The glorious traditions of the Black Sea Fleet of pre-revolutionary Russia and the USSR were continued by the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Being part of the Russian Navy, it guarantees the security of our borders in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean region. The holiday Black Sea Fleet Day of the Russian Navy is celebrated annually on May 13. The annexation of Crimea solved many of Russia's problems. In 1783, a fleet was created on the Black Sea, the first base of which was located in Akhtarskaya Bay. Later, Sevastopol was founded nearby. The pace of development was impressive. Over four years, it included 3 battleships, 12 frigates, 3 bombardiers and 28 other ships. Unable to accept the losses, Türkiye declares war. The Black Sea Fleet is receiving a baptism of fire. Numerical superiority did not allow the Turks to feel at ease. Russian sailors inflicted several major defeats on the enemy. The Second Crimean War brought defeat and the inability to maintain a fleet. Everything changed with the fall of the monarchy in France. In the 80s of the nineteenth century, a long-term program for the restoration of the Black Sea Fleet was adopted. By World War I, he represented a powerful group that controlled the entire Black Sea. The revolution rolled through the ships and the officer corps. By the middle of 1818, the fleet as a combat unit was gone. The Bolsheviks understood the importance of such a powerful force, but until the end of the Civil War they could not do anything. The creation of the Soviet fleet began in 1921. In the pre-war period, the fleet increased its power. Its number exceeded 500 ships of various classes. More than a hundred aircraft, coastal defense and air defense provided support. Thanks to this, the Germans did not manage to destroy the ships at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. The Black Sea people showed heroism and courage: the defense of Odessa, Sevastopol, the defense of the Caucasus, the battle for Novorossiysk. The sailors carry out 24 landings, sink 835 and damage 539 fascist ships. The country has not forgotten the feat - 200 sailors are awarded the title of Hero, almost 55 thousand are awarded orders and medals. For services to the country and heroism, the Black Sea Fleet receives the title of Red Banner and the Order of the Red Banner of Battle. Since the 60s, new ships have been commissioned. Black Sea residents go on hikes, practicing their actions to protect the country’s borders. At the beginning of 1991, the fleet had almost 100 thousand officers and sailors, 60 thousand service personnel. There were 835 ships of various types on duty, including 28 submarines, 2 anti-submarine cruisers and 6 missile cruisers. Structurally, the fleet contained two anti-submarine and amphibious divisions, one submarine, two aviation, one coast guard, several dozen brigades, divisions, and units. The ships were based from Batumi to Izmail. The collapse of the Union had a negative impact on the state of the fleet. The territorial affiliation of the base to another state, the complex ethnic and political situation complicated the activities of the sailors. Lengthy negotiations ended in partition. In the summer of 1997, the St. Andrew's flag rose above most of the ships. The reunification of Crimea solved many problems of sailors. Since March 2014, the Black Sea residents are again based in their home country. In the fall of 2015, the ships went on duty off the coast of Syria, providing support to the armed forces. The development of the Black Sea Fleet does not stop. Every year new combat units are commissioned, modern weapons and equipment are supplied. During 2015, the fleet included two submarines and two MRKs of Project 21631. Since the beginning of 2016, the Black Sea residents have received four patrol ships. The Ministry of Defense plans to introduce six patrol ships and a naval missile air regiment. The importance of the Black Sea Fleet for the country cannot be overestimated. The Black Sea people have always defended the southern borders of their Motherland with honor. We wish seven feet under the keel to the officers, sailors and veterans of the Black Sea Fleet!

May 13 has long been considered a professional day for employees of the security and escort service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. In more than two thousand operating units in temporary detention centers, thousands of employees perform their heavy security and guard duty. The professional holiday of escorts provides an additional opportunity to say “thank you very much” to these truly brave people for their backbreaking and dangerous work. There is no reliable beginning of the celebration of profession day. It is known that the date of May 13 has been commemorated since 1938, when the Temporary Charter of the RKM security and escort service was introduced. It was this year that, according to tradition, on May 13, employees began accepting congratulations. And the history of the convoy holiday itself has been coming to us since 1886 after Alexander III signed a decree on the creation of escort teams in the Russian Empire. But, despite the decree, the first charter was issued on June 10, 1907. Until 1999, the convoy service was not considered a separate unit; the function was assigned to the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Then the Directorate of Escorts was created. Despite the lack of official approval of the holiday on May 13, it is highly revered and respected both among service employees and among their superiors. Service in security and escort units refers to a number of specific, dangerous and complex professions. The main task of the unit is to provide security and a reliable level of protection for those arrested in prisons and correctional colonies, as well as to ensure the transportation and delivery of criminals to places of detention. It is especially difficult to work in places where there is a contingent of prisoners with a high degree of danger to the public. The task of the escorts is also to provide security for working related structures, such as the court, the prosecutor's office and the bar. It is not uncommon for prisoners to try to free themselves early by escaping. Detecting an escape in time and stopping the criminal in time is not easy. Therefore, the service requires from escorts a particularly clear concentration of attention, tension and persistent patience. In this profession you need to have an armor-piercing psyche, the ability to deal with stress and a quick reaction. Since the profession carries with it potential danger, the uniform of employees necessarily includes body armor, a helmet and a firearm. Fortunately, weapons are used extremely rarely, because... The main task of the profession is to create a safe environment for everyone. Who can become a guard? Only brave, courageous and tireless people. Physical training is very important here, in connection with this, they periodically pass certain standards to their management to confirm their suitability. In order to join the ranks of the convoy service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, you must first fulfill the following conditions: The list of requirements is significant, and even if all the conditions are met, it is still not easy to get into service in this unit. On May 13, the management of the security and guard service congratulates all employees, presents them with certificates, the best employees are promoted in rank, given thanks and financial incentives. There is no exemption from service on this day only if May 13 falls on a day off. The guards also accept congratulations in the form of gratitude for providing security from loved ones, relatives and friends.

Little suns on a stalk begin to bloom in May and June. The golden scatterings of the flower, which cover fields and meadows with the arrival of spring, give people aesthetic pleasure, filling the heart with warmth and joy. Ray Bradbury dedicated an entire story to the plant. The science fiction writer created a marvelous artistic image, writing: “Dandelion wine is summer caught and bottled.” An unpretentious perennial plant known for its healing properties, it is used for preparing food and drinks. The flowers are used to make jam, salads and snacks. An invigorating, coffee-like drink is prepared from the roots, which fills you with energy and vitality. Paying tribute to this amazing flower, May 13 is celebrated as World Dandelion Day. In honor of World Dandelion Day, the French wear yellow-green robes and prepare salads from smoked meats and plant leaves. In Belgium, beer is brewed from the sun on the stem, which is sold on the market along with honey, jam, yogurt and other dishes containing dandelions. Italian women also use the flowers, stems and roots of the plant for cooking. Americans not only make dishes from dandelions on May 13, but also decorate their clothes with them, inserting flowers into the buttonholes of jackets. Our ancestors, the ancient Slavs, called the plant dandelion, wind blower, airy flower, pustoduem, baldhead and kulbaba. Since ancient times, its healing properties have been used to treat the spleen, gall bladder and joints, improve digestion, and get rid of cirrhosis, gastritis and constipation. For its life-giving power, the flower, known as “grandmother’s grass,” was figuratively called the “elixir of life.” It used to be used to whiten skin and remove freckles. The plant is still widely used in cosmetology today. “The dandelion wears a yellow sarafan,” says a famous children’s poem. However, this is not always the case. Purple dandelion with lilac-pink flowers grows on the rocky slopes and fields of the Caucasus. In the Murmansk region there is a rare white-flowered Taraxacum leucoglossum - a species listed in the Red Book. And in the Tien Shan pink and purple dandelions grow. The plant is unpretentious, therefore it is found both in meadows and forest clearings, and along roads and on mountain slopes. Dandelions are considered the most punctual flowers: they open their yellow calyxes at exactly 6 am and bud at 3 pm. This way they protect pollen from getting dew at night. Sunflowers traditionally bloom in central Russia in late spring, and in early June the yellow cap turns white. This fluffy umbrella is very similar in shape to a parachute, since the design of the device is based on the principle of flight of dandelion seeds. The second time bright sparks of the sun on green grass can be seen in the fall, if it is unexpectedly warm and not rainy. World Dandelion Day is a good occasion to remind adults and children about the simple beauty and beneficial properties of this unpretentious plant. In honor of the holiday, wreaths are woven, bouquets are collected and dried for herbarium, salads and other dishes are prepared. In each country, World Dandelion Day is celebrated in its own way, invariably paying tribute to the amazing flower - a symbol of the sun and light, happiness and fidelity.

Aperitifs that stimulate the appetite and are served before meals include Bloody Mary with vodka and tomato juice, Kir with dry white wine and blackcurrant liqueur, and Margarita with tequila and lime juice. Alcoholic cocktails with a balanced taste cause pleasant intoxication and give aesthetic pleasure due to their exquisite appearance. They contain various ingredients depending on the strength and volume of the drink - shots, flips or Long Drinks. Bartenders make cocktails, incl. non-alcoholic, according to existing recipes, modifying according to your preferences. The first guide to preparing mixed drinks was published in 1887. It was the Bartender's Guide from Jerry Thomas from the USA. The very word “cocktail” as “an exciting drink consisting of any alcohol, sugar, water and bitterness” was first used on May 13, 1806 in the New York newspapers Columbian Repository and The Balance. This event became the occasion for celebrating World Cocktail Day. Drinks from several ingredients are mixed in a shaker, whipped in a blender or added one at a time to a glass. This skill is perfectly mastered by bartenders participating in the World Cocktail Competition (WCC). They know the secrets of preparing not only the classic Pina Colada or Mojito, but also the Scottish Egg Nog, the highlight of which is a beaten egg, cream or milk, the anti-hangover Oyster with pepper and spicy ketchup, and the low-alcohol long drink." Hybl." Therefore, World Cocktail Day is a professional holiday for bartenders. World Cocktail Day is also celebrated by connoisseurs of fiction. It is well known that the iconic drink for Ernest Hemingway was the Mojito, which he tried in Cuba during World War II and fell in love with all his life. Old man Ham's second weakness was the Daiquiri prepared according to a special recipe, named Papa Double in his honor. The writer William Faulkner preferred the "Mint Julep", Francis Scott Fitzgerald preferred the "Gin Rickey", which his characters drank in "The Great Gatsby". Cocktails are enjoyed by ordinary people and literary characters. The heroes of D. Salinger's novel "The Catcher in the Rye" drank Tom Collins made from gin and lemon juice, which looked like regular soda, but knocked them off their feet. The favorite drink of James Bond, whose literary father is Ian Fleming, is considered to be a “Dry Martini” with vodka and vermouth, garnished with an olive. Therefore, in honor of the holiday, connoisseurs of adventure novels and serious literature order Vodka Martini and other cocktails in bars, cafes and restaurants. World Cocktail Day is also celebrated by those interested in history. According to legend, the world's first drink made from alcohol and other ingredients was invented by the owner of a pharmacy in New Orleans, Antoine Peychaud. An emigrant from Haiti invented it in the 30s of the 19th century. homemade bitters, which he mixed with absinthe mouthwash and French cognac Sazerac De Forge et Fils. Peychaud named his cocktail after the main ingredient, Sazerac. The holiday on May 13 is celebrated by film fans - fans of the TV series "Sex and the City" and "Californication". Carrie Bradshaw and her girths, New York socialites, drank Cosmopolitan, an exquisite Manolo Mule with vodka and ginger beer, Brooklyn Redhead made with mezcal, Campari and vermouth, and, of course, Manhattan. Lovelace Frank Moody mixed his own Margarita, but preferred the Sherry Old Fashioned - a cocktail consisting exclusively of alcohol: American bourbon, sherry and Venezuelan bitter. Extreme lovers of all stripes celebrate World Cocktail Day with a glass of Aunt Roberta in hand. This cocktail does not require any non-alcoholic additives. It contains 100% alcohol-containing ingredients mixed in equal parts: vodka, gin, absinthe, blackberry liqueur and brandy. The famous Negroni from Florentine Camillo Negroni is no less thermonuclear. The drink contains gin, sweet red vermouth and bitter. Anyone who is interested in history and literature, or loves cinema and music, has a reason to celebrate World Cocktail Day. Did you know that Frank Sinatra preferred Jack Daniel's Black Butt - a mixture of 4 ice cubes, Jack Daniels Tennessee whiskey and water? World Cocktail Day invites you to see just how good the taste of Mister Blue Eyes and other stars was.

Fun Holidays - Velcro Birthday

International holidays - International Hummus Day

International holidays - Global Engineering Day (IEEE Global Engineering Day)

On May 13 (April 30 according to the old calendar style), people celebrate Yakov Teply. The name of the date is borrowed from the Orthodox calendar - the day of veneration of one of the 12 apostles, James Zebedee, who was the brother of the Apostle John the Theologian. Jacob learned the teachings from the Savior himself, and after his crucifixion and resurrection he went to preach the word of God to neighboring countries, and after a while returned with sermons to Jerusalem. The Gentiles who entered into discussions with him, after the conversation, believed in Christ and accepted his faith. However, the apostle was reported to King Herod Agrippa, who summoned James to execution. The saint courageously endured imprisonment and until the last minutes of his life testified about the Savior. Among the people, Yakov (Jacob) was called Warm because the expected warmth arrived on that day. The saint was considered the intercessor of travelers; people prayed to him for a safe journey. On this day, before long trips, it was necessary to perform not only a prayer, but also a ritual with March water. It was collected on certain days in March in the form of pure snow, melted and stored as a healing liquid. Residents believed that from Jacob's day, according to legend, colds and fevers descended from the mountains, held back by snow covers. When the sun's rays melted the snow, diseases traveled to the villages and clung to the residents leaving their village. The only thing that could stop the attack was washing and bathing in March water. According to the old style of the calendar, the wedding period ended on Yakov Teply. Residents did not conduct matchmaking and bridesmaids, and postponed weddings a month later. This was associated with the onset of May, a month when getting married was not recommended. Previously and to this day, there is a belief that whoever gets married in May will be lost to his spouse for the rest of his life. Also, the reason for postponing weddings was the end of food supplies - it was becoming expensive to set the wedding table. In addition, field work was in full swing. It was impossible to waste precious time, since the amount of harvest depended on the labor put into the field. In the morning on Yakov Teply we observed the weather for the coming summer. A quiet, warm day foreshadowed a successful summer harvest. Abundant collections of sap in the birch announced a rainy summer season. The rains on this day promised residents a large number of weddings after the summer. If there were clouds in the sky, thunder roared, but the dandelions were open and bees flew up to the flowers, then the rains bypassed the earth.

Day of Remembrance of the Fallen in Israel's Wars (Yom HaZikaron)

Orthodox holidays on May 13:

On May 13, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the great Russian saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, who made an invaluable contribution to the spiritual church treasury. The saint was born at the beginning of the 19th century into a noble family in the city of Vologda. His parents, who remained childless for a long time, made a pilgrimage to holy places with a fervent prayer to the Lord to grant them a long-awaited heir. The born boy was christened in honor of Saint Dmitry Prilutsky with the hope of a further godly life. Already in early childhood, little Dmitry was distinguished by great learning abilities; he was a very versatile and solitary child. At the age of 16, the young man expressed a desire to enter a monastery, but his father had other plans for his future son, and Dmitry left for St. Petersburg for further studies at an engineering school. Already at the entrance exams, those present were convinced of the brilliant mind of the young man, who took first place among 130 applicants for training. The promising young man was noticed by Emperor Nicholas I himself, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna takes Dmitry under her protection and pays the expenses for his education. The craving for spirituality does not leave the first student of an engineering school even among the temptations of metropolitan life. He becomes close to the monks of the Valaam Monastery and through them meets the famous elder Leonid. This communication further strengthens the young man’s decision to become a monk, but circumstances and duty to the imperial family prevent him from realizing his dream. Mental anguish leads Dmitry to a hospital bed; only his serious health condition allows him to justify himself to the tsar and his own father. Having caused bewilderment throughout secular society, the young man takes monastic vows under the name Ignatius. After several years of obedience, the imperial family wished to make the diligent 27-year-old monk abbot of the Sergius Monastery. Nicholas I recalled that Dmitry Bryanchaninov was unable to serve the Tsar in the civil service, and expressed the hope that the monk Ignatius would be able to make the monastery of Sergius Monastery an exemplary one. The saint devoted his entire subsequent life to this great work, bringing the monastery to a flourishing state after a quarter of a century. Ignatius devoted his last years to writing spiritual literature, which was included in a number of immortal creations. The day of his departure from this life was revealed to the saint; it happened on Sunday, the feast of the Myrrh-Bearing Women. Ignatius Brianchaninov turned to the Lord in prayer until the last second of his earthly life. In a prayerful pose, as if the saint were alive, the cell attendant saw him, who for a long time did not believe that Ignatius had already reposed.

Memorial Day of the Holy Apostle James Zebedee