Secular society celebrates the change of the annual cycle on January 1, combining this date with Christian Christmas. But in the Orthodox Church itself, the New Year-Summer celebration is celebrated on September 14, that is, September 1 according to the old style. The full name of the holiday is “Consecrated Time of the Church: Church New Year and Peaceful Circle,” and its roots go back to the origins of the Byzantine Christian faith. In the 3-4 centuries in the Eastern Roman Empire, the Orthodox foundations of the new religion were established; in many ways, they arose as a rejection of pagan beliefs. In connection with this opposition, in 312, Emperor Constantine introduced time calculation by indictions, instead of the ancient Olympiads. Indict or indiction (from the Latin “renewal”) is a cycle of 15 years. Initially, in the Roman Empire the term meant a tax on grain, which was in connection with the census. Constantine the Great connected the indictment with church chronology. It is noteworthy that the year within such a cycle was also called an indict, so it can be argued that this concept is synonymous with the New Year or New Summer. The Great Indiction lasted 532 years, its approval was associated with the Julian calendar at the first Church Council. In Rus', this large time period was called the Peaceful Circle; it contained the cyclic repetition of celestial phenomena and the eternal circular flow of time. The Orthodox Church classifies Holy Time as a middle holiday, but at the same time, on September 14, they celebrate the day of Simeon the Stylite and his mother Martha, and also remember the fasting virgins and their teacher, the martyr Ammun the deacon. Therefore, the evening service on the eve of the New Year is performed in honor of three great memorable deeds. At Great Vespers, the clergy interpret the events described in the Gospel of Luke about the coming of Jesus Christ to the Nazareth synagogue. There, the Savior read to those present the lines of the book of the prophet Isaiah about preaching the favorable year of the Lord. In Muscovite Rus', the New Summer coincided with the end of the harvest and the completion of agricultural work; the holiday was celebrated everywhere on a grand scale. It was considered especially important to give gifts to the poor and prisoners in prison. Well-born, noble boyars, and even the tsar himself, did not shy away from giving alms. Not a single beggar was left without alms that day. The suffering were fed hearty meals and presented with clothes and shoes. But the reign of Peter 1 largely changed ancient Russian customs; New Year's festivities on the occasion of January 1 are gradually pushing aside the autumn holiday. As a result, the date of September 14 is today revered as a church date, and in order to spread it into secular society, a number of state-level events are necessary. The question arises about the revival of the best traditions of Orthodox Russia, which include the celebration of the onset of the Peacemaking Circle.

The Christian holiday of the New Year has its roots in the history of Ancient Rome. Then, every 15 years, emperors collected taxes from their subjects. The collection day was set for September 1st. The new financial period, at the end of which it was necessary to submit taxes, was called an indict. Much later, the indictment began to last not 15 years, but a year. This is how the word “indict” became a synonym for the noun “year”. Emperor Constantine the Great allowed his people to profess Christianity on the day the new indictment began. From that moment on, September 1st began to be considered not only the beginning of the new year, but also a symbol of recognition of Christianity. The New Year in the new style falls on September 14th. In Orthodox sources, the day is called the Beginning of the Indictment or the Decrease. This day came to the Slavs after the adoption of the Byzantine religion. However, it did not immediately become official: after all, the Slavs celebrated the new year on March 1. Only from the 15th century did the tsar and bishop begin to participate in the celebrations of September 1, that is, the holiday acquired the status of a church-state holiday. Later, Peter the Great moved the celebration to the date familiar to modern people - January 14 (according to the new style - January 1). However, Christian believers still consider the Decrepit to be the true beginning of the year. On this day, Orthodox Christians attend services in churches in honor of the Beginning of the Indictment. They also remember Simeon the Stylite, who erected a pillar and prayed on it for several decades. Believers pray for good luck in the coming new year, asking God for blessings at a new stage of life. In the house you should also read prayers for the message of a good year. You should not ask for your financial status on this holiday, because it will be inappropriate on such a bright day. On New Year's Eve it is permissible to visit, meet with relatives and friends, exchange gifts from the heart, and set a generous table. People call the Beginning of the Indictment the Day of Semyon the Flight Guide in honor of the seer and healer Simeon the Stylite. On this day, peasants paid taxes and dues; also during this period, annual contracts and transactions between the Slavs ceased to operate. It was recommended to pay off debts by this day so as not to start a new milestone in life with a heavy heart. Traditionally it was believed that from this moment autumn comes into its own. The peasants needed to complete the harvest and prepare for the autumn thaw.

Modern man, living in a world of loud sounds, an endless flow of information and haste, has stopped paying attention to the subtle manifestations of the world around him. If you take a break from the hustle and bustle for even a minute, you can hear the rustling of autumn leaves, the purring of a cat and the singing of cicadas. The Day of Listening to Rustle is called upon to return to a person the joy of perceiving reality not only through the organs of vision, but also through hearing. It is celebrated in early autumn - September 14th. It’s not only nature that gives us barely audible sounds and signs. A curtain on a window blowing up from a draft, the rustling of tires of a car slowly moving across the yard, the insinuating steps of a child who came up from behind to cover your eyes with his hands... We practically do not pay attention to these sounds. But they are important and complement the picture of the world around us, just like the clink of a spoon in a cup of tea, the sound of bus whistles, the rumble of an asphalt roller, or the cry of a housemate from the balcony: “Roma, put on your hat!” The joy of enjoying the simple, unpretentious things present in our lives is not available to everyone. Listening to rustling sounds is akin to meditation; it is an art that can be learned. To comprehend it, you need to step away from everyday life and try to slow down the passage of time. This works very well among the eastern peoples, who lead a leisurely and measured lifestyle. In her haiku, Machi Tawara, a modern Japanese poetess, conveys the philosophy of wabi-sabi - unassuming emptiness, movement on the path to understanding the fleeting beauty of the world around us. This deep focus on contemplating existence is characteristic of Chinese and East Asian Buddhism. The rustle of a butterfly's wings, the rustle of a dream catcher and the whisper of prayer were drawn to our attention by our ancestors, who perceived the world primarily through the organs of hearing. The Indians put their ears to the ground in order to distinguish in its vibrations the sound of the hooves of horses with galloping riders; in this way, the inhabitants of the tundra learned how far the deer had gone. Folk signs were based on close observation of nature, barely noticeable signs and sounds made by animals and birds. The inhabitants of the hut could hear not only the creaking of the floorboards, but also the steps of the brownie, who came out of his hiding place for a walk at night. In the modern world, too much attention is paid to video, information that is perceived by the eyes. But just recently, instead of reading electronic books to oneself, one got acquainted with their paper ancestors at family gatherings, reading out loud chapter after chapter. There are a lot of things in the world that we hardly pay attention to - for example, the beating of the heart or the sound of exhaled air. Even the collision of two of its molecules produces a sound equal to -20.3 dB. The rustling of newspaper pages, a beetle beating against the glass of a window, the snort of a hedgehog that approached the porch of the house... The Day of Listening to Rustle Calls calls our attention to these and other barely discernible sounds.

On September 14, the Calendar marks the Feast of Communists. It is celebrated every year by all people who have a good sense of humor and love private parties. This day serves as a good reason to take a break from the daily routine and chat with colleagues and friends in an informal setting. A get-together is a cheerful, friendly party in a small circle. House parties for small groups have become very popular recently for several reasons. Firstly, only those people who are invited can attend such an event, and secondly, a party at home can be arranged exactly the way a group of friends is used to spending time. Unlike club parties, there will be no face control, which often spoils the mood, you won’t have to pay for entry and you won’t need to monitor the amount of alcohol you drink, since no one is watching. In a home environment, as a rule, parties can enjoy a bright holiday and get an unforgettable experience. No matter how reserved or sociable people are, they periodically attend various parties, which are simply necessary for moral relaxation. Closed parties add variety to life and allow friends to feel more relaxed and comfortable. Most often, get-togethers take place in a homely atmosphere, but if this is not possible, they can take place in a cozy cafe or restaurant. As a rule, at such parties people of a certain circle meet and the composition of those present changes very rarely. Having met together in honor of the holiday, get-togethers share the latest news with each other, discuss various events that have happened in their lives, or simply communicate on general topics. For those who have never been to such events before, it is never too late to organize a get-together for your friends on your own on September 14th. The first celebration of the “Day of Communists” will be a good occasion for the emergence of a new tradition in your environment. To make a private party memorable, you need to choose a place to hold it, send invitations to your friends, prepare your favorite dishes or order them in advance at a restaurant. To create a unique atmosphere, you can decorate the room and turn on suitable music that can lift the spirits of everyone present. If you really want to, a get-together for like-minded people can be organized in a matter of hours, and then you won’t have to keep track of the time.

The ancient Slavs lived in inextricable connection with nature and the deities that were its creation. During holidays and festivities, both good and evil characters of pagan mythology were celebrated. The latter includes the defender of the Irian Garden and the god of war Volkh. His wife was Lelya - the embodiment of love, fidelity, spring and beauty. The mighty hero, the son of Mother Earth and Indrik the Beast, was revered as the guardian of the Family and the healer of wounded warriors. September 14th is the Day of the Fiery Wolf. In honor of the holiday, the Slavs came in the morning to stone temples - places of power where the objects of worship of our ancestors were located. Volkh and his wife Lelya were offered roses, freshly baked bread and honey. These gifts were supposed to appease the gods and protect families from troubles and misfortunes. The continuation of the Day of the Fiery Magus was a magnificent feast. The union of Lelya, the goddess of goodness and love, with a representative of the dark forces was initially doomed due to the eternal struggle between good and evil. According to legends, when Volkh, the embodiment of mighty strength and rage, was born, Yav, Prav and Nav shuddered. Tender and tremulous Lelya, a symbol of light forces, health and fertility, could not become the wife of a warrior god racing on a fiery horse, a descendant of the Serpent Goryn - the lord of all dark forces. The Volkh, as a werewolf, who could understand the language of birds and animals, was forced to secretly visit his beloved in the form of Finist - the Clear Falcon. Initially, he entered the Garden of Eden in order to taste the apples that bestow immortality and eternal youth, but he forgot about everything when he heard Lelya’s enchanting singing. Secret night meetings were opposed by the sisters of the goddess, who once stuck hundreds of needles into the window opening through which Volkh flew in. The wounded wings forced the god to return to his patrimony - the underworld. Lelya, in love, could not come to terms with the separation. She descended from heaven and for many years searched for Volkh. During this time, according to legend, the goddess broke three iron staffs, ate three loaves of stone bread and wore out three pairs of iron shoes. The blood that oozed from her wounded legs turned into roses. That is why the flower later became a symbol of Lelya. The goddess found her beloved in the underworld. After meeting Lelya, Volkh forgot about his dark aspirations and evil intentions. From a formidable monster and enemy of heaven, he turned into a faithful defender of Iriy Garden - paradise in the mythology of the Eastern Slavs. The Day of the Fiery Volkh also coincided with the harvest festival - Autumn. The Slavs thanked the mother of the god of war - the Raw Earth - for the generous gifts. The main dish on the table was pies with juicy cabbage and lingonberries made from the new harvest flour. Today, Osenins are celebrated and the Fiery Wolf is glorified, paying tribute to the customs of their ancestors, Rodnovers and other adherents of ancient traditions.

Catholic Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Hindi Day in India (Hindi Diwas)

A parody of the Nobel Prize - the Ig Nobel Prize, this is the nickname in scientific circles for the “prestigious award”, which has been awarded since 1991. This is a rather confusing issue that is still being discussed throughout the world community. This award has become quite famous throughout the civilized world. Even elementary school students know about it. This Anti-Nobel Prize was created by M. Abrahams (who founded the popular journal Annals of Incredible Research). This, at its core, is a parody of the presentation of the prestigious Nobel Prize and it is worth noting that it takes place almost at the same time. There are 10 nominations here, which first make you laugh heartily at them, and then think about the laureate’s achievement itself. The ceremony itself takes place with notes of fun and genuine humor. The laughter and jokes of all the guests present and the laureates themselves can be heard everywhere. Initially, the Ig Nobel Prize was awarded at the Massachusetts Institute, but after some time the ceremony was moved to another equally (and more) prestigious place - Harvard. Here, the organizers are provided with a hall with 1,166 seats, where literally anything can happen during the ceremony itself - even paper airplanes can fly by. All awards to applicants are presented by real Nobel laureates (which gives the prize itself simply enormous weight), who traditionally dress in non-standard outfits: fake glasses, false noses, wigs and much more. In addition to the fact that the Ig Nobel Prize winner receives a certificate (signed personally by three Nobel laureates), he is also given a rather funny award in the form of a jaw on a pedestal or a medal made of food foil. In general, everything happens in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, which ultimately gives all the guests present a lot of indescribable emotions and impressions. After the award and certificate are presented, the laureate is given the right to make a short speech, which must fit in 60 seconds. If it exceeds the regulated period of time, a child’s voice will immediately be heard from the audience: “Please stop, I’m bored!” And this will be followed by laughter from the guests and a sea of ​​applause. Basically, awards of this kind are designed to attract special attention to those scientific works whose topics and titles actually contain some elements of humor and laughter. All the most colorful and vibrant “scientific achievements”, rightfully awarded the “prestigious” Ig Nobel Prize, are vigorously discussed in all social networks and world media. This has already become a tradition over the past decade.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Cyprus

This name of the holiday comes from the name of Saint Simeon, revered by the Orthodox on this day. It is customary to begin Semin Day by lighting a fire, which was made by hand. Semin's day falls in the middle of the first month of autumn; it is often associated with the beginning of "Indian summer". At this time the weather is still warm, but in some areas of the country it may become colder.

Orthodox holidays on September 14:

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Augustow

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God “All-Blessed”

Memorial Day of St. Simeon the Stylite, Archimandrite of Antioch

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Chernigov-Gethsemane

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Miasinskaya