March 29 is the Day of the Legal Service Specialist in the Armed Forces of Russia. Since 2007, lawyers of the armed forces have been celebrating their special holiday in our country. It arose after the signing of the decree “On the establishment of professional holidays and memorable days in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.” Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in May 2016. The purpose of establishing this event was the restoration and development of Russian defense, the popularization of military service, professions related to defense, and the tranquility of the state. It is interesting to delve into history and note that legal educational institutions with a military focus arose back in the 18th century, since with the creation of the army and navy, a need arose for specialists in this field. Thus new professions were born - auditors, military fiscal officers, military prosecutors. They were required not only to know the laws accurately, but also to be able to interpret them and apply them if necessary. The credit for the formation of such educational institutions belongs to the emperor and educator of the Russian state, Peter the Great. It was he who in 1719 issued a decree to recruit “from among the gentry’s minors (cadets) twenty good, young, literate, and able to write people.” Military lawyers are in the officer service, have a legal education, and are engaged in resolving internal problems. They hold military ranks, the highest of which is Colonel General of Justice. Representatives of the legal service work in a military court, prosecutor's office or military higher educational institutions. These specialists protect the rights of military personnel serving in the Russian army, as well as officers who have retired. They often face cases of corruption and national security. The holiday has become traditional among military personnel and their colleagues. Every year, senior management congratulates military lawyers on the holiday, and for special services to the state they are awarded memorable gifts, certificates, letters of gratitude, medals, and extraordinary titles.

March 29 is International Mermaid Day. These mysterious creatures are depicted as beautiful women with fish tails. The Slavs considered mermaids to be natural spirits who looked after ponds, forests and fields. Images of sea maidens are also found in the legends of European peoples. Creatures with a female body and a tail instead of legs are found not only in oral traditions of various peoples of the world. H. Columbus described in 1492 in a ship's log a meeting off the coast of Haiti and Cuba with mermaids - creatures with a human head and rooster plumage. The navigator noted that the appearance of the creatures was far from the appearance attributed to them, because "their faces had some masculine features." This is interesting: Mermaids have the ability to intoxicate with their songs and other magical qualities. Their gaze enchants a person so that he becomes weak-willed and does everything that the tailed seductress orders. However, the mood of mermaids is changeable. They could tickle a passerby to death, or they could help the traveler find his way home from the forest. John Smith, one of the founders of the first English settlement in the United States, met a real mermaid off the coast of Newfoundland in 1614. The sailor was fascinated by a woman with large eyes, a thin nose, and long green hair, and did not immediately notice that from the waist down she was a fish. A little later, in 1608, Henry Hudson, after whom the strait, river and bay are named, also saw a mermaid with the sailors of his crew. A strange creature swam up to their ship, passing by Novaya Zemlya. The woman "with a tail like a porpoise or a dolphin, but shiny like a mackerel" had long black hair and very white skin. She swam close to the ship and carefully examined the sailors. This is interesting: In the bestiary, a medieval collection of stories about animals, sea maidens were called mermaids, and the heroines of Slavic legends were called rusalka. In the Dutch East Indies, in the South Pacific, arriving there in the 18th century. Europeans saw not only strange plants, but also exotic creatures. One of them was a mermaid, which was painted by the artist S. Fallurs. His painting from 1718 shows a woman with a tail instead of legs, which made up 2/3 of her body. The mummy of a mermaid was shown to everyone in 1830 at the British Museum, 2 stuffed sea divas were kept until 1940 at the Royal College of Physicians. This and other evidence suggests that mermaids may be real creatures. Hydrobiologist of the mid-twentieth century. A. Hardy put forward the version that at a certain stage of human development, his ancestors lived in water. And some could well have remained there, living in the depths of the world’s oceans to this day. This is interesting: In Russian folklore, mermaids are called kupalkas, crackers, mavkas, rags and waterworts. In Greek mythology, there is a similar character - sweet-sounding sirens, half-woman, half-bird. Odysseus and the crew of his ship met them on the way to Ithaca. According to legend, waterworts, like sirens, sing with delightful voices, seducing men and dragging them into the water with them. Since ancient times, the Slavs celebrated Rusalia. The week of celebrations began on June 19 and ended with Ivan Kupala Day. Our ancestors left offerings to the mermaids - scraps of clothing, balls, threads. Wormwood was thrown into the fires at Kupala, which, together with protective spells, was supposed to scare away the water maidens and protect travelers from meeting them. Mermaids from myths and legends became characters in fairy tales by G.H. Andersen and A.S. Pushkin, cartoon and TV characters. On March 29, 2018, the American series “Siren” about a mysterious blue-eyed girl with a tail premiered. The tradition of celebrating International Mermaid Day is connected with this film, namely with the release of episode 1 of Siren. And now, every year on March 29, a funny but unusual holiday, International Mermaid Day, is celebrated.

March 29 is the day of self-discovery. This holiday is an excellent reason to think about the meaning of life. What is self-knowledge? Each person has a unique perception. Self-knowledge is formed gradually and constantly changes, from the first cry to the last breath. The motto “Know Thyself” originated in Ancient Greece. According to Plato's records, one day seven wise men gathered together - Bias, Cleobulus, Mison, Thales, Pittacus, Solon, and Chilo. These outstanding philosophers carved their sayings on the column of the Delphic Temple. The collection of tablets was dedicated to Apollo of Delphi. One of the wisdoms is still relevant today – “Know yourself.” Some individuals take tests from the series “I am the best at push-ups”, “how IQ has changed over the last 3 months”, “how much money can be earned in a year” for self-knowledge. Such people will always depend on external circumstances and accidents. Another approach is to turn to philosophical, religious, psychological movements. For example, in Buddhism there is a section of the theory of correct knowledge called “Tsema”. Christians know themselves through merging with the divine. In Hinduism, the Absolute is taken as the starting point. For self-knowledge in Eastern philosophy, the method of questions and answers is often used. For example, meditation on the topic “Who am I?” Am I a physical body? No, because the soul lives countless lives. Maybe I am feelings or thoughts? No, because emotions and judgments are constantly changing, including to the exact opposite. As a result of such meditations, a person learns his unity with the Absolute Mind, the Universe. Self-knowledge frees you from external conventions, imposed opinions, and secondary factors. But don't get too carried away with abstract concepts. As you know, Buddha Gautama devoted his entire life to self-knowledge and achieved Enlightenment. But this prince from the royal family could not prevent the enemies who came and destroyed all the valuables in the land of his ancestors. An optimal balance is required between searching for oneself and spending time on “self-sufficiency.” And then life will not be wasted, only on acquiring material values ​​that will become obsolete in a few years. Ideally, self-discovery should be a creative and constructive process. According to the concept of psychologist K. Rogers, this is a necessary condition for self-improvement, personal growth, and self-actualization. And then, in the process of personality development, feelings of fullness of life appear, joy from realizing the true meaning of existence.

The piano as a stringed percussion keyboard instrument has been widely known over the past 300 years. The predecessors of the piano are cymbals, harpsichords and clavichords. The range of a modern piano is 7 and 1/3 octaves, that is, 88 keys. It is on this date from the beginning of the calendar year that the holiday established in honor of the musical instrument falls. Piano Day, the modern equivalent of which is electronic pianos and synthesizers, is celebrated annually on March 29. The inventor of pianoforte (from Italian piano - “quiet”, forte - “loud”) is considered to be the Italian Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731). The master initially worked on creating a mechanism in the form of hammers striking the strings of a harpsichord. In 1709, he invented a model that could produce both soft and loud musical sounds. Over time, Cristofori's piano was improved: the thickness of the strings and their arrangement changed, the instrument acquired a cast-iron frame and pedals. The design of the instrument was also modernized - a wing appeared in the body of some models. Up to 70% of piano parts are made of wood, the remaining 30% are made of copper, cast iron and felt. For a long time, craftsmen made white keys from ivory, but after the invention of plastic, they began to use cheaper and more accessible material. However, in English for a long time the expression tickle the ivories was used to refer to playing the piano. The phrase literally translates as “tickle the ivory keys.” Did you know that?... The fundamental difference between a compact piano and a bulky grand piano is the arrangement of the strings. In a piano they are in a vertical position, in a grand piano, which also has 3 pedals instead of 2, in a horizontal position. A modern piano has 88 keys (36 black and 52 white) and pedals that operate 224 strings using felt hammers. Soundboards enhance and simulate the sound of a musical instrument. Despite the fact that the piano was created during the popularity of classical music, it became a favorite instrument of jazz performers: Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles and Lenny Tristano. Did you know that?... In Russia, piano production began in St. Petersburg in the 18th century. Before this, musicians played instruments from European manufacturers. In 1917, more than 1,000 workshops operated in Russia; the most famous brands were J. Becker, K.M. Schroeder, Diederichs and Mühlbach. In honor of Piano Day, we remember not only the history of the piano, but also famous musicians who played the piano. Outstanding pianists who performed their own and others’ classical works are V.A. Mozart, L.V. Beethoven, F.P. Schubert, F. Chopin, F. Mendelssohn, R. Schumann, F. Liszt. Among Russian musicians, the names of L. Oborin, Sh. Cherkassky, S. Rachmaninov, S. Richter, E. Gilels and others are widely known. On March 29, in honor of Piano Day, works by these and other composers are performed, lectures are given, and continuous piano playing competitions are held among amateurs and professionals. These and other events draw attention to a truly divine instrument, on which any music is performed - from vocal and orchestral to symphonic and operatic. Piano Day is a hymn to the piano, its ability to touch the deepest strings of the soul, to convey the richest range of feelings and emotions.

Good or Good Friday is a day of sorrow, the Friday preceding the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ (Easter). Since the early Christian tradition, believers spend this day in prayer and repentance. The Church remembers the pain and torment of Jesus Christ that he suffered on this day, being crucified on the cross, on the hill of Golgotha, in Israel. Western Christians, which include believers of the Roman Catholic Church and Protestants, have their own characteristics of celebrating Good Friday, which consist mainly in the differences in Liturgical sermons. For Catholics, this is the only day when the rite of communion or the Eucharist is not performed at the Divine Service or Liturgy. Also on this day, parishioners and clergy of the Catholic Church perform the Way of the Cross - believers recreate in their memory the suffering suffered by Jesus Christ. Usually on this day, fourteen images or figures are placed around the perimeter of churches that personify the life trials and torments of Christ. Divine services on this day are held by Catholics in the afternoon, usually in the evening (it is believed that Jesus Christ was crucified in the afternoon). The clergy wear red robes. During the Liturgy, the Gospel fragment is necessarily read, telling about the farewell conversation of Christ and his disciples. In Protestantism (Lutherans, Baptists, Pentecostals, Adventists, Methodists, etc.), the Liturgy is a little different. Priests wear black robes or other dark shades. No candles are lit on the altar on this day, and the altar itself and the pulpit are covered with fabrics of dark (black) shades. Also, the Eucharist (communion) is not celebrated. If at every Protestant service the parishioners sing hymns praising Jesus, accompanied by organ music, then on Good Friday there are no chants or organ playing. Clergy do not confess to parishioners on this day. The main part of the Liturgy consists of reading fragments of biblical gospel texts that tell directly about the execution of Jesus Christ. The clergy also recite the prayer of the Collect, which conveys the meaning of the current event, day, and topic of the sermon. The liturgy ends with the reading of the Lord's Prayer. Outside the church, believers prefer to be alone or with their families throughout the day, reading prayers.

Each day of Easter week is especially significant. On Good Friday, all Christians remember the suffering of Jesus Christ, feeling sorrow in their souls and hearts. Certain traditions in the worship of this day have developed in every church denomination, and Lutherans also have them. The dates of Easter week are not common in Lutheranism; Western Lutherans celebrate Easter according to the Catholic calendar, and Eastern ones according to the Orthodox calendar. The main Easter symbols of Lutheran Easter were the empty cross and tomb of Jesus, as a sign of his true resurrection. The church decoration, devoid of candlelight, and the black robe of the pastor emphasize the general sadness. In the church, all the usual sounds stop, the bell is silent, the altar bells do not ring, the texts of sermons are not pronounced and confessions are not accepted. But special musical works are heard - passions, alternating with fragments of evangelical texts about the torment and execution of Jesus Christ. The service ends with Aaron's blessing. Girls and boys called minestrants notify believers about the beginning of the church service. Teenagers walk from house to house, accompanying their movements with the sounds of rattles. Minstrants are usually treated to Easter symbols - painted eggs. Completing a forty-day fast is not mandatory for Lutherans; it is a matter of individual choice for each believer, but on Good Friday a complete abstinence from food is recommended. Also, Christians should not make noise or show any strong emotions. Even ordinary gatherings with visiting guests are not considered a charitable deed. This ban especially concerned women; the belief states that the arrival of a guest in the house brings with her a lot of annoying flies. One should not do household chores on Good Friday, which is reflected in the popular proverb about grass stopping its growth and birds not making nests on this day. Even the chores for the festive Easter table should be completed on Thursday. Rumor condemned housewives who decided to wash the floors and prophesied an invasion of fleas into their homes. But the dawn rise and sincere prayer promised the believers God's mercy and luck.

Madagascar Holidays - Heroes' Day (Martyrs Day)

On March 29 (March 16, old style), Savvin Day is celebrated according to the folk calendar, but among peasants the holiday is more often called Cart Day. In the church calendar on this date, the memory of Saint Savin of Ermopolis, who died a martyr for the Christian faith in the 3rd century, is honored. The name of the day was given on his behalf. Saint Savin believed in Christ and was the ruler of the city of Hermopolis (Hermopolis), located in Ancient Egypt. When the pagan emperor allowed persecution of Christians, Savin and his friends hid nearby in caves. However, the Christians were betrayed by a poor man for a few coins. They were forced by torture to change their faith and admit paganism, but in vain. Then Savin and his supporters were tied up and drowned. People called the day Cart Day, since attention was paid to preparing carts for the warm season. The snow was just melting from the roads, and strong winds were drying the mud. The peasants could not move on the ground on sleighs, but with the help of carts they could easily navigate the path. On Cart Day, men hid the sleighs and took out the carts. They were inspected, lubricated, repaired or broken ones were replaced. While there was free time from field work, a dozen spare wheels were prepared for the summer. An owner was considered unlucky if he harnessed a horse to a cart without first checking it. There was a tradition on Savvin day to go around the village on a cart. Residents believed that this ritual would bring good luck in economic affairs. They also listened to the creaking of wheels: the sound from the front wheel on the left side foreshadowed illness, on the right - an improvement in material wealth. The squeaking of the rear wheel on the left meant problems with debts, and on the right - success. If on Savvin day residents observed fast-flying clouds, they prepared for fine days. Clouds blocking the sun promised rainy weather. Low water levels in rivers predicted a poor harvest year, and high levels predicted frequent rains in the summer. If the birds began to swim in puddles, the peasants waited for warmer weather.

Funny holidays - Champignon Day

Orthodox holidays on March 29:

Memorial Day of the Martyr Savin of Ermopolis (Egyptian)

Memorial Day of St. Christodoulus the Wonderworker