Historians are people who live backwards. Just kidding, but without their work humanity would hardly have learned so much about its past. Modern researchers make claims against representatives of the profession, who find a lot of inconsistencies in the hypotheses of Herodotus’ followers. But be that as it may, both supporters of traditional science and alternative scientists celebrate Historian’s Day on March 28.

The month of March for many years was “black” for the Balkar people, reminiscent of the tragic events in their history. It was in March 1944 that Balkars were massively evicted from their native lands. During Stalin's times, the practice of forced relocation of indigenous peoples was common. In the case of the Balkars, the official reason for this was accusations of participation in collaborationist groups that defended the interests of the Nazis during wartime. According to unofficial information, it was planned to annex the territories liberated from population to Georgia. More than 37,000 people became forced migrants - adult men and women, children, and the elderly. Among the exported Balkars there were many leaders of various ranks and artists. Even the front-line soldiers who returned home, including those who received disabilities, were not spared the sad fate. People were transported in railway carriages unsuitable for this purpose. The vast majority of them did not have the opportunity to collect the things they needed on the road, including warm clothes. More than 500 people did not survive such a terrible trip. The operation to evict the Balkars took place in a short time, taking no more than two weeks. People subjected to deportation lost not only their homeland, but also almost all their acquired property. Sometimes lacking the most necessary things for arranging everyday life, they found themselves in new places of residence - in the Uzbek, Tajik, Kazakh or Kyrgyz SSR, in the Far North. After these events, the republic was renamed the Kabardian Autonomous Republic. Some of its regions were annexed to the Georgian SSR. The deported peoples received official permission to return to their hometowns and villages only after 13 years. This happened through the publication of a series of Decrees. At the same time, the Kabardian Republic was transformed into the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The latter was enshrined in the law of the local Supreme Council issued on March 28, 1957. This date was chosen for the holiday, established in 1994. The return resettlement lasted until the early 1980s. As a result, 90% of the evicted representatives of the Balkar people returned to their homeland. The celebration of Revival Day is quite large-scale, ceremonial and entertainment events are held throughout the republic. Concerts, sports competitions, exhibitions of works by photographers and artists, a car rally and a horse procession are obligatory on this day. In the evening they fire fireworks. The largest celebration takes place in the capital of the republic - Nalchik. Balkars spend most of this day with their family. They remember the tragic years for their people, listen to the stories of old people, and sit at the festive table.

“Our hearts demand change,” sang the lead singer of the cult group “Kino” V. Tsoi in the late 80s of the last century. This musical composition has become a manifesto for an entire generation, but its call is relevant both for everyone together and for an individual in particular. Each of us sometimes needs to shake ourselves up and try to change our lives for the better. March 28 is the Day of Great Changes, which, despite the fact that it came from abroad, is gaining popularity in Russia year after year. The holiday encourages you to leave your comfort zone and take a decisive step towards a new life. “Even in the worst fate there are opportunities for happy changes,” said the famous philosopher and scientist of the Renaissance, Erasmus of Rotterdam. His statement can push both pessimists and insecure people who live in anticipation of a miracle to take a radical step. On March 28, you need to at least try to become bolder and more decisive, rushing towards the new and unknown. Feel cheerful and energetic and convey this inner feeling to others. Let them feel the spirit of change too! Hinduism, like Buddhism and the religions of India, is characterized by a philosophy of contemplation, measuredness and leisurely existence. However, the great politician and thinker Mahatma Gandhi called on his compatriots: “If you want a change in the future, become that change in the present.” You shouldn’t put off a planned and long-planned task until later, and start a new life in the form of morning jogging or following a diet until Monday. Any day, not just March 28, can be a great start for changes, albeit small ones. And over time, they will entail more global transformations: figure, social circle, place of residence, work or social status. “People who know how to change again and again are much more reliable and happier than those who don’t,” says English actor and writer Stephen Fry. Indeed, the one who is in constant motion (expanding his horizons, making new friends or conquering mountain peaks) has a much richer and more interesting life than that of an ossified retrograde. People who, despite their age and position in society, set new goals for themselves and achieve them, instill in those around them confidence in the limitless possibilities of man. The day of big changes encourages you not to be lazy, but to prove to everyone around you that you are the real master of your own life. Relatives, work colleagues and just acquaintances will certainly be given a charge of energy of success and confidence that all innovations, large and small, will lead to the better. The desire for change is as contagious as yawning or laughing, so starting with yourself will encourage other people to transform too. Even the ancient Greeks argued: “Everything flows, everything changes.” And on March 28, everyone has the chance to take the helm of a ship that is carried along its stormy streams by the river of life.

It is not known for certain whether the person whose memory day is revered by the Scandinavians on March 28th existed. There is not a single factual document confirming the reality of Ragnar Lothbrok's life. Nowadays in Norway, Sweden and Denmark the king’s most famous campaign is celebrated as a symbol of courage and bravery. This conqueror had absolutely no plans to die after seeing Paris. The date March 28 was chosen because on that day in 845, Ragnar carried out the famous siege of the capital of the West Frankish kingdom. Semi-mythical sources claim that the Viking leader commanded more than five thousand warriors and had 120 ships in his fleet. For those times, these figures are so impressive that they cause disbelief. Perhaps a certain prototype of Lodbrok really existed, distinguished by the abilities of a tactician, strategist and commander, successful in military campaigns. Due to the romanticization of this personality, as well as due to the loss of written sources, the image of Ragnar began to be idealized and overgrown with legends. Legends have survived to this day about the direct relationship of Lodbrok with Odin, the supreme deity of German-Scandinavian mythology, the All-Father (Father of all things). The name Lodbrok itself is etymologically a compound word - Lod + Brok, that is, Fate + Banner, Fate-Znamenny. The king's banner depicted Odin's raven, his wing indicating the fateful direction. In fact, the Vikings loved to use a banner with the image of a black raven on campaigns. The dark triangular spot of the flag was visible from afar, and was intended to frighten by the very fact. Lodbrok is not original here, but it was he who perpetuated the tradition of the Raven Banner in his name. The hero has another nickname - Ragnar Leather Pants. One of his wives, Lagertha, made these clothes for her husband. And those trousers were so strong that they acted as armor. No arrows or spears were taken from Lodbrok. Having fallen into a pit with poisonous snakes, Ragnar managed to get out of it and survive because the reptiles could not bite through the famous pants. The fame of them subsequently played a cruel joke in the fate of the king. Having many wives and concubines, Ragnar fathered a large number of sons. The children took after their father and could soon outshine their famous parent. Lodbrok was afraid of this and in every possible way refreshed the glory of his heroic deeds, so as not to give primacy to his sons. And he called to his sons at the very end of his glorious life, sitting in a pit with the notorious snakes. The fact is that the English king Ella II, who knew about the story with pants and reptiles, was able to capture the frantic Ragnar. He decided to throw the Viking into the snake's den. The trousers were able to protect only part of the body, but the rest was available for bites. Dying in terrible agony, Lodbrok exclaimed that “his piglets should know what it’s like for him, the old boar.” This meant the hero's children; the king thus called upon them to take revenge. And the sons took revenge. Ragnar's descendants were especially furious that their father's death did not occur on the battlefield, but in the shameful den of snakes. The British were defeated, Ella II was brutally executed. And in the epic of the Scandinavians there remained the legend of Ragnar Lothbrok, the hero in leather pants.

Laundry is one of the most time-consuming and thankless household chores. If you don't take any measures, dirty things will accumulate faster than they can be washed. Therefore, the invention of a special machine, which (at least partially) took over this difficult and not the most pleasant job, became a real salvation for housewives. The automatic device has made washing a completely effortless task. It is enough to load the laundry, add powder, set the required mode, and the miracle of technology will wash, rinse, wring out and even lightly iron the textiles. Of course, the tireless assistant deserves a special holiday. March 28 is considered the birthday of the washing machine. On March 28, 1797, an invention was patented - a washing board with a relief surface. And already in 1851, J. King invented a prototype of a modern “washing machine”, equipped with a rotating drum. The only difference from well-known models is not an electric drive, but a manual drive. There was no doubt about the usefulness of the unit, and the inventors tried to improve it. In 1856, a mechanically driven design was introduced. For better washing quality, wooden balls were used. And W. Blackstone in 1874 invented a device for his wife that was launched by the muscular power of an animal. This device was the first washing machine for domestic use. Gradually, the unit was improved and became more complex due to additional equipment: devices for draining water, rinsing, spinning, etc. 1. Oddly enough, the first prototype of a washing machine was an ordinary ship's rope. Sailors on ships tied things to a rope and threw them overboard. Ocean water perfectly cleaned clothes from dirt. Of course, after drying, sea salt remained on the clothes, but there was simply nowhere to get fresh water for washing and rinsing. 2. In addition to the usual washing machines, there are highly specialized units. For example, for cleaning glasses, both regular and sunglasses. Spanish craftsmen invented a washing machine for pets (not to be confused with a drum unit, which pets strive to love). This is a compact shower stall that allows you to wash cats and dogs with minimal stress. 3. In addition to automatic models, which have already become familiar, there are robotic units that not only wash clothes, but also dry, iron and even carefully hang them on shelves. True, the cost of such “smart” assistants is very high. 4. A washing machine is a rarity in an American apartment. Americans prefer laundries. This is the merit of the famous gangster Al Capone. He opened a huge number of inexpensive laundries for money laundering (of course, in a figurative sense). This did not help him; the gangster still ended up in prison. But the habit of using public laundries remains to this day. 5. Many housewives use vinegar or citric acid crystals to combat scale. This is a truly effective method, but it should not be abused. The acid “eats” the rubber seals, which reduces the life of the unit as a whole. 6. The first units did not have a housing that hid moving parts. Only after an accident was miraculously avoided did washing machines begin to be produced with a closed housing.

Funny Holidays - Respect Your Cat Day

Russian holidays - Day of formation of the duty units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation

Every year on March 28, the professional holiday of all specialists working in the State Security Service is celebrated on the territory of Azerbaijan. This is part of the state law enforcement system, the key tasks of which are the detection and prevention of crimes against the government, internal and external security of the country. The structure’s responsibilities also include intelligence and information activities, the security of members of government organizations, etc. The holiday was established in accordance with the written order of the Head of the Republic in the spring of 1997. Not a day off. The date of the celebration itself was not chosen by chance. It was on this day in 1919 that the foundation of the state security organs was laid in the country. On March 28, intelligence and counterintelligence departments were opened in the Republic. A year later, after Soviet power was established in the state. After the establishment of Soviet power in the country in 1920 and the creation of the Azerbaijan Socialist Soviet Republic, these bodies came under the guardianship of the Cheka under the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR, and later under the patronage of the KGB of the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the USSR and Azerbaijan gaining the status of an independent Republic, the national security unit was reassembled as an independent organization. Currently, these bodies, together with the Foreign Intelligence Service, founded several years ago instead of the closed Ministry of National Security, act as executive bodies of state power. They exercise powers established by the law of the country in the field of intelligence and counterintelligence, protection of state secrets, unraveling and preventing various crimes. Among the main areas of activity of the division are the following: - activities in the field of intelligence and counterintelligence; - protection of the country's economy; - war against corruption offenses; - energy security; - fight against terrorists, illegal drug trafficking and smuggling, illegal migration, slave trade and arms sales. In addition, the authorities’ task is to investigate crimes committed on the Internet. It is noteworthy that the former head of the Republic, Heydar Aliyev, who established this holiday, himself served in the state security agencies for 25 years. He became the very first general in this organization. Every year, during the celebration, the country's leaders and State Security Service officials congratulate their charges on this professional date. The most distinguished employees are presented with awards, memorable gifts, certificates and written thanks, and are awarded military ranks.

Holidays in the Czech Republic - Teacher's Day in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

On March 28 (old style - March 15), according to the folk calendar, Alexander's Day is celebrated, also called the Forest Grooming holiday. On this date, Orthodox believers honor the memory of Saint Alexander of Side and the two martyrs Alexander of Caesarea, thanks to whom the name of the day was borrowed. The priest Alexander of Sidsky suffered at the hands of the pagans in the 3rd century. During the period of persecution of Christians, he was forced to make a sacrifice to the pagan gods, but Alexander refused. The priest was brutally tortured and then his head was cut off. The story of the Alexanders of Caesarea had the same ending. Christian youths, along with other believers, died for their faith in Christ, becoming victims of idolaters at the beginning of the 4th century. Among the people, Alexander's Day was often called Forest Grooming. The holiday was dedicated to honoring the forest and forest spirits. The peasants believed that evil and good spirits lived in forest lands. Its owner was considered to be the forest man, also known as the goblin. He was approached with respect and asked for permission to hunt or gather in the forest. The forester's assistants were a waterman, a mushroom picker, a berry picker, a wood picker, a moss picker, a root picker, etc. The forest was an important place for the inhabitants, because not only game, berries, mushrooms were obtained from it, but also materials for building houses, tools or kitchen utensils. On Alexander's Day they visited the forest, thanked it for the gifts and apologized for the interference. Everyone read a special conspiracy so as not to get lost in the forest. On this holiday, healers prepared useful potions from herbs and roots collected in the forest before the onset of winter. Residents did not go alone to the forest for forest grooming, since the time for wolf weddings had begun. The wolves rushed around the grove in pairs, preparing for new offspring. Females looked for a den, and males became more irritated and could attack approaching people. Watching the return of birds on Alexander's Day, we waited for the arrival of seagulls. If you noticed them swimming in a pond, you prepared for cloudy days. The chirping of sparrows promised sunny weather. But little water in the rivers foreshadowed a dry summer and a small harvest.

Schnorr soil, which was mined near Dresden and used to powder wigs, turned out to be an excellent material for the production of dishes. The possibility of using white clay in this way was first noticed by the alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger. On March 28, 1709, he handed over to the office of Elector Augustus the Strong a recipe for the production of porcelain products. Dishes made from burnt kaolin were not inferior in strength and beauty to similar Chinese products. In honor of Betgerr's discovery, made by him together with the scientist Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhaus, a holiday was established. The birthday of Saxon porcelain is celebrated annually on March 28th. Manufacturers from the city of Meissen began producing the finest products from baked white clay in 1710. Therefore, another name for Saxon porcelain is Meissener Porzellan. Dishes branded with two blue crossed swords quickly gained popularity in Germany, and later throughout Europe and Russia. The first products completely copied Chinese porcelain in shape, color and patterns. Over time, Meissen dishes acquired an original and recognizable appearance. Products from Saxon porcelain were present in the collections of the imperial house of the Romanovs, Peter I and Catherine II in particular, Count Sheremetyev and other nobility. The industry owes its development to the names of several ancient families. So, at the end of the 19th century. German manufacturer Friedrich Kästner decided not to follow in the footsteps of his father, the largest coal industrialist in Saxony, but to take up a new direction of the family business. In January 1883, a manufactory was opened with an art workshop for painting porcelain products. After 3 years, the staff of the Kaestner Saxonia factory, which produced exquisite coffee and table sets, already included 180 people. Craftsmen painted drawings of flowers, landscapes, animals and hunting scenes onto porcelain dishes. As a sign of gratitude to his family, which allowed him to do what he loved, Friedrich Costner used the image of mining tools in the stamp. First - two crossed mountain axes (Bergbarten), then - a hammer and a chisel on long handles. Kaestner Saxonia brand tableware was in demand both in the German Empire and abroad. The design of the first Meissen porcelain products corresponded to the Rococo style. Fancy curls and patterns were applied to tableware; a special line included products in the form of figurines of marquises, columbines and shepherdesses. Fashion trends and changes in tastes could not pass unnoticed for Saxon porcelain. Thus, in 1905, the Kaestner Saxonia manufactory began producing tableware in the Art Nouveau style, introducing the technology of Copenhagen underglaze painting, which was the latest fashionable squeak of that era. Over hundreds of years of existence, Saxon porcelain has managed to retain its original appearance and Rococo design. Dishes, toiletries and writing utensils, vases and other decorative items from white clay mined near Dresden are still created by hand. The recipe for each of the 10,000 shades of paint for painting, according to established tradition, remains unchanged and is kept in the strictest confidence. The famous Kaestner Saxonia and other porcelain factories were closed as unprofitable in the middle of the last century. The Meissen manufactory still produces about 175,000 items - dishes, candlesticks, figurines and other products. The company's trademark is applied with cobalt paint under the glaze. Meissener Porzellan is a symbol of unrivaled German quality and artistic craftsmanship. Therefore, every year on March 28, the Birthday of Saxon porcelain is widely celebrated in Germany.

The last week of Lent, preceding Holy Easter, is called Passion (Great). The fourth day of this week is called Maundy Thursday. The date of the Great Feast is calculated by Western Christians depending on the occurrence of Catholic Easter. This solemn Holiday is a remembrance of the Last Supper and the Lord’s establishment of the sacrament of Holy Communion. The Last Supper is an event described in the New Testament story, telling about the last meal of Jesus Christ with his 12 disciples. Why the Last Supper? It takes place secretly, because the capital of the world - Jerusalem - is already preparing for deicide. Judas Iscariot has already received his thirty pieces of silver, and a denunciation has already been drawn up by the Jewish bishops. The guards are already roaming around the city, looking for as a criminal the one who a few days ago was greeted as the Messiah and King with palm branches. The Zion Upper Room at this time is a place hidden from most people, where the greatest event in world history takes place in secret: God deifies man. The time for the crucifixion has come, and on the eve of this event the Lord for the last time wants to teach the apostles deep love and humility by personal example. This love was especially manifested in the fact that Christ personally fulfilled the custom that existed at that time among the Jews. The custom was that before supper it was obligatory to wash the feet. Usually this was done by a servant who went around to all the guests with a towel and washbasin. None of the disciples performed this service for the Savior before supper: all 12 reclined for the meal. Disputes even began among them about who was worthy of greater veneration. The Lord, seeing this, took off His outer clothing and began to wash the disciples’ feet. In the name of love, the Lord condescended to serve as a slave, once again showing by personal example that the power of love lies in its sacrifice and service. Then Christ performed the great Sacrament: he gave communion to the apostles and gave the commandment: “Do this in remembrance of Me”... According to tradition, on the morning of Maundy Thursday, in memory of Jesus Christ, a special mass is celebrated in Catholic churches. During this service, priests renew the vows they made at ordination. In the evening of the same day, the priests, like Jesus Christ, wash the feet of the parishioners. After the hymn “Glory to God in the highest” has finished, the bells and organ fall silent. Their sounds will no longer sound until the Easter Eve. The procession carries the Holy Gifts (Wine and Bread) through the entire temple to a place that is prepared in one of the chapels of the temples. There they will be kept until the next day in memory of the arrest of Jesus Christ and his detention. Western Christians no longer consecrate Bread and Wine after Maundy Thursday until the Easter Eve; for the communion of believers they will use the Gifts that were consecrated on Maundy Thursday. The holiday of Maundy Thursday is a reminder that God died on the cross so that people could be resurrected, so that they would wake up, rise from the abyss of narcissism and pride and... begin to love: sincerely, sacrificially, unconditionally.

Orthodox holidays on March 28:

Memorial Day of the Martyr Agapius and with him the Seven Martyrs

On March 28, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the martyr Nikander the Egyptian, a saint who lived during the times of early Christianity, when followers of the faith of Christ were persecuted and tortured. In addition to arrests and torture, under the Roman emperor Diocletian, cruel spectacles demonstrated in amphitheater arenas spread throughout the empire. Spectators, accustomed to bloody scenes from childhood, watched as predatory animals attacked and tormented captured Christians. The unfortunates died from unbearable suffering under the triumphant cries of the crowd, which knew no mercy. And even after death, the tortured did not find peace, their bodies were thrown outside the city, and no one cared about their burial. In the place where Nikandr lived, terrible sights also happened within the walls of the amphitheater. Christians died from the fangs and claws of powerful predators, but Nikander himself managed to remain unharmed for a long time. He was a healer, provided invaluable help to people and, having a merciful heart, could not indifferently observe the suffering of his brothers and sisters in faith. The saint visited prisoners in captivity, healed their emaciated bodies from illnesses, and healed wounds after torture. One day Nikander saw the discarded bodies of those who had recently been tortured by wild animals in the arena for the entertainment of the public. The saint, fearing accusations, waited until nightfall and performed the burial ceremony under its cover, but one of the pagans happened to witness Nikander’s merciful deed. Based on his denunciation, the saint was arrested and subjected to cruel interrogation, and seeing the steadfastness of faith, he was subjected to the most cruel tortures. The executioners tortured Nikander for a long time and slowly with unprecedented brutality; upon completion, they beheaded the body of the holy martyr, already deprived of skin. The steadfastness and devotion of Nikander the Egyptian became a model for many Christians; his name and feat were not forgotten even after many centuries, and folk tradition connected the legend of the holy martyr with the signs of his day. On Nikandra, it was considered the most correct thing to go to the forest, where the abode of local spirits was located. Here the first herbs were collected, a decoction of which could heal various ailments, including headaches, which could best be cured by turning with prayers to the martyr Nikander the Egyptian, who knew the art of healing. Also in the forest one could find material for making amulets and amulets. And the weather on March 28 helped predict how soon warm days would come and what kind of harvest the coming year would bring: - the unhurried flow of spring waters promised low yields; - the chirping of sparrows indicated clear days; - the arrival of seagulls indicated the imminent arrival of warmth.

Memorial Day of St. Nikander of Gorodnoezersk