August 21: holidays and events on this day

On August 21, the world celebrates the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of Victims of Terrorism, the Day of the Poet, the Day of Self-Care on the Internet.
On August 21, 1911, Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous work, Mona Lisa Gioconda, was stolen from the Louvre.
International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of Victims of Terrorism
This day was officially approved by the UN General Assembly in 2017 as a reminder of the need for support and solidarity with those affected by acts of terrorism. The choice of the date is not accidental: August 21 is celebrated globally as a day to unite efforts to fight terrorism and support victims and their families.
Terrorism, as a phenomenon, has caused significant losses to humanity throughout history. Millions of people have lost their lives, health and loved ones due to acts of violence, which are often accompanied by psychological trauma and long-term social consequences. This day calls on the world community not to forget the tragedies that destroyed the lives of many people and to help prevent such crimes in the future.
Interesting facts
The initiative to create this day was supported by many countries after tragic events, such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States, which forced the world to think more seriously about the problem of terrorism and the need to support victims.
Terrorism has no borders. There are victims in all corners of the world, from large metropolises to remote villages. This day calls attention to the fact that even one victim of terrorism is a tragedy on a global scale.
One of the key aspects of the day is drawing attention to the needs of victims of terrorism, in particular, psychological support. Many survivors experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and need long-term help to recover.
The International Day of Remembrance and Remembrance for the Victims of Terrorism also serves as a reminder of the need for cooperation between countries in the fight against terrorism, including information sharing and joint operations to prevent terrorist attacks.
Poet’s Day
Poet’s Day is a celebration of those who have dedicated their lives to the art of words, create poems and inspire others through poetry. This day is an opportunity to honor poets, both contemporary and those whose work has left a mark on world culture.
Poetry is one of the oldest types of literary creativity that has accompanied humanity since the time when writing was just beginning to develop. Poems allow you to express your deepest feelings, convey the beauty of nature, and understand life’s difficulties and joys.
Interesting facts
Poetic creativity existed even in ancient times, when poets praised heroic deeds, love and life wisdom. Epic poems such as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey have remained models of poetic mastery for millennia.
Over the centuries, poets have played an important role in shaping cultural and national identities. Their poems became symbols of struggle, love, spirituality, ideals for whole generations.
In today’s world, poetry remains relevant, and many young poets find their readers through social networks and Internet platforms. Thanks to this, poetic creativity becomes even more accessible and closer to a wide range of people.
Poetry contributes to the preservation of languages and cultural traditions. Poets often use their native language, even if it is endangered, and thus help preserve it for future generations.
Many countries have their own prestigious awards for poets, such as the Nobel Prize for Literature, which is often awarded specifically for poetic work. This testifies to the high status of poetry in world culture.
Day of self-care on the Internet
August 21 is Internet Self-Care Day, which reminds of the importance of healthy habits and a conscious approach to the use of digital technologies. This day invites us to think about how our daily presence on the Internet affects our psychological and emotional health.
The Internet has become an integral part of our lives, but at the same time, it can be a source of stress, anxiety, and even depression if you don’t pay proper attention to its needs and limitations. Internet Self-Care Day is designed to draw attention to the need to find a balance between online activity and real life.
Interesting facts
One of the key elements of this day is the idea of digital detox – consciously limiting the time spent on the Internet in order to restore the balance between the virtual and real world. It helps reduce stress and improve overall health.
Social networks, although they provide an opportunity to communicate and share one’s thoughts, can cause negative emotions such as envy, anxiety or dissatisfaction with oneself. Internet Self-Care Day is a reminder of the importance of setting boundaries when using social media.
Taking care of yourself online also includes paying attention to cyber security. Protecting personal information, avoiding toxic comments and fake news helps maintain emotional balance.
It is important to use the Internet for personal development and improvement of well-being, for example, engage in online meditations, read positive materials or listen to soothing music.
On this day, it is recommended to develop a plan for using the Internet, which includes time for rest, physical exercise and communication in real life. This helps maintain harmony and reduces the risk of emotional burnout.
Historical events on this day
1914 – Founding of the Vasco da Gama football club. On this day in 1914, the Vasco da Gama football club was founded in Brazil. This club quickly became one of the most famous in the country, winning numerous trophies and gaining widespread support among fans.
1914 – The first flight to the Arctic. On August 21, 1914, Polish pilot Jan Nagurski made the world’s first flight to the Arctic. His expedition was aimed at searching for the expedition of Georgy Sedov, which was lost in these harsh conditions. This flight was a significant achievement in the exploration of the North and opened up new opportunities for aviation.
1919 – Liberation of Zhytomyr from the Bolsheviks. In 1919, the Second Corps of the Ukrainian Galician Army under the command of Arnold Wolf liberated the city of Zhytomyr from the Bolsheviks during the offensive on Kyiv. This became an important event in the struggle for Ukraine’s independence during the civil war.
1932 – The first international film festival in Venice. On this day in 1932, the first international film festival was held in Venice. This event became fundamental for the development of the film industry and established the tradition of holding film festivals, which today are an integral part of the world’s cultural heritage.
1944 – Washington Conference. On August 21, 1944, an international conference opened in Washington, the participants of which prepared proposals that formed the basis of the United Nations Charter. This became an important step in the formation of international law and prevention of new global conflicts.
1968 – Introduction of Warsaw Pact troops into Czechoslovakia. On this day in 1968, the Warsaw Pact countries, including the USSR, sent troops into Czechoslovakia to suppress the reforms of the Prague Spring. This invasion led to a long-term suppression of democratic reforms in the country and left a deep mark on the history of Europe.
1991 – Restoration of Latvia’s independence. On August 21, 1991, the Verkhovna Rada of Latvia adopted a constitutional law on the status of an independent state after the anti-Gorbachev putsch (GKChP). This decision was the final step in restoring Latvia’s independence after decades of Soviet rule.
1996 – Establishment of the Order “For Courage” in Ukraine. On this day in 1996, the award of the President of Ukraine – the Order “For Courage” was established in Ukraine. This award was created to celebrate the heroism and dedication of citizens in various spheres of public life.
1996 – The first hryvnia trading on the Kyiv Universal Exchange. On this day, the first trades in the national currency of Ukraine, the hryvnia, took place on the Kyiv Universal Exchange. This was an important step in the formation of the new economy of Ukraine after gaining independence.
2005 – Lubomyr Huzar changes his title and moves his residence to Kyiv. On August 21, 2005, His Beatitude Lubomyr Huzar officially changed his title to “Supreme Archbishop of Kyiv-Halytskyi” and moved his residence to Kyiv. This decision was of great importance for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
2013 – Use of chemical weapons in Syria. On August 21, 2013, in Syria, during the civil war, the forces of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons against the opposition in the suburb of Damascus, the city of Ghouta. This act became one of the most tragic events of the conflict, according to various estimates, from 350 to 1,700 people died.
On August 21, 1911, Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous work, Mona Lisa Gioconda, was stolen from the Louvre. The theft was carried out so skillfully that the police could not track down the thief for a long time. This event began with the fact that in the morning the artist Louis Beru, who was going to make a copy of the painting, noticed that it was not in its usual place. However, this did not worry him, and he even joked to the guard in the hall: “When women are not near those who are in love with them, then they pose for photographers.” But the situation was much more serious than Beru assumed.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor General and the Prefect of Police arrived at the Louvre with 60 subordinates. They searched the entire museum together, but they never managed to find the “Joconde”. The only clue was a fingerprint found on the protective glass of the painting. The director of the Louvre was dismissed, but this also did not bring results.
The police considered different versions of the crime. Among the suspects were the famous French poet, the Spanish artist Picasso, the German Emperor Wilhelm, and there was even a version of a Jewish conspiracy. Almost everyone was subject to inspection, even patients of psychiatric hospitals. But the investigation did not yield any results.
However, such crimes are either revealed immediately or accidentally, which is what happened in this story. Two years later, a seller of Italian art received a letter with an offer to buy “Gioconda”. The letter claimed to be a da Vinci original. The police arrested Vincenzo Perugia, who in 1911 was installing protective glass for the painting. Perugia confessed to the theft. He said that on the day when the Louvre was closed, he sneaked into the museum along with other workers. Taking the picture out of the frame and hiding it under the folding table where he usually cut glass, he calmly went about his usual work. They didn’t even mention him later.
Perugia explained his act as a desire to restore justice by returning the masterpiece stolen by Napoleon I to Italy. He was sentenced to only one year in prison, but after a few months he was already free. Many Italians considered him a national hero, and he gained considerable popularity in his homeland. This abduction made the “Gioconde” even more famous than before. People lined up to see the empty space where the painting used to hang. In Parisian cabarets, dancers performed in Mona Lisa masks, and songs were dedicated to her. Today, “Mona Lisa” is insured for 3 billion dollars, which makes it the most expensive painting in the world. The security system, which protects it from possible encroachments, cost the Louvre 7 million euros.
As far as forensics is concerned, the fingerprint on the glass was never identified at that time. Perugia was repeatedly arrested by the French police and his fingerprints were kept in an anthropometric file. However, fingerprint identification was still imperfect at that time. It was after this incident that a thorough reorganization of the identification system was carried out in the French police.
On August 21, 1614, the famous Hungarian countess Elizaveta Battori died in prison. Her name is immortalized in the Guinness Book of Records as the woman who committed the most murders, although the exact number of her victims is still unknown. During the trial, the number of 650 people was named. There are several versions about the motives of her crimes, but the most likely is the desire for beauty. The countess allegedly bathed in the blood of virgin girls in order to preserve her youth and feminine attractiveness: “If I drink girl’s blood or bathe in it, I will remain forever young,” she believed.
According to popular legend, the first incident of violence occurred when a young servant, combing Elizabeth’s hair, accidentally pulled out a lock of her hair. The enraged countess hit the girl so hard that blood splattered from her face, which fell on the hostess’s hand. Elizaveta felt a surge of vigor and noticed that the skin in the place where the drops of blood had entered seemed to have become younger.
What would you not do for the sake of beauty? It can lead to insanity at times.
The crimes of the countess were revealed by an ambitious man named Gyorgy Turzo, whose offer of her hand and heart she had once rejected. Biographers and supporters of the bloody but fascinating legend claim that Elizabeth first felt the power of blood when she struck her maid – the blood splashed on her face, and the countess thought that the skin in that place became younger and lighter.
The countess spent the last years of her life walled up in one of the rooms of the Hungarian castle in Chachtytsy. She was buried several times, but the place of her grave was never found.
The story of the Bloody Countess became part of national folklore and remains popular to this day. She is often compared to Count Dracula. Interestingly, Elizabeth’s uncle, named Stefan Battori, was Prince of Transylvania and King of Poland from 1576, and many Poles consider him one of the best kings to ever sit on the throne. So, heredity is probably irrelevant here.