The annual holiday serves as a symbol of the importance of family as the main element of society. The importance that the international community, represented by the UN, attaches to the family, protecting rights, identifying problems and achieving maximum well-being is reflected in the 1993 General Assembly resolution. It was thanks to her that the International Day of Families appeared. Family is not only a source of love and the beginning of a person’s life, but also an indicator of the development and progress of civilization using the example of each individual country. Therefore, many states are actively involved in solving this problem. The UN has developed a basic strategy until 2030, which includes specific programs aimed at addressing issues related to social, demographic and economic processes in the world community that affect the family. Every year, the theme of the day is the most pressing problem that has a direct impact on the development of the family in particular and society in general. The difficulties and questions that life itself poses do not go unnoticed: disability, migration, social exclusion, gender equality, generational problems. The theme of 2005 was the issue of HIV and AIDS, which directly affects the well-being of the family. In 2017, the emphasis is on education: instilling in children a love of learning, promoting the development of education, stimulating the possibility of human learning throughout life. These topics are especially relevant for least economically developed countries. For countries with a high level of economy, mainly European ones, another problem has recently become more acute - the birth rate. International day allows you to discuss all aspects and then try to solve them. All kinds of educational events available to the general population, in addition to publications in the media and television programs, include concerts, charity events, and family trainings. Team sports competitions attract a large number of direct participants of all ages. Specialized seminars and conferences allow us to touch on all the pressing problems and needs of the family that currently exist in a particular country, and help take steps to solve them. International Day of Families inspires a number of initiatives at the national level in certain countries. For example, in Russia it became a July holiday - the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. At the ceremony held on May 15 in the Kremlin, special honor is given to large families, orders and awards “Parental Glory” and “Family of Russia” are awarded. For every family, celebrating this special day can become a good tradition to bring beauty and spiritual wealth into their lives, and strengthen the connection between generations.

Luxurious bouquets are presented to actors, opera singers and ballet dancers by fans of their talent. Flowers are given to the beloved on a date and to the birthday boy on his birthday, given to beloved teachers at graduation, at a wedding to the bride and groom, and on the anniversary of marriage to parents. Almost no important event is complete without a bouquet, purchased in a salon from a florist or composed with your own hands. In honor of a long-standing tradition that dates back thousands of years, May 15th is Bring Someone Flowers Day. People buy and give bouquets to those who are important and dear to them, especially if it is not possible to say this in person. Thus, during the reign of Queen Victoria, it was not customary to talk about your feelings out loud in England. To communicate with each other, lovers came up with the language of flowers. Each plant had a hidden symbolic meaning that helped circumvent secular conventions and taboos. The use of the language of flowers began in the 1820s, lasted for about 100 years, and gradually faded after the First World War. Even today, a floral composition is a kind of message from the donor to the person for whom the bouquet is intended. When arranging bouquets, they turn to specialists or do it themselves, relying on their intuition and sense of beauty. It is customary to give young girls white and pale lilac roses, blue hydrangeas, pink chrysanthemums or wildflower arrangements. Women are presented with orchids, gerberas, lilies and scarlet roses. Men are presented with bouquets of carnations, gladioli, tulips, anthuriums of dark colors and rich shades. In honor of Bring Flowers to Someone Day, people give flowers with a special meaning. Today, like two hundred years ago, red roses mean love and passion, chrysanthemums - friendship, white lilies - innocence and purity. Bouquets are bought and placed on the tombstones of people who were loved and respected during their lifetime. Flowers are brought to the temple to the icons of saints. You can often see orchids, lilies and chrysanthemums near the icons of the Virgin Mary. Images of Jesus Christ are framed with dahlias and gerberas, and flowers decorate the crayfish with the relics of saints. Bouquets help to express feelings and emotions, emphasizing the importance of the person to whom they are sent by messenger. In honor of Bring Someone Flowers Day, florists order both large compositions and miniature bouquets, which do not oblige the recipient to anything. Bring Flowers to Someone Day is celebrated in different parts of the world. In Brazil, orchids are most often presented, in the USA and Ecuador - roses, in Iceland - ranunculus, in France - lilies, in China - peonies, in Holland - tulips, and in South Africa - gerberas. On May 15, both bouquets and plants in pots are presented, which, unlike cut flowers, will delight the eye of the person for whom they were intended for a long time. Floral compositions are presented in baskets and hat boxes, complemented with cards, soft toys and sweets. Show your appreciation, communicate your strong feelings, or simply show some kindness to a loved one by celebrating Bring Someone Flowers Day!

The emergence of this symbolic day was inspired by the initiative of people who justify their refusal to perform military service and who gathered like-minded people around the world. The first meeting of opponents of participation in armed conflicts on moral and religious grounds took place in 1981 in Denmark. Their activities were aimed primarily at justifying failed soldiers - participants in the Second World War, victims of the Nazi regime. The Bundestag - the modern government of Germany, with its resolution of May 15, 1997, gave these people a chance to rehabilitate themselves by changing and condemning Nazi language and methods. The military justice of the past fascist years was not at all loyal to the convictions of conscience: 25 thousand death sentences were carried out on deserters, thousands were sent to concentration camps. Modern states cannot justify such harsh punitive actions, although the problem of evasion from military service still exists. But in many countries of the world it is solved by a simple alternative replacement for civilian work. So in the Russian Federation this is an inalienable right of any citizen on the basis of the federal law of 2002. In some countries, such options that spare the feelings of pacifists are not provided. International Refusal Persons Day allows us to focus on this problem through educational events and actions by human rights activists. Rallies and processions held on this day by activists from different countries help to attract the attention of the population and involve the largest possible number of participants. The memorial stone erected on May 15, 1994 in London carries a message to the masses about the right “not to kill,” because Great Britain became the first state to legally recognize the possibility of pacifist beliefs among people who did not want to become soldiers. The memory of those who suffered cruelly from their worldview during the years of Nazism is immortalized by a memorial in Buchenwald. It opened on the anniversary in 2001, paying tribute to deserters and conscientious objectors, almost all of whom died here. Refusal from military service is a special right, the existence of which must exist in any legal state. The memorial day is the right moment for the OSCE, Amnesty International and other human rights defenders to convey this message to all people. The status of “conscientious objector” is reflected in the 1966 UN Covenant based on human rights. At the moment, 168 states are obliged to implement this international treaty.

Every year on May 15th International Climate Day is celebrated. The impetus for the establishment of this environmental unofficial date was the request of workers of meteorological stations to ensure the protection of the climate as a critical resource that has a direct impact on the well-being of future and present generations. Climate protection is one of the most serious issues currently facing people. Global warming, high ozone content in the atmosphere, natural disasters, sudden changes in weather - all these factors have a negative impact on the climate, thereby negatively affecting the food, property and life security of mankind, as well as the optimal development of countries. Modern scientists do not know exactly how long it will take to expect a dramatic change in climatic conditions in the event of a subsequent increase in the temperature regime on the planet. But, according to scientists, people can delay these natural disasters. Among the key problems provoking irreversible changes on Earth are the high concentration of greenhouse gases in the air. This phenomenon was first mentioned in 1992 at a conference held in Rio de Janeiro. Representatives of over 180 states (in particular the Russian Federation and the countries of the former Soviet Union) signed an international agreement, the so-called framework Convention on Climate Change. The agreement defined the basic rules for countries to act to stabilize greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at an optimal level. 5 years later, at the next conference held in the Japanese city of Kyoto, in addition to the agreement, the now popular Kyoto Protocol was developed - an international document forcing developed countries to reduce or optimize greenhouse gas problems. Another 10 years later, in the winter of 2007, another UN congress took place in Bali, dedicated to the problems of climate change. Conference members - representatives of over 190 countries - signed an international agreement obliging world leaders to take the necessary measures to ensure that the trade and manufacturing sector reduces the emission of carbon dioxide. The state of the planet's climate is directly dependent on all inhabitants of the Earth. It is not at all difficult to contribute to its defense. To do this, it is enough to use vehicles as little as possible, install energy-saving light sources in houses, and take part in landscaping areas.

Urban public transport of the rail type, the routes of which are laid underground, is available in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Novosibirsk, Kazan and Yekaterinburg. The first metro line was solemnly opened in the capital of the USSR, and this happened on May 15, 1935. The resolution “On the construction of the Moscow metro” was adopted at the plenum of the Central Committee of the party on June 15, 1931. And within a few years, a line appeared that connected Sokolniki and the Park of Culture. Today, the subway is the most popular mode of transport among capital residents and guests of the city. May 15 is Moscow Metro Day. The first line stretched for 11.5 km. The journey duration was 21.5 minutes, while by tram the same trip took more than 2 hours. In the first year of operation, four-car trains ran. The interval between trains was 5 minutes. Since January 1936, trains with 6 cars began to run. Initially there were 13 stations on the first line. Each of them was distinguished by a unique artistic design, which included elements of different styles: Gothic, Empire, Art Deco and Russian national motifs. Today, decades after their opening, the stations still amaze with their decor, which is why they are considered masterpieces of architecture. The pompous style and, in particular, the Stalinist Empire style, was a tribute to the leaders of the Soviet Union and their desire to convey to foreigners and citizens of the country the idea of ​​​​the country's power. Today, porcelain stoneware, metal ceramics, aluminum and other modern materials are used in the design of the subway. The design of the new stations is minimalist. Thus, the laconic interior of “Rumyantsevo”, opened in 2016, was designed based on the work of the abstract artist Piet Mondrian from Holland. The Moscow Metropolitan is the only network in the world that does not have stations with the same design. That is why a visit to the subway is included in all historical and architectural excursions around the capital. Tourists admire the mosaic panels made of semi-precious stones and ceramics, bronze sculptures, stained glass windows and other interior details. In the 1960s We started to focus on the planned construction of stations according to standard designs. But despite this, architects, sculptors and artists followed tradition and still came up with a special design style. Today, the dynamically developing Moscow metro, an example of precision and reliability, has 341 stations. During the day, subway trains carry more than 9 million passengers. In terms of schedule accuracy with an indicator of 99.9%, the capital's metro ranks first in the world. The network continues to be built and expanded, including in the service area areas tens of kilometers away from the city center. Moscow Metro Day is celebrated annually on May 15 not only by train drivers, but also by cashiers, repairmen and other personnel serving the transport system. More than 60 thousand employees take a responsible approach to fulfilling their professional duties. That is why the Moscow metro is considered not only the most beautiful in the world, but also the most comfortable and reliable.

Holidays of South Ossetia - Day of Ossetian Language and Literature

Holidays of Russia - United days of action to protect small rivers and reservoirs

According to the folk calendar, Boris and Gleb the Sowers are celebrated on May 15 (May 2 according to the official style). The holiday took its name from the church date of veneration of two saints - the Russian brothers-princes Boris and Gleb. On this day the transfer of their relics is commemorated. Boris and Gleb lived in the 10th-11th century on Russian soil, they were the children of Prince Vladimir I. Both of them died at the hands of their older brother, Svyatopolk. The Church recognized them as the first saints and called them martyrs-passion-bearers. Four years later, Prince Yaroslav the Wise, son of Vladimir, avenged his dead brothers by driving Svyatopolk to the Poles. The remains of Gleb and Boris were transferred and buried again in the Vyshgorod temple. People called the brothers Sowers, since the time for sowing spring crops continued. In addition to them, cucumber, zucchini and pumpkin seeds were planted. To protect them from morning frosts, they were covered with a mixture of soil and manure. And for their high yield, a ritual was carried out by burying pestle in the soil, used together with a mortar to grind the ingredients into powder. While the men were sowing grain in the field, the women went to the forest to collect dew from birch leaves on the day of Boris and Gleb. They themselves washed themselves with it for good health and took it to the hut to wash the children. They also brought dew to working husbands in the fields. Young leaves were collected from birch trees along with dew, dried and used for tea drinks. Nightingales gave voice to Boris and Gleb Sowers. They sang about the end of the spring flood and the beginning of the arable season. The loud singing of the nightingale announced the imminent summer, and the night singing promised a fine day in the morning. People considered it lucky if a nightingale accidentally flew into a home; this foreshadowed wealth and prosperity in the family. In order for the omen to come true, one had to quietly open the windows and doors wide, throw a grain of grain to the bird and leave the room, leaving it alone to find a way out. The date was also called Barysh day. Traders and speculators celebrated the day on a grand scale, setting a rich table and treating passers-by. Boris was considered the patron of trade, so his memory was honored so that business in the market would be successful. If their sales went well on a given day, then the income boded well for the whole year to please the merchant. Local healers on Boris and Gleb treated neurological disorders using special spells. And residents went to fairs - the day was considered successful for buying young livestock. The signs of this day announced the future. A fine day predicted a lot of rye flour for autumn. The clear sunset prepared residents for the clear, dry summer season. If the nightingale fell silent for a day, they prepared for bad weather. The bird cherry blossoms promised a two-week drop in temperature.

Buddha's birthday is a Buddhist holiday. It is celebrated in April or May. This date is floating because it is calculated according to the lunar calendar (on the eighth day of the fourth month). In South Korea, Buddha's birthday is an official holiday. Siddhartha Gautama was born in what is now Nepal in 563 BC. His father was a rajah (according to other sources, he belonged to the military aristocracy). The mother died immediately after giving birth. Gautama grew up as a bright child and began to think and reflect on life early. At the age of sixteen he married the princess, and a few years later they had a son. One day the prince got out of the palace and saw something that shocked him: a beggar, a sick person, a corpse, a hermit. Gautama realized that wealth and nobility are not protection from disease and death, you need to know yourself in order to fight them. The prince left his family and left home. For six years he wandered, searching for the truth, exhausting himself. Then I realized that I had to look for another way of knowledge. At the age of 35, after 49 days of meditation, Gautama formulated the “Four Noble Truths”: - suffering accompanies a person’s entire life, - their cause is the constant satisfaction of one’s own desires, - suffering can be overcome by moving away from it, - harmony is the middle between asceticism and pleasure . This is how Buddhism, a religion and a philosophical doctrine of self-improvement, appeared. Buddha is the one who awakened and realized the meaning of life. Buddha's birthday is a favorite holiday for Koreans. They prepare for the celebration in advance. The whole week before the holiday is filled with performances by artists, various performances and concerts. Believing Koreans go to temples, donate to charity, and pray. There is a belief that Buddha hears everyone who turns to him these days. The churches host lunches for the poor. The main event of the holiday is a procession with lotus-shaped lanterns. The lotus represents spirituality, and the lantern represents the light of truth. The parade takes place in the evening. Anyone can join it. The culmination of the holiday is the launching of lanterns into the sky. Since 1975, this day has been a day off so that all residents and guests of the country can enjoy the atmosphere of a wonderful and kind holiday.

Orthodox holidays on May 15:

Memorial Day of St. Athanasius the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria

Feast of the Vutivana Icon of the Mother of God

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Putivl