August 11 is celebrated in Ukraine as Construction Industry Workers’ Day, Veterinary Medicine Workers’ Day, and Hip-Hop Day in the world.
On August 11, 1680, Ivan Sirko died, in 1984 the Saltiv metro line was commissioned in Kharkiv, and in 1922 the national anthem of the German Democratic Republic was approved.
Day of construction workers
The Day of construction industry workers, known as Builder’s Day, has a special meaning for everyone who has devoted his life to the creation of buildings, infrastructure facilities and the development of cities and villages.
Builder’s Day was founded back in 1956 by Nikita Khrushchev and quickly became an important holiday for everyone who worked in the construction industry. On the territory of modern Ukraine, this day continues to be celebrated, emphasizing the importance of the role of builders in the development of the state and ensuring comfortable living conditions.
Interesting facts about the construction industry:
Construction in Kyiv Podol has a long history. This district became a center of urban civilization back in the days of Kyivan Rus. Modern Podil preserves many ancient buildings, testifying to the high level of construction art of those times.
After the Second World War, the main street of Kyiv, Khreschatyk, was almost completely destroyed. Reconstruction lasted more than 10 years, and now it is one of the most famous and most beautiful streets of the capital.
Many Ukrainian builders work not only on the territory of Ukraine, but also abroad, participating in large international projects. This testifies to the high level of their qualifications and professionalism.
The modern construction industry in Ukraine actively uses the latest technologies, in particular, energy-efficient solutions that allow reducing the costs of heating and lighting buildings.
Ukrainian builders not only create new objects, but also actively work to preserve the architectural heritage. The restoration of ancient buildings in Lviv, Odesa, Kyiv and other cities is an example of such an approach.
Day of veterinary medicine workers
This is a professional holiday that honors all those who work to protect the health of animals. This day is an important event not only for veterinarians, but also for everyone who cares about the well-being of our smaller brothers.
The Day of Veterinary Medicine Workers in Ukraine was officially approved in 2001 by Presidential Decree. This holiday is designed to emphasize the important role of veterinarians in society, because their work directly affects the health of not only animals, but also people, since many diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Interesting facts about veterinary medicine:
Veterinary medicine as a science has a long history. The first references to the treatment of animals can be found in ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. Veterinary knowledge also existed in Kievan Rus, and village doctors treated livestock.
In the 19th century, the first specialized schools for the training of veterinary doctors began to appear in Ukraine. One of the most famous is the Kharkiv State Zoo-Veterinary Academy, founded in 1851, which is still a leading educational institution in this field.
Ukrainian veterinarians play a key role in preventing the spread of epidemics among animals, such as African swine fever or bird flu. Their work helps preserve the health of animals and protect the country’s economy from major losses.
Veterinary science is actively developing in Ukraine. Modern research includes the latest methods of diagnosis and treatment of animals, development of vaccines and antiparasitic agents, which ensures high quality of veterinary care.
During the war, many Ukrainian veterinarians are engaged in volunteer activities, providing assistance to animals that have suffered as a result of hostilities. They save the lives of pets, wild animals and even zoo animals.
Hip Hop Day
Hip Hop Day is a holiday dedicated to the culture that originated on the streets of New York and later became a global phenomenon. Hip-hop is not just music, it is a complex cultural movement that includes several main elements: rap, DJing, breakdancing and graffiti.
Hip-hop day is celebrated on August 11, because on this day in 1973, DJ Kool Herc organized a party in the Bronx, which is considered the birth of hip-hop. At this party, Cool Herc took a new approach to record playing, creating a continuous beat that rappers could sing their lyrics to. This was the beginning of a new musical genre and a whole cultural movement.
Interesting facts about hip-hop:
Hip-hop consists of four main elements: MC’ing, DJing, Breaking and Graffiti. Each of these elements plays an important role in the formation of hip-hop culture.
Since its inception, rap has become a means of expression for young people, who have often used it to discuss social issues such as poverty, racism, inequality and violence. Many hip-hop artists have become the voices of generations, raising important social issues through their music.
Although hip-hop originated in the United States, it quickly spread throughout the world. Today, hip-hop culture is part of the youth movement in many countries, including Ukraine, where it has gained special importance in the context of self-expression and protest.
From the beginning, women played an important role in the development of hip-hop. Artists like MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and Missy Elliott have paved the way for generations to come, showing that hip-hop is a platform for everyone, regardless of gender.
In 2020, breakdancing, one of the elements of hip-hop culture, was included in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This recognition underscores the growing popularity and importance of hip-hop as a cultural phenomenon on the international stage.
Historical events on this day:
1707 year – Prussia and the Swedish Empire signed the “Eternal Alliance”, which guarantees mutual military assistance in the event of an attack on one of them by a third party.
1866 year – one of the world’s first roller skating rinks was opened in the USA.
1877 year – the American astronomer Asaph Hall discovered a satellite of the planet Mars called Deimos.
1906 year – in Great Britain, Eugene Last patented sound cinema.
1926 year – the Kodak company announced the start of work on the creation of color film.
2016 year – researchers found out that the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), which lives in the waters of the North Atlantic, is the longest-lived vertebrate on Earth. They can live almost 400 years.
On August 11, 1680, Ivan Dmytrovych Sirko, a native of Merefa (now Kharkiv region), colonel of the Kharkiv Slobid Cossack regiment and the legendary kosh chieftain of Zaporizhzhya Sich, died. Legends say that the future chieftain was born already with teeth, which frightened everyone present – it was believed that either the child was marked by the devil from birth, or “he will gnaw enemies with his teeth.”
Both friends and enemies alike spoke of Sirk as a man of extraordinary military talents. Turks called him Urus-shaitan, which means “Russian devil”, and Turkish mothers used the name of their children to scare him. The Cossacks who served with him claimed that he could ward off a saber blow with his bare hand; at night he turned into a wolf-hound and in this form went on reconnaissance to the enemy camp; could fly and cause bad weather; to make his enemies sleep, and they died of fear, just seeing him. They say that once Sirko even shot the devil himself with a gun, who tried to tempt him with fame, gold and power! Therefore, the river from which the devil emerged and drowned was named Chortomlyk, and the people of Zaporizhzhia have since said: “Sirko himself is not afraid of the devil!”.
Sirko always stood in defense of the Orthodox faith, was noted for his generosity and rare selflessness, never pursued a weak enemy, and after the war never took the spoils of war. It is interesting that Turks and Crimean Tatars often turned to the chieftain to resolve internal disputes as an arbitrator, knowing about his incorruptibility and honesty.
One of the recorded traditions says: “One Tatar woman from the aul from which the Zaporozhians drove the cattle away came to Sirk with her small children and complained that the only cow she deserved was taken from her, and “what should I feed the children with?”. Sirko immediately returned the entire herd of cattle to that aul and ordered that when her cow ran out of milk, the entire aul would feed her children with their milk.” In addition, the chieftain personally presented this Tatar woman with several rolls of fabric for clothing for her children, taking a promise from her that when the children grow up, they will never fight with the Orthodox.
The political orientation of the basket chieftain was clear — the struggle against the Busurmans and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. However, he did not like the Moscow tsar either because of “resentment for the fact that he took ancient estates and industries from Zaporozhye and did not send supplies.”
He went down in history as the chieftain who did not lose a single battle, and also as the hero of the famous correspondence with the Turkish Sultan Muhammad IV, depicted in the famous painting by Ilya Repin “Zaporozhians writing a letter to the Turkish Sultan”. It is interesting that in the image of Ataman Sirk, Kyiv Governor-General M. I. Dragomirov is depicted in the painting. However, the signature on the Sultan’s message belongs precisely to Sirk. By the way, it was Sirko who led the Zaporozhian Cossacks at that time and was one of the main inspirers of their bold, offensive, but at the same time witty response to the formidable monarch who ruled one of the strongest states of that time.
Shortly before his death, Sirko had a coffin made for himself and lay in it, saying that he no longer expected his former health, and on August 11 he died suddenly in his apiary. The Cossacks buried their beloved chieftain with all honors, cannon and musket fire and great sorrow at the Cossack cemetery near the village of Kapulivka (now Nikopol district).
On August 23, 2017, a monument to the legendary chieftain was opened in Kharkiv on Bursatsky Uzviz. The monument is cast from bronze, the height of the figure is about 5 meters, and the weight of the bronze Cossack is about 4 tons. It was installed in the place where, according to historians, the tower of the first Kharkiv fortress stood.
On August 11, 1984, an event took place in Kharkiv that left an unforgettable mark in the history of the city and its infrastructure. On this day, the first starting section of the second line of the Kharkiv metro, 6.8 kilometers long – the Saltivska metro line – was put into operation. This event was an important step in the development of urban transport, which ensured the connection between the Saltiv residential massif and the center of the city of Kharkiv.
The Saltiv metro line is one of the most important in Kharkiv, as it serves one of the most densely populated areas of the city. Residents of Saltivka use this line every day to get to the city center, to work, study or on business. The introduction of this line significantly improved the transport accessibility of the area and reduced the burden on ground transport.
Some stations of this line deserve special attention. For example, the station “Pushkinska” (now renamed) is the deepest station of the Kharkiv metro – it is located at a depth of about 30 meters. This station has a special architecture and symbolizes the greatness and depth of Kharkiv underground transport. Its spacious and sophisticated design emphasizes the importance and scale of the city’s infrastructure.
On the other hand, the station “Akademika Barabashova” is the least deep station on the entire line, located only 4 meters underground. This contrasts with “Pushkinskaya” and demonstrates the variety of engineering solutions used in the construction of the subway in Kharkiv. The small depth of the station allows passengers to quickly and conveniently get to it from the surface, which is especially important in the conditions of dense urban development.
The Saltiv metro line became an important step in the development of urban transport in Kharkiv and remains a key part of its infrastructure. The introduction of this line contributed to the significant improvement of transport connections, making the city more convenient and accessible for its residents. Today, this line serves thousands of passengers every day, continuing to fulfill its important role in the life of Kharkiv.
With the development of the city and its infrastructure, the Kharkiv subway remains a symbol of progress and technical improvement, providing fast and comfortable movement for residents and guests of Kharkiv. The history of the construction and operation of the Saltivska metro line is a vivid example of how engineering achievements can change the face of the city and improve the lives of its residents.
On August 11, 1922, the national anthem of the German Democratic Republic entitled “Song of the Germans” was approved. The music for it was composed by the famous composer Joseph Haydn, and the verses were composed by Professor August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben back in 1848. The anthem begins with the words “Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, über alles in der Welt” — “Germany, Germany above all, above all in the world.”
“Song of the Germans” reflected the mood of the time, calling to forget regional contradictions and put the interests of the nation above all else. However, this song was often adapted to the political needs of the country, which, of course, were determined by the state leadership. After the First World War, the anthem quickly gained popularity and became the official anthem of the Weimar Republic. Later, when the National Socialists came to power in 1933, the opening stanza “Germany, Germany above all!…” acquired a completely different meaning and sound, becoming Hitler’s favorite slogan.
During the “Third Reich” period, only the first stanza of the anthem was performed, while the second verse (“German women, German loyalty…”) was played less often. The Nazis did not like the third verse, which talked about “rights and freedom”, so it was replaced with words from other Nazi songs.
After 1945, the performance of the “Song of the Germans” was banned, and an active discussion about a new national anthem began in German society. The hymn was revived only in 1952, but now only the third verse is performed, avoiding the first two, which have received a bad historical reputation (of which the author, of course, is not involved). The third verse is now the official anthem of reunified Germany:
“Unity, right and freedom for the German Fatherland, – Let’s all strive for this!… With a brotherly heart and hand!”.
One interesting event is connected with this. In 1954, the German national team won the World Cup, which was held in Germany. The German fans, filled with joy, began to sing their national anthem. Despite the ban on performing the first two stanzas, they started with the first stanza, since everyone knew it well, just like today. This forced Swiss television to immediately stop broadcasting from the stadium, as the official language in Switzerland is German, which is spoken by 63.7% of the population.
