that is, glorifying the Lord), and not Bogorodsky. Therefore, the service is especially solemn. For the Slavs, Trinity meant farewell to spring, an active welcome to summer, with all the necessary attributes: a fire, wreaths, medicinal herbs, outdoor festivities. Particular attention was paid to the birch as a symbol of Rus'. Numerous rituals and rituals associated with wood are characteristic not only of the Slavs. Birch leaves are a symbol of the Old Testament church, associated with the acts of Moses. According to legend, it was with them that the Zion Upper Room was decorated at that very bright moment. Now on Trinity Sunday they are present in the decoration of churches, as a symbol of purification and virtue, for which it is worth thanking God.

On June 23, the whole world celebrates the day of the balalaika or folk musicians. Although many consider this instrument to be originally Russian, celebrations in its honor are held all over the world. The fact that it is not recognized at the official level does not interfere with celebrating Balalaika Day, but even despite this, populist musicians celebrate this celebration with a special scope characteristic of the Russian people. In the international and state register of holidays there is no mention of Balalaika Day. However, amateurs and professionals of folk art celebrate this day on June 23 every year since 2008. The idea of ​​holding a musical festival dedicated to folk art belongs to the president of the Russian club of “folk musicians” Dmitry Belinsky (Honored Artist of the Russian Federation). The organization of the celebration was timed to coincide with two anniversary moments associated with the balalaika: 1) 320 years since the first documentary mention of this instrument in Russia. 2) 125 years since the first director of the folk art ensemble, Vasily Andreev, mastered playing the balalaika. The second name of the holiday is International Day of Populist Musicians. This celebration is celebrated by all talented people involved in folklore, as well as ordinary lovers of beautiful and catchy music. The wonderful holiday of balalaika is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in Latin America, the USA, Australia, some European countries, as well as in the former Soviet states. In many cities of our homeland, competitions and folk art festivals are held, and free lessons on playing the balalaika are given in music schools. Since 2010, in honor of the International Day of Folk Music, the “Nuggets” festival has been organized, in which talented people not only from Russia, but also from all over the world (Kazakhstan, Brazil, Belarus, Ukraine, etc.) take part. 1. Historically, the balalaika is not a Russian instrument. The “mother” of the balalaika is considered to be the doira, the national instrument of the peoples of Central Asia. 2. For the first time, a certain prototype of the balalaika is mentioned in Arabic sources (beginning of the 10th century). The famous poet of that time, Ibn Fatslan, described the funeral of a certain nobleman, where he spoke in detail about the list of objects buried with the “rich man”, among them was the thing “eine Laute”, very reminiscent of a modern balalaika. 3. This instrument came to Russia in the 19th century, along with buffoons (pipe players or guslars). However, many rulers of Rus' opposed the introduction of the balalaika into use. Tsar Alexander Mikhailovich placed the “three-string” under a ban, which ended simultaneously with the death of the tsar. But the balalaika became firmly rooted in life in Rus' only in the second half of the 19th century. 4. Previously, the name of the three-stringed instrument was “balabaika” from the word “to joke.” 5. Balalaikas should not be stored in a damp or overly sanctified place, all this can lead to drying out of the wood and a deterioration in its musical properties. Despite the fact that International Folk Musicians Day was not included in the Russian register of holidays, this does not deprive it of its popularity. This celebration provides an opportunity to show people the diversity and beauty of folk art. We hope that someday this holiday will be appreciated and a special day will be set aside for it in the calendar.

Midsummer Night is a folk Christian celebration glorifying the summer solstice. This holiday with obligatory cleansing rituals is widespread not only among the Slavs: it is celebrated in many European countries. It falls on the night of June 23-24. Sometimes it is called Ivan Kupala in honor of John the Baptist (Burner, Forerunner), because on this day Christians celebrate the Nativity of John. Some chroniclers believed that Kupala was a pagan god. However, scientists have proven that this opinion is wrong. In the era of dual faith, elements of pagan and Christian rituals combined, forming a bizarre form of celebration. The Church opposes demonic games and festivities on this holiday. The Slavic people sincerely love Midsummer night, considering it a night of youth, fun and unity with nature. Before the holiday, before sunset, it was necessary to perform a ritual bath in a bathhouse or river. That night there was a ban on sleep for everyone, otherwise they could bring disaster on themselves and their relatives. Closer to sunset, fires were lit on high ground, and the fire was produced by friction. Young people brought armfuls of firewood and brushwood. The higher the flame of the fire, the better it was. A pole was placed in the center of the largest fire, and on it was a wheel, symbolizing the sun. Singles chose their betrothed, jumped through the flames with them, holding hands. It’s not for nothing that in the fall, after Kupala, weddings were often held. Celebrants set fire to wheels and barrels and lowered them from the hills; this action was a symbol of the solstice. The girls decorated the Kupala tree with ribbons and wreaths, and the boys comically interfered with them. Then together they drowned him in water or threw him into a fire. Sometimes they burned a straw effigy of Yarila and Kupala. Mass bathing was also obligatory, because it was on this night that the water washed away everything bad. There was no need to be afraid of mermaids: according to legend, they leave their shelters from this day on. Girls told fortunes about women's fates using wreaths with candles or splinters inserted into the water. Young people were hooligans: they stole carts from neighbors, stole horses, and blocked roads. In some areas, they poured dirty water on everyone they met so that they would quickly bathe; it was impossible to be offended by this. There is an interesting custom of public ridicule, when neighbors who had stumbled were ridiculed in front of all the people. But more often this kind of roll call was organized between boys and girls from two neighboring villages. On Ivan Kupala, mothers prayed to St. John for the health and success of their children. Those suffering from headaches could ask him for healing by washing their faces with morning dew. With the help of various rituals, peasants tried to find out about the future harvest: whether it would be rich or not. People went to cemeteries and offered specially cooked porridge and the first berries to the deceased: cherries or strawberries. Some tried to collect dew, which has life-giving power. They also collected healing Ivanovo herbs while reading incantations. Particularly fearless people searched at night for a fern flower, which, according to legend, blooms only once a year. It is for this reason that the day is sometimes called Ivan the Travnik.

Islam, Christianity and Buddhism call believers to tolerance and forgiveness. Grief and insult, even if unfairly inflicted by one person on another, sow discord and hatred that disrupt the harmony of the world. “Forgiveness of insults is the shortest and most reliable path to salvation,” asserted Theophan the Recluse. The Orthodox bishop is echoed by representatives of other religious denominations, humanist philosophers and psychologists. The founders of an unusual celebration - the Day of No Offenses, which is celebrated on June 23, also agree with them. The phrase that became the name of the holiday, Let It Go, translates as “Let it go” or “Let’s pass.” The day calls for turning over the unpleasant pages of the past and starting life from scratch. In Orthodoxy, Forgiveness Sunday exists for these purposes. During liturgies in honor of the holiday, part of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount is read in churches. In it, Jesus says that a believer who has not forgiven his neighbor cannot ask God for the remission of sins. Secular people say goodbye to grievances on June 23, celebrating Let It Go Day. Not only religious figures, but also psychologists speak about the importance of forgiveness, letting go of the past and erasing negative episodes from life. Experts say that a person will not be able to repeat a happy personal life if he has a grudge against his parents. A trace of difficult situations and mental trauma inflicted by a father or mother remains forever in the child’s subconscious. In adulthood, a person will try to resolve this internal conflict with each partner, perceiving it as a projection of one of the parents. Resentment causes serious harm to our mental health. If a lot of them accumulate, a person becomes touchy, hot-tempered, overly vulnerable and depressed. The one who caused offense or caused other harm, as a rule, has already forgotten about it or does not consider himself guilty. Therefore, accumulating negative emotions, sadness or anger, and harboring anger is counterproductive and even harmful to your mental state. In some cases, grievances lead to physical illness and even cancer. American writer and psychologist Louise Hay believes that the accidents that happen in our lives are by no means random. They are a manifestation of irritation, resentment, a feeling of hopelessness and the inability to express one’s feelings. The person gets angry and wants to hit someone, ending up hitting himself. Meditation, writing down grievances on a piece of paper and burning it on a fire along with internal pain allows you to get rid of negative experiences of the past in your head and soul. Louise Hay also suggests having a pillow for beating or crying, trying to talk it out into the water or shouting in a deserted place. Forgiveness is a demonstration of fortitude, inner nobility and wisdom. A person has a choice not to tolerate bad treatment and not to communicate with someone who has insulted, humiliated, or caused other harm. But it’s worth trying to forgive his offense, so as not to waste your energy and internal resources on anger and irritation. This is what the No Offense Day calls for.

Armed conflicts, earthquakes, accidents and man-made disasters claim the lives of millions of men. Their wives remain widows, often with children in their arms. In many countries of the world, women who have lost moral support, a loved one and a friend are denied inheritance and rights to real estate by the state. This injustice, as well as social cruelty and violence, plunges widows, deprived of their usual social status, and their families into poverty. Children who are left without fathers are put under pressure - they are expelled from schools and colleges, limiting their ability to get an education and lead a decent life. In many cultures, the status of a widow is associated with witchcraft and black magic, which is grounds for taking their life. A celebration established by the UN is called upon to put an end to this obscurantism and cruelty towards women. By decision of the General Assembly, June 23 is celebrated annually as International Widows Day. The proposal to include International Widow's Day in the calendar, which was first held in 2005, was submitted to the UN by the President of Gabon. The head of state in Central Africa cited a seminal study that said there were 245 million widows in the world in 2010, almost half of whom lived below the poverty line due to the loss of their husbands. They are expelled from their own homes, humiliated and ostracized. More than 500 million children living in different parts of the planet who are left without fathers suffer from this attitude. Not only the President of Gabon, but also the founders of the Loomba Trust, which is dedicated to improving the lives of widows, reported this situation to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Indian Radi Lumba created a foundation in honor of his mother, who single-handedly raised seven children after the death of her husband. The Loomba Trust campaigns against unfair treatment of women and strives to erase the stigma associated with widowhood. The Foundation advocates for reducing poverty, providing children and their mothers with the opportunity to integrate into society - to undergo training and obtain a decent profession. Prejudice, superstition and discrimination today make life miserable for 258 million widows around the world. To give these women rights, there is a need for legal reform in India, Afghanistan, Republic of Congo, Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, Tanzania and other countries in accordance with international law. According to a number of conventions, discrimination against women and children is unacceptable in the modern world. In honor of International Widows Day, lectures, seminars and other educational events are held. On June 23, charity evenings are organized to raise funds, which are used to educate children and help families left without breadwinners.

On June 23, different countries celebrate UN Public Service Day. The holiday was proclaimed at the end of December 2002 and officially documented by a resolution of the UN Assembly. The largest peacekeeping community on the globe calls for this day to focus public attention on the importance of government institutions. UN member states traditionally hold thematic events on the holiday of government workers that are aimed at popularizing knowledge about the state structure and its significant contribution to global development processes. The large-scale celebration is based on the humane concept of universal participation and support of countries, ethical governance and helping the most vulnerable members of society in a planetary context. The main task is to establish trusting relationships between representatives of the civil service and the wider public, based on the principles of partnership, culture of communication, innovation and tolerance. First of all, the importance of the institution of civil service is promoted in peacekeeping circles. It also lays down guidelines that can motivate and guide young people to work in government agencies. For these purposes, reports and articles appear in the media talking about the advantages of public service compared to other formats of work. The holiday is associated with a rich series of events - this is the solemn ceremony of presenting the UN Prize for contribution to the development of civil service in the meeting room of the General Assembly, and the international Forum, and other memorable and festive events. The flagship procedures, of course, are the awarding of the most worthy statesmen. The leitmotif of the holiday from year to year becomes the public announcement of its main dogmas of sustainable development of the world community, maintaining security, strengthening friendly relations between states, improving people's lives and expanding their legal framework. Implementation requires comprehensive reforms, informed decisions by government agencies and new formats for the provision of public services. Russia, as a member of the UN since 1945, traditionally celebrates this holiday of statehood. Back in 1991, Boris Yeltsin made a statement that Russia would take up the baton and continue the USSR's membership in the peacekeeping organization. On this day, it is customary to congratulate employees of municipal self-government bodies, as well as representatives of leading government agencies.

International holidays - International Olympic Day

Honoring Heaven in China

July 23 is a professional holiday for the Kazakh police, which arose on the basis of a 1992 law. Then the Supreme Council of the republic, which had recently become independent, legitimized the position of the internal affairs bodies, their functionality, and the tasks they performed. Leadership is carried out by the Government of the country in the person of the President. The first president N. Nazarbayev in 2007 decided to approve June 23 as Police Day and this was recorded in a special decree. On the occasion of the Police Day of the young republic of Kazakhstan, an exhibition of weapons and special equipment is being held, including patrol cars, armored vehicles, and new weapons. The material and technical base of various departments is constantly being strengthened and financed with millions of tenge. Recreation is organized for department employees in new sports and recreation complexes. But not all Kazakhstanis trust the professional police: the volume of private security and investigation services is increasing every year. After all, with the development of the economy of Kazakhstan, the number of crimes increases. They are being fought quite successfully, and the police are resisting them. Over the past few years, reforms have been carried out to ensure that the people are confident in their protection. Special innovative projects are being developed - electronic cards, registration of applications. International experience is being adopted - placing video cameras on the streets of populated areas. Important work is underway with the involvement of experts, scientists, and representatives of public organizations to change the attitude of citizens towards law enforcement officers: to see them as a guarantor of ensuring a calm, protected life. High professionalism, impeccable behavior - these are the qualities a police officer should have, according to the president himself. The main priorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in recent years are attentive attitude, respect for citizens and the fight against corruption. On June 23, people remember the valiant deeds and dedication of professionals in their field. Police heroes are not uncommon for the Kazakh police, but it is unfortunate that some are awarded the highest signs of valor (military order "Aibyn") and glory ("Dank") posthumously. The official ceremonial part of each Kazakhstan Police Day necessarily begins at the memorial of fallen officers with a flower-laying ceremony. The President, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other high officials congratulate the police officers and members of their families. Early promotion in rank, awarding with medals, certificates, and incentives are the best gifts for this event. Graduates of specialized educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (3 academies, 2 institutes, preparatory, qualification centers of the republic) are awarded lieutenant shoulder straps. Patriotic meetings are held with the younger generation, introducing them to the lessons of courage and a profession so needed by the country.

Fun Holidays - Typewriter Day

Holidays of Luxembourg - National holiday (Grand Duke's Official Birthday)

Estonian holidays - Victory Day in the Battle of Võnnu (Voidupuha)

Holidays of Armenia - Physical Education Day

Holidays of Zoroastrianism - Beginning of Lent "Dog Days"

International holidays - International Women in Engineering Day

On June 23 (June 10 according to the old calendar style) the Sign of Timothy is celebrated among the people. The date received its name in honor of St. Timothy of Prussia, whose memory is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on this day. Timothy lived in the 4th century in Bithynia, a city of Prussia. Having become a bishop, he strengthened the faith of Christians even during the period of their persecution. For his wisdom and righteousness, God endowed him with the gift of miracles. When Timothy was reported to the pagan ruler, he ordered the bishop to be locked in prison. However, the saint preached the word of God there too and converted people of other faiths to Christianity. For this, the governor ordered Timothy's head to be cut off. On this day, people watched for signs that foreshadowed trouble for the residents. That is why they called the day the Sign of Timothy. Everyone looked closely at the little things in order to see the sign sent from above. They did not turn away from the signs; on the contrary, residents perceived them as a warning. Seeing them, the people prepared themselves for the bad, so in the future the misfortune that happened would upset the residents less. The people believed that along with signs, ghosts appeared on earth, harming living people. In order to protect themselves from them, peasants wore special herbs that warded off evil spirits - chamomile, nettle, thistle, fern. Prayers and blessed water also helped. On this day, you should take a steam bath or swim in a pond. There were also prohibitions on the day of Timothy. After eating, it was forbidden to leave a spoon on the table, otherwise the harvest could turn out to be bad. When cleaning, you should not sweep the rubbish out of your home, since the wind could pick it up and spread it among the neighbors, which would lead to a quarrel. If any of the peasants on the day of the Sign of Timothy saw wolves near the village, then they prepared for the death of cattle. A circling flock of crows warned of the approaching mass disease of residents. Having noticed an abundance of rodents in a stable or barn, they expected a hungry year. A glimpse of a light-like shine in a field meant the onset of drought and a small harvest. An audible rumble from the ground promised a fire in the village, a rainbow in the sky - starvation, fire in the clouds - the beginning of a war. Having noticed a lump in the baked goods, the owners foreshadowed misfortune or death in the family. Also, trouble was expected if a crack appeared along the mirror. But seeing your home in the light meant a happy event.

Orthodox holidays June 23:

Memorial Day of Hieromartyr Timothy of Prussia

Memorial Day of Saint Vassian, Bishop of Lavdia

Cathedral of Siberian Saints

Cathedral of Ryazan Saints

Finding the holy relics of St. Basil, Bishop of Ryazan

Memorial Day of St. Silouan, schema-monk of Pechersk

Memorial Day of St. John, Metropolitan of Tobolsk