From November 9 to 10, 1938, after the rise of Adolf Hitler to the heights of power, the first mass pogroms of the Jewish population in history took place in part of Austrian territory and in what was then Germany. The leading role in violence and looting belonged to the paramilitary units of the SA and the most active supporters of Nazi ideology. It was with these pogroms that the mass genocide of the Jewish people began, which, in the words of Adolf Hitler, was supposed to finally solve the Jewish question. The night streets of Austrian and German cities and towns were strewn with shards of glass from broken windows of houses, shop windows and shops owned by Jews. Public places were also subjected to pogroms and attacks: synagogues, libraries and other institutions. The abundance of glass fragments on the sidewalks and roadways gave the name to this terrible night - “glass (crystal) night.” These few hours of the night became not only the beginning of active actions to implement the “racial policy of the Third Reich,” but also a standard for other actions in relation to their fellow citizens on the principle of dividing them according to nationality, social or other grounds. The absence of any reaction from the world community and citizens of Germany and Austria to this pogrom became one of the reasons for subsequent disasters in World War II. To perpetuate the memory of this inhumane night and prevent its repetition in any form, the International Day against Fascism, Racism and Anti-Semitism was established, celebrated around the world annually on the ninth day of November. The initiative to establish this memorial day belongs to the International Network against Racism, which involves more than fifty thousand organizations operating in fifty countries. Unfortunately, the problem of anti-Semitic actions has been replaced by the ideas of Islamophobia and anti-immigrant hysteria. Those who, out of their own stupidity or desire for benefits, succumbed to them do not realize that all this is not a problem of one people or followers of any religion. The change of the “scapegoat”, the belief in one’s own superiority over other peoples or citizens are the seeds from which problems will grow that are in no way inferior to those that faced humanity in the middle of the 20th century. Sprouts from these seeds and their fruits can put peace on Earth under an even greater threat than it was in the last century and even question the existence of man as a species in particular and the biosphere of the planet in general. The most amazing fact is that among the peoples who suffered the most in the Second World War and made a huge contribution to the destruction of Nazism, among the descendants of the liberators of the world from the brown plague, pro-fascist organizations are again not only active, but also officially registered, and are also praised and elevated to the role of national heroes - Nazi servants. This shows that Nazi ideology was not uprooted, and therefore this memorable day retains its relevance and importance for every person, regardless of his religion, social status, race or place of residence. Considering the alarming events of recent years, propaganda measures that support the policy of elevating any group of people above the rest, which is destructive for states and humanity, are becoming so important. Particularly important is the promotion of Nazi crimes, thematic exhibitions and other events, as well as explaining all the consequences of the actions of neo-Nazi organizations among young people, who are the hope of humanity.

The International Day of Anti-Nuclear Action, held on November 9, arose as a response to the events in Chernobyl. That explosion in 1986 clearly showed that not only nuclear weapons, but also the seemingly “peaceful atom” can harm humanity and have planetary consequences. The date draws attention to the threat not only from the military, but also from all various industrial, scientific and other structures that use radioactive substances in their activities: nuclear power plants, sea vessels with nuclear reactors. It was no coincidence that the date was chosen - November 9. In 1986, experts from all over the world gathered in Italy for a meeting. It was dedicated to the safety problems of nuclear power plants and the consequences that can only be prevented through joint efforts and close international cooperation. After the referendum on November 8th, it was decided to choose the next day as a reminder and warning to all humanity. Continuous tests since the second half of the 20th century at the Semipalatinsk test site (USSR), in Nevada (USA) almost led to a nuclear war. A tragic misunderstanding occurred on November 9, 1979, when the US aerospace defense computers, due to a system failure, believed that the USSR had launched a nuclear strike, firing 2 thousand missiles. The alarm turned out to be false, and the incident was resolved peacefully, but the nuclear threat remained. Today, more and more people want to see their future without radiation. There are many organizations, including youth organizations, that are developing their own projects. And one of these are anti-nuclear camps located near dangerous objects. They serve as a reminder on International Day that anti-nuclear action is a powerful tool in the fight for peace against a devastating threat. Pickets and demonstrations, becoming larger every year, against the development of nuclear energy, strive to attract maximum attention to the problem. Many countries have completely abandoned the use of nuclear power plants, because incidents occur periodically at them. Currently, despite large-scale opposition from activists, nuclear energy continues to operate and develop in many countries. For example, India is rapidly increasing the number of nuclear reactors. The worst thing is that people never stop learning from their mistakes and are quicker to make a profit than to learn a life lesson. Japan, which is involved in this by selling nuclear technology to outside countries, is trying to improve its position and benefit despite the recent tragedy. In 2011, the Fukushima disaster halted the construction of new reactors in Japan itself, which has first-hand knowledge of the destructive power of nuclear power. And although the number of reactors around the world continues to decline, their number alarms environmentalists. Nuclear waste is no less of a concern. Innovative technologies can improve the situation - with them, electricity production will become safe, because scientists have proven that even the trouble-free operation of nuclear power plants is far from harmless, and there is no immunity to radiation exposure. It is hoped that anti-nuclear initiatives will achieve their main goals and ensure a sustainable future for the planet.

The day of eternally living chaos is one of the most unusual holidays. It is unknown who invented it and when, but every year more and more people in the world want to celebrate it. On this day, it is worth thinking about the fact that chaos is an integral part of our lives. He personifies everything that is unsystematic and unknown, that which cannot be put into the usual framework. This is the antithesis of orderliness. Chaos is scary, but only by accepting and coming to terms with it can you go beyond your usual boundaries and learn or create something new. Chaos and order are the two extremes that exist in our world. The order is more familiar, more reliable and clearer, it seems safe. This is something that we are all taught to observe from childhood. Following the rules, acting in accordance with pre-developed schemes - all this is important and necessary. But without chaos, innovation, creative and fundamentally new solutions are impossible. Moreover, it is a part of our life. After all, you can’t control the whole world around you; something always happens differently than planned, gets out of control. Friedrich Nietzsche also said that in order to “give birth to a dancing star,” you need to have chaos within yourself. And all those people who annually celebrate November 9th as the day of ever-living chaos agree with him. They know that disorder is necessary for inspiration, breakthrough, innovation. Sometimes only by mixing all the colors can you see new ways to solve problems. In this way, it is possible to find a way out even of those situations that previously seemed absolutely dead-end. The ability to step away from the pattern is an indispensable skill in our time. The world is always changed by extraordinary individuals who are able to abandon stereotypical behavior and thinking. People of old times understood this too. So the ancient Greeks were already familiar with the concept of chaos. They considered it a formless and borderless space. It was from this space, brought to a certain order, that our world was created, in their opinion. Thus everything material is based on order. But disorder contains an infinite number of ideas. A day of ever-living chaos is a good reason to step out of your comfort zone. For those who are ready to change, it can become a real impetus for self-realization and unlocking their potential. On this day you need to move away from the usual pattern and try to do something new. For example, just making a mess in your own apartment. This will help you look at your things from a different perspective, arrange them more conveniently, or simply throw out a lot of junk. Changes are also possible in your wardrobe, environment, and career.

November 9 in Germany is considered a special, fateful day. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, significant events for the country that influenced its history and development were associated with this date. The term "schicksalstag" began to be actively used after the Second World War and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Politicians and journalists cannot find an explanation for the phenomenon of the Fateful Day, which marks significant milestones and turning points in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. The first date among others related to Schicksalstag is November 9, 1848. On this day, Robert Blum, the leader of the Vienna Uprising and the liberal political forces of the country, was executed. This became a symbol of the defeat of the bourgeois-democratic revolution of 1848-1849 for the unification of Germany. Social tension in society led to global political changes. In 1918, on November 9, the monarchy was abolished - Kaiser Wilhelm II was overthrown from the throne. Philipp Scheidemann was elected Deputy Prime Minister (Reich Chancellor). The politician of the social democratic camp proclaimed the creation of the Weimar Republic. November 9 is associated with terrible events in the history of Germany and the whole world: in 1923, the Nazi Party appeared in the political arena as a result of the Beer Hall Putsch, in which Hitler announced plans to overthrow power, and in 1925, the SS troops (Schutzstaffel). Kristallnacht, whose pogroms ended with the death of more than 1,300 Jews, marked the beginning of the widespread introduction of anti-Semitism. From November 9 to 10, 1938, hundreds of synagogues were set on fire throughout Germany, and windows in shops owned by Jews were broken. The same day in 1967 was remembered for the beginning of student protests in Germany, organized by students of the University of Hamburg. However, November 9 is also associated with joyful events in the life of German society. In 1989, the beginning of the fall of the symbol of confrontation between two political systems - the Berlin Wall - began. For 28 years, the capital of Germany was divided into 2 parts, belonging to the capitalist Federal Republic of Germany and the socialist GDR. The Wall, the epitome of the Cold War, was destroyed and hundreds of German families were finally united after long separation. Until November 9, 1989, citizens of the GDR were not able to freely travel to capitalist countries, incl. - to West Berlin. The destruction of the 155 km long concrete spike, built in August 1961, became a symbol of the fall of shackles, freedom and justice. On November 9, 1990, on the anniversary of the destruction of the Berlin Wall, an agreement was signed between the USSR and Germany on mutually beneficial neighborhood and cooperation. The agreement, signed by M.S. Gorbachev and G. Kohl, marked a new era in the history of Europe. According to it, all disputes that arise between countries will be resolved exclusively by peaceful means without threats or the use of force. The signing of the agreement on good neighborly relations is the last significant event falling on November 9, a fateful day for the people of Germany.

November 9 is World Leasing Day, which many people consider to be a very original and even funny holiday. It appeared relatively recently, and the initiator, it is believed, was one of the Baltic companies that was engaged in leasing in the field of air transport. Perhaps the representatives of this company really decided to popularize this area of ​​​​business and draw attention to it, or they simply pursued their own far-reaching marketing goals in order to perpetuate the name of their brand. But the proposed idea really worked. This is one of many funny holidays, which, nevertheless, is interesting in its own way. For example, thanks to this date, some people became interested in national and world history. Some researchers believe that the concept of leasing refers exclusively to the current 21st century, but in fact, even during the Second World War, the USSR authorities signed a contract on the so-called “Lend-Lease”, which implied the rental of special equipment for economic and military purposes, which was supplied from countries that were allies of the Soviet Union in the fight against Nazi Germany. Of course, after this incident, such business partnerships did not develop particularly rapidly, but the historical circumstances themselves pushed the state and individual companies to look for the most profitable ways of cooperation. Since the end of the 20th century, leasing in the West has literally received a second life. Infrastructure began to be actively restored, European countries were revived after the war. Gradually, the devastation was overcome, and this is what gave impetus to the development of this partnership. Leasing has helped a large number of entrepreneurs and companies obtain land, water, underground and air vessels and vehicles for use. Not everyone can buy such devices and machines; it is not advisable from an economic point of view, but renting them on favorable terms with the possibility of subsequent purchase has turned out to be really productive. And it was precisely this circumstance that was in many ways the key point that allowed the emergence of World Leasing Day. This holiday is mainly celebrated in business circles in Europe, and partly in North America, but so far it is not very widespread. There are no special rules regarding how it should be celebrated. Sometimes companies supporting this fashion trend hold corporate events or some kind of informal meetings. If the company’s activities are directly related to leasing, then on November 9 it is customary to organize events related to rewarding particularly distinguished employees and partners. In fact, this is another reason to hold a friendly meeting, not without some business overtones. Events aimed specifically at promoting leasing are sometimes timed to coincide with this day. Not all entrepreneurs are well aware of how, for example, leasing differs from regular renting or purchasing vehicles on credit. Meanwhile, knowing such nuances, it will be possible to more productively build a strategy and tactics for doing business. Surely the popularity of this date will only increase, since this idea has already taken root in business circles, which says a lot. Moreover, companies whose business is directly related to this industry attract the attention of entrepreneurs and potential clients by offering loyal cooperation programs dedicated specifically to this date.

Day of the Special Rapid Reaction Unit (SOBR) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation

What Nelson Mandela and Eleanor Roosevelt, Bill Clinton and John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe and Ingrid Bergman, Richard Burton and Truman Capote, Steve Jobs and Priscilla Presley had in common was that they all grew up in foster care. At different ages, future celebrities were adopted by strangers. Their nobility and generosity of soul deserve universal gratitude and admiration. The adopted children were raised by director Steven Spielberg, actresses Sharon Stone, Sandra Bullock, Meg Ryan, Charlize Theron and Cate Blanchett. In Russia, the practice of adoption of orphans by public people is also widespread. The adoptive parents are actor Alexey Serebryakov, lawyer Mikhail Borshchevsky, actresses Natalya Belokhvostikova and Irina Alferova, singers Tatyana Ovsienko and Margarita Sukhankina. In honor of the opportunity to give a family to orphans and children abandoned by their parents, a holiday was established. World Adoption Day is celebrated annually on November 9th. World Adoption Day, founded by the head of the AdoptTogether crowdfunding platform, Pastor Hank Fortener, was first held in 2014. The purpose of the holiday events is to provide moral and material support to adoptive parents. In the USA, the cost of adopting children can reach 40 thousand dollars. The AdoptTogether service raises funds to help parents who are ready to give love and shelter to adopted children. In the 4 years since the platform was founded in 2012, more than $8.6 million has been collected. Hank Fortener and his team have helped thousands of couples who have opened their hearts and homes to children who are not their blood relatives. The purpose of the holiday is to reduce the number of orphans and children who live in boarding schools. Some traditional cultures, such as those of Islam, do not have orphanages. In a number of countries, the law prohibits parents from leaving their offspring without shelter, upbringing or education. There are no boarding schools or nursing homes in Chechnya, where believers do not have the right to deprive care and attention of the most socially vulnerable people - the elderly and children. In Israel, where Judaism is preached, every child, even a stranger, is treated with great reverence and love. Therefore, there are no orphanages and the concept of “street child” in the country. All these examples indicate that the goal set by Hank Fortener's team is achievable. In honor of World Adoption Day, millions of people are posting on social media with the hashtags #WorldAdoptionDay, #FamilyIsEverythin, #AdoptTogether and #AFamilyForEveryChild, sharing happy stories and experiences with other adoptive parents. The founder of the holiday, Hank Fortener, was raised with a biological brother and sister in the family of a housewife and an IT specialist who became the father and mother of 36 adopted children. The experience of parents and the desire to help other selfless and noble people prompted the pastor to create a website and movement in support of adoptive parents. In honor of the holiday, donations are collected, which are sent to the AdoptTogether fund and other charitable organizations that transfer funds to couples who want to give tenderness, love and care to orphans.

Neon Sign Day

In 1990, the United Nations, together with the European Organization for Quality, established a day on which the whole world should think about the quality of the goods it consumes. This day is the second Thursday of November. And the entire second week of November, on the initiative of the UN, a little later - in 1996, began to be devoted to problems of the quality factor of this or that thing. Every day, every person in the world consumes hundreds of things that are mass produced for the inhabitants of our planet. For these food products, equipment, toys, furniture to really help us, to make our life comfortable and not dangerous, they must be of high quality. This is monitored by special commissions. Each product group has certain quality standards; in our country there is a so-called GOST - state standard, this applies to all CIS countries. In order to monitor the quality of the product, you need to choose certified, licensed items - that do not contain harmful substances in their composition. Remember: saving on certain things may result in spending on medicines. In the constant search for cheaper goods for consumer consumption, their production often uses materials that do not meet accepted safety standards. To prevent this from happening - so that every person feels safe while consuming different products, there are different expert commissions that check the quality of a particular product. Every year, companies are discovered to be using harmful or useless materials in the manufacture of medicines, food, cosmetics, toys, building materials - and other products. Monitoring the quality of one’s own life is the task of every person. You should not blindly trust manufacturers who do not have the appropriate certificates or marks for verifying the features of their own products. Therefore, every second week of November, as well as every second Thursday of November, various events are held to highlight the quality problem among manufacturers. After all, the comfort of society, the lives of us and our children depend on this. In order to love yourself and take care of yourself, it is not enough to allow yourself certain joyful acquisitions - it would also be nice to monitor the quality of these goods. After all, it is the excellent quality indicators of the things used that are often the key to our health and psychological comfort.

The second Thursday of November is a professional holiday for everyone involved in usability: the simplicity and ease of use of products and services. On this day, under the slogan “Making Life Easy!”, World Usability Day (WUD) is celebrated. The date was established in 2004 on the initiative of Elisabeth Rosenzweig, then president of the Association of Usability Professionals. World Usability Day was first held in 2005: 115 events were organized simultaneously in 35 countries with the participation of 8,000 people. To coordinate the implementation of WUD on a planetary scale, the organization of the same name, World Usability Day, was created with headquarters in Boston. On the community website (worldusabilityday.org), participants register their future events, attract sponsors and volunteers, and store an archive of past events. The Community Charter, in particular, states: when it comes to errors when using modern devices or online services, it is incorrect to say that these are human errors, “user errors.” Technology today is too complex. A mobile phone should be as easy to use as a doorknob. Internet technologies that provide infrastructure for distance education, healthcare, work, e-commerce, communication, entertainment, communications with government agencies and other areas must, first of all, serve people. They should improve our lives, not be a source of stress or danger due to poor quality or ill-conceived design. “User errors” means that the services or products were not easy to understand or easy to use. Developing efficient, reliable, secure and easy-to-use technologies for all aspects of modern life requires a united and coordinated effort from both developers and consumers. Every year, World Usability Day brings together professional communities and public organizations for a common goal: to ensure that software products and services needed in everyday life are easy to use and accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. On this day, conferences, seminars, exhibitions and other events are held at which software developers, designers, owners of Internet resources, equipment manufacturers discuss usability issues, share experiences, talk about their products, etc. Every year one is chosen scope of information technology. For example, in 2007 the topic of WUD was health IT usability. 40 thousand people took part in 41 countries. In 2008 - in the field of transport (50 thousand participants in 43 countries), in 2012 - usability of financial systems, etc. The World Usability Day community primarily focuses on IT in the areas of education, healthcare, communication, entertainment, government affairs, security, and privacy. WUD events have been held in Russia since 2007. Among IT specialists, the term User eXperience (UX) is often used. It includes all aspects of user interaction with a specific IT product, and usability is only one of these aspects. In 2012, the Usability Professionals Association (UPA) was renamed UXPA - User Experience Professionals Association International.

People raise poultry for meat and eggs, down and feathers, and droppings as one of the valuable types of natural fertilizers. Ducks, geese, guinea fowl and turkeys are second in popularity to chickens. Birds began to be used in agriculture about 10 thousand years ago. According to one version, the ancestor of the domestic chicken is the bank rooster from Southeast Asia. Birds appeared in the Middle East about 2,800 years ago. In Europe, the first to domesticate chickens were the Etruscans, an ancient people who lived on the territory of modern Asia. From there, the culture of poultry breeding spread to northern Europe: Scandinavia, Britain and Iceland. Initially, chickens were purchased for decorative purposes - people valued roosters for their bright colorful plumage and loud cries in the morning. Over time, their meat and eggs began to be eaten. As a sign of gratitude to these birds, a funny holiday has been established. Every second Thursday of November is celebrated as World Chicken Day. The world bird population reaches 30 billion individuals. In many cuisines around the world, chicken eggs and meat are more popular than other foods due to the cheapness and ease of raising birds compared to cattle or pigs. Down and feathers have long been used to fill pillows and blankets and to produce warm outerwear. For food consumption, people breed many meat and egg breeding breeds. Birds are also an object of sporting interest. They were bred in Tsarist Russia for park baiting (hunting) in “amusing yards.” One of the lines of modern selection is the cultivation of Central Asian kulangs, Malayan, English, Moscow, Indian black, Cornish fighting breeds. World Chicken Day is celebrated in both November and October, like the American National Chicken and Waffles Day. In Russia, chickens are traditionally celebrated on St. Sylvester's Day - January 2 according to the Julian calendar. Poultry farming was one of the main branches of agriculture. During the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the boyar estates were engaged in breeding purebred Dutch roosters. In 1842, Cochins were brought to Russia from England. They were very much valued along with the Pavlovsk and Gilyan breeds of chickens. In 1880, the Society of Poultry Fans was founded in Moscow by cockfighting enthusiasts. It existed until 1906. In November of this year, the All-Russian Congress of Poultry Farmers issued a verdict: “Cockfighting, as a sport and a measure for improving Russian poultry farming, is not desirable and does not deserve encouragement.” Since that time, breeders began to place the main emphasis on egg-bearing and meat-bearing varieties. Everyone will learn about the history of the appearance of birds in the home, the diversity of species, the peculiarities of chicken breeding and other interesting facts during the celebration of World Chicken Day.

International Tempranillo Day

National Flag Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan

International Week of Science and Peace

Every year, on November 9, cultural workers and masters of folk art in Ukraine celebrate their professional holiday. Initially, this day was established in March 2000, a Decree of the President of Ukraine was issued. Then the full name sounded like this - All-Ukrainian Day of Cultural Workers and Folk Art Lovers. The celebration was scheduled for March 23. After 11 years, the celebration was moved to the end of spring - the third Sunday in May. And two years later the date was moved again, now to November 9 - that is, the day of cultural workers began to be celebrated on the same day as the Day of Ukrainian Literature and Language. The purpose of the holiday is to celebrate the enormous contribution of cultural workers and folk art lovers to the development and promotion of folk art, to reward for their assistance in the revival of national culture, as well as for active cultural and educational activities. It is thanks to creative individuals and artists that Ukrainian culture was able to preserve its individuality even under pressure from aggressors. Ukrainian culture aims to unite the people for the further development of the state; it reveals the essence and teaches how to be Ukrainians anywhere in the world. Without traditions, culture cannot exist, and if there is no culture, then there cannot be a nation. According to research, the forefathers of Ukrainian culture are the Indo-European ancestors of the Slavs, more precisely, their culture, as well as directly Slavic cultural sources, as well as the pre-Christian and Christian culture of Kievan Rus. However, Ukrainian culture has its own distinctive features - impeccable purity and originality. The cultural development of peoples cannot be achieved without constant relationships between them. Based on this, we can conclude that the more different influences there are from everywhere, the higher the level of cultural development of the people themselves will be. Ukraine firmly occupies its niche in world culture. Its development took place with the help of the cultures of the West and the East, as well as the Polish-Lithuanian state and Tsarist Russia. When the country gained independence, new preferences emerged both politically and culturally. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine was created, which was engaged in development in this area. Now this is the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the responsibilities and sphere of influence have undergone changes. For Ukrainian society, cultural interests and values ​​are often not priorities, so it becomes clear how important it is to affirm and choose high moral principles. These principles are based on the enormous heritage of the Ukrainian people, both spiritual and cultural. The cultural heritage of the country is simply enormous. Material assets include monuments and museum collections. Intangibles include traditional culture and folklore. In the 1990s, the cultural sector suffered seriously due to the complete lack of reforms in the management sphere, as well as due to the transfer of cultural institutions to local communities in the absence of any changes in the formation of local budgets. In other words, due to unsuccessful decentralization, a large number of libraries, cinemas, cultural centers and clubs were closed or their profile was changed. This problem is especially acute in small towns and villages. However, during the years of independence of the state, many museums and nature reserves were built, and artistic groups were created. Cultural objects are financed from the state or local budget; often there are not enough funds. Along with this, the commercial sector is developing very actively - this includes the music and entertainment industry, film production and show business. On this day, the state leadership congratulates everyone related to the World Day of Cultural Workers and Folk Art Masters. Those who have proven themselves are given state awards and valuable gifts. Thematic events are held throughout the country that are aimed at promoting the country's culture.

The Christian people celebrate their traditional holiday with the unusual name “Pledge to Paraskeva” annually on November 9. The church calendar on this day remembers the Great Martyr Paraskeva, the woman’s Intercessor. Paraskeva was born into the family of a wealthy Iconian senator who reveres and believes in Jesus Christ. The husband and wife spent part of their time in prayer, most of all highlighting Friday, when the crucifixion of the Almighty happened. Just on Friday, the Lord God sent them a daughter. In honor of this event, the parents named the girl Paraskeva, which translated from Greek means Friday. The daughter received a good upbringing, grew up in favorable conditions, was pious, and loved Christ. Paraskeva was left an orphan early. Despite the enormous grief, the girl did not lose her faith in Jesus Christ. Loneliness without parents only strengthened her spirit. Paraskeva loved the Lord God with all her heart and did many good and selfless deeds, continuing the work of her parents. After Paraskeva became an inheritor, she donated all her property to the benefit of poor and needy Christians. The girl was beautiful and smart and could marry any rich groom. But she chose for herself a path dedicated to the Lord God and righteous deeds. In the era of Diocletian (257-305) there was strong persecution of the Christian people. To identify rebellious Christians, the military commander Aetius was sent to Iconium, who read out the ruler’s decree. He was immediately informed that there was a girl named Paraskeva, who herself did not go to the temple to worship idols, but also encouraged other people to believe in Jesus Christ. Aetius demanded that the disobedient girl be brought to him for trial. Seeing the beautiful Paraskeva, the military leader was surprised and fascinated by her beauty. He asked her name and faith. She answered without fear that she was a Christian. Aetius liked the girl, and he wanted to take her as his wife if she went to bow to the idols. But she replied that she loved the Lord God with all her heart, he was her only groom. The offended military leader ordered the executioners to beat the girl with raw ox sinews. The girl did not ask for mercy, but only prayed to withstand the torture. Aetius again asked if she had changed her mind, but she only spat in the face of the gentleman who insulted Christians. Then he ordered to hang the rebellious woman and torment her body with iron claws. The torment stopped only when there were pools of blood around, and the girl was on the verge of death. The bloodied and tortured body was thrown into prison. But the Lord God did not abandon his chosen one. He sent an Angel to heal. In the morning, the prison guards were surprised to see that there were no signs of torture left on the girl’s body. Paraskeva did not renounce her faith, rejected the advances of the military leader Aetius and died. After grueling torture, she was beheaded. At the site of her execution, a healing spring formed, helping to get rid of many ailments. Her relics are also considered healing. Paraskeva is considered the patroness of all women and the hearth. From her image, girls asked for a good groom, and women - for family happiness. Temples and chapels were built in her honor. In pre-revolutionary Moscow alone there were 4 churches named in honor of the Great Martyr Paraskeva. The images depicted a tall, beautiful girl with a cross in her right hand and a scroll in her left. The angels of the Lord held a crown over her head. In honor of the righteous girl, queens, boyar daughters, and simple peasant women were named after Paraskev. Only after the revolution the popularity of the name disappeared. But the memory of the righteous woman is still alive. The birthday of Paraskeva, the woman’s patroness, November 9 was considered a non-working day. On this day it was necessary to go to church. In the evening from the 9th to the 10th, people took holy vows. The promised actions (the vow to Paraskeva) were aimed at healing family members and fulfilling other promises. A woman could sew a shirt in one night to make her wish come true, or the illness of a person close to her would go away. Fulfilling a vow is a sacred duty. If a woman took a vow to Paraskeva and did not fulfill it, she could forever lose the fulfillment of her dream. It was believed that visiting a healer on this day would give a positive result. On this day, damage and the evil eye were removed, and eye diseases were treated. On Paraskeva's birthday they baked pies with various fillings. They cooked in silence, with prayer on their lips. Then all the people were treated to pies. If there were any pies left, they were taken to church. After this ritual, one could ask the Saint for everything that was “painful.” In the old days, they believed that Paraskeva would send health to loved ones for good deeds or fulfill a woman’s cherished desire.

Orthodox holidays on November 9:

Memorial Day of Nestor of Thessalonica

Day of St. Nestor the Chronicler