On August 3, the world celebrates International Twins Day, International Blues Day, World Watermelon Day.
International day of twins
This is a unique holiday that unites twins from all over the world. It not only celebrates the special bond between twins, but also draws attention to the genetic and social aspects of this phenomenon.
International Twin Day is usually celebrated on the first weekend of August. This holiday appeared thanks to the initiatives of twins and their families, who wanted to create a day for meetings, sharing experiences and just having fun. Different countries of the world have their own celebration traditions, but they all have one goal — to unite twins and pay tribute to their unique nature.
Interesting facts about twins:
Twins are born in about one in 80 births.
There are two main categories of twins—identical (identical) and fraternal (non-identical). Identical twins have the same genetic material, while fraternal twins have different genetic material.
Twins often have a unique psychological connection that allows them to feel each other’s emotions even at a distance.
Famous twins like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the Wright brothers who created the first airplane, and many others have left their mark on history.
Research has shown that the chances of having twins are passed down through the maternal line, and the likelihood of having twins increases with the age of the mother.
International Blues Day
It’s a day when people all over the world come together to celebrate the music that originated in the late 19th century and became the basis for many modern genres. Blues is not only music, but also an expression of emotions, history and culture.
The idea of celebrating International Blues Day arose among musicians and enthusiasts who wanted to pay tribute to this genre of music. The blues originated in the American South among African Americans and became an important cultural phenomenon. This holiday helps popularize blues music, preserve its traditions and introduce new generations to its magic.
Interesting facts about the blues:
The blues originated in the late 19th century among African Americans who worked on plantations in the southern states of the United States. At first, blues songs were performed without accompaniment, and over time, guitar, piano and other instruments were added to them.
The blues became the basis for many musical genres, including jazz, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and soul.
Blues legends such as Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Muddy Waters and Etta James became musical icons and influenced many artists today.
Traditional blues uses a 12-bar structure that has become the basis for many blues songs.
The blues is known for its ability to convey deep emotions, including sadness, joy, love, and suffering. Many blues songs tell stories of life, hardships, and triumphs.
World Watermelon Day
It is a bright and cheerful holiday that unites lovers of this juicy and refreshing fruit all over the world. Watermelon is not only a tasty and useful berry, but also a symbol of summer joys and festive events.
The history of World Watermelon Day does not have a specific origin, but the holiday became popular thanks to social networks and the initiatives of gardeners, cooks and enthusiasts. Its purpose is to celebrate watermelon as a symbol of summer, and to spread knowledge about its health benefits and various uses.
Interesting facts about watermelon:
Watermelon comes from Africa, where it was cultivated 5000 years ago. Now it is cultivated in many countries of the world.
Watermelon is 92% water, making it the perfect fruit to quench your thirst in summer.
Watermelon is rich in vitamins A, B6, and C, and contains the antioxidant lycopene, which has heart and skin benefits.
There are more than 1,200 varieties of watermelons, including red, yellow, and seedless watermelons.
The largest watermelon in the world weighed 159 kg and was grown in the USA.
Historical events of August 3
1344 year
- The troops of Castile under the command of King Alfonso XI, supported by the fleets of the Kingdom of Aragon and the Republic of Genoa, begin a siege of the city of Algeciras, an important port of the Marinid state.
1492 year
- Christopher Columbus sets out from the port of Palos de la Frontera in Andalusia on three ships—the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Niña—on his first voyage to find a western route to India.
1778 year
- The opera house “La Scala” opens in Milan, which becomes one of the centers of world opera culture. The theater got its name from the church of Santa Maria della Scala, which used to be on this site.
1795 year
- The Paris Conservatoire, one of the world’s most famous musical educational institutions, is founded in Paris.
1904 year
- Members of a British expedition become the first Westerners to enter the sacred city of Lhasa in Tibet.
1922 year
- Radio New York uses the world’s first radio sound effect: simulating a door slamming with two pieces of wood.
1926 year
- The first traffic lights in the city are installed in Piccadilly Square in London.
1960 year
- Niger gains independence from France, becoming a sovereign state.
2000 year
- The Supreme Court of Chile decides to strip former dictator Augusto Pinochet of his parliamentary immunity.
2014 year
- An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 occurs in Yunnan province (China), as a result of which at least 150 people die, many buildings are destroyed, and communications are damaged.
Opening of the Olympics on August 3
The opening of the Olympic Games is always an exciting event, full of symbolism, traditions and an incredible atmosphere of unity of nations. The opening of the Olympics on August 3, 1980 in Moscow was especially memorable, when the Olympic Mouse appeared on the stage and became one of the most famous mascots in the history of the Olympic Games.
The Olympic Mouse was created by the artist Viktor Chizhikov and became the official mascot of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow. This friendly bear immediately won the hearts of the audience with his friendly smile and charm. The mouse symbolized friendship, unity and peace, and also embodied strength and endurance.
The mouse became the first official mascot of the Summer Olympic Games. Before him, mascots were used only at the winter games. He became extremely popular. His image could be seen on numerous souvenirs, posters and even on postage stamps.
At the closing ceremony of the games in Moscow, the Mouse rose into the air on balloons, which became one of the most moving moments in the history of the Olympic Games.
During the opening of the Olympics, thousands of athletes from all over the world paraded under the flags of their countries, demonstrating unity and friendship.
Interesting facts about the 1980 Olympic Games:
Games of 1980 in Moscow were boycotted by many countries because of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. However, this did not prevent the competition to be held at a high level.
At these games, 36 world records were set, which testifies to the high level of training of athletes.
During the closing ceremony, many people cried, missing the holiday.
The birth of the profession “Shumovyk”
On August 3, 1922, a radio station in New York used for the first time in the world a sound radio effect created with two pieces of wood to simulate the sound of a door slamming. This was the beginning of a new profession – “noisemaker”. It is thanks to these specialists that the heroes of radio productions and films “ride” horses, “walk” on grass and “swim” in the sea, and fantastic dragons “fly” in the air and “breathe” flames.
The profession of noisemaker was invented by Jack Foley, who worked in this field for more than 30 years. His methods and findings are still used in the industry. Noisemakers add realism to audiovisual productions by creating sound effects that help bring the scene to life.
Noisemakers use a variety of improvised materials and tools to create realistic sounds:
– reproduced by the impact of shoes on various surfaces;
– is imitated by kissing one’s own hand;
– recorded at the training ground or directly on the set;
– created by breaking pasta or celery in front of the microphone;
– metal boxes with iron parts or car body parts are used;
– reproduced by striking the surface of coconut halves, or using real forged hooves;
– reproduced by hitting a watermelon or meat;
– are simulated by squeezing a starch bag.
Today, the work of “noisemakers” has become much easier thanks to computers and the availability of sound archives. However, this does not mean that the sound designer simply chooses ready-made effects. For example, coming up with the sound of “footsteps with the last strength” or “falling from exhaustion” requires creativity and ingenuity. Some sound effects are created in rather unexpected ways: the sound of fairy wings can be reproduced using a bicycle wheel, and Darth Vader’s breathing was recorded using a scuba diving device.
London-based director Daniel Jewell made a short film called “The Secret World of Foley”, which shows a small story about the work of noisemakers, demonstrating the importance of their profession and the unique methods of creating sounds.
