December 19 is the Advocacy Day in Ukraine, the United Nations South-South Cooperation Day and Evergreen Tree Day in the world.
On December 19, 1686, according to Daniel Defoe, his literary hero Robinson Crusoe left the island where he lived for more than 28 years.
On December 19, 1919, Kharkiv became the first capital of Ukraine
Advocacy Day in Ukraine
This is a professional holiday of people who have chosen the path of protecting the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens. This holiday was established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine in 2002, emphasizing the important role of lawyers in ensuring the rule of law and legal statehood.
The roots of Ukrainian advocacy date back to medieval times. In the legal systems of Kyivan Rus, prototypes of modern lawyers already existed – the so-called “ambassadors” or “deputies” who represented the interests of the parties in court cases.
In its modern form, the institution of advocacy began to take shape in the 19th century during the judicial reform of the Russian Empire in 1864. Then appeared the first professional lawyers, who were called sworn attorneys. After the independence of Ukraine, advocacy acquired a new meaning, becoming the main guarantee of human rights in relations with the state.
Lawyers are key players in the justice system. They provide legal protection, advice and promote fair dispute resolution. In a democratic society, the legal profession acts as an independent institution that stands for the protection of human rights even in the most difficult situations.
Interesting facts
The Day of the Bar in Ukraine coincides with the Day of St. Nicholas (in the old style) – a symbol of justice, mercy and protection, which is a kind of reflection of the mission of lawyers.
In Ukraine, the code of ethics of lawyers was approved in 1999, which defines moral and professional standards of activity.
Today, a significant part of the Ukrainian legal profession is made up of women, which indicates the gradual destruction of gender stereotypes in the legal field.
One of the most popular images of lawyers in cinema is a fighter for justice. Favorite movies like “Devil’s advocate” or “12 angry men”, show the depth of this profession.
United Nations South-South Cooperation Day
This event is a reminder of the importance of solidarity between developing countries. The history of this day begins in 1978, when a historic document – the Buenos Aires Plan of Action – was adopted in Buenos Aires. He called for increased cooperation between the countries of the Global South to solve economic, social and environmental problems.
In 2004, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 58/220, declaring December 12 the official Day of South-South Cooperation. However, in practice, this day is more often celebrated on December 19.
The main purpose of the holiday is to promote the exchange of experience, technologies, innovations and resources between developing countries. In today’s world, South-South cooperation plays an important role in strengthening the global economy, fighting poverty and ensuring sustainable development.
Interesting facts
The term “South-South” is used to denote cooperation between developing countries, as opposed to the “North-South” model, which is dominated by developed countries.
In Buenos Aires, more than 30 recommendations were proposed to promote cooperation in the field of science, technology, economy and social development.
The UN has created a special unit to implement South-South cooperation programs, which helps countries exchange resources and technologies.
China, India, and Brazil are major participants in South-South cooperation, actively investing in projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Many countries in the Global South are working together to fight infectious diseases by developing affordable vaccines and medicines.
Evergreen Tree Day
This holiday draws attention to the unique properties of these plants. Evergreen trees are a special type of plants that retain their leaves or needles throughout the year, regardless of the season. Their ability to remain green even in the harshest conditions makes them a symbol of eternity, stability and harmony with nature.
The holiday has ecological and cultural significance. It is designed to remind people about the importance of preserving natural resources, because evergreen trees are not only an element of the landscape, but also an important component of the ecosystem. They clean the air, serve as a home for many species of animals and help preserve biodiversity.
In addition, these trees have a deep symbolic meaning in many cultures of the world. For example, coniferous trees are associated with Christmas holidays and are an integral attribute of winter decor. This day is a reminder of how important it is to protect nature and live in harmony with it.
Interesting facts
Evergreen trees are among the oldest living organisms on Earth. For example, a spiny pine in California is over 4,800 years old.
Their needle-shaped leaves help reduce moisture loss, making these trees extremely resistant to cold climates.
One large coniferous tree can produce about 120 kg of oxygen per year, providing breathing for two people.
Essential oils secreted by evergreen trees have antibacterial properties. Their aroma improves mood and helps fight stress.
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree originated in medieval Germany, from where it spread throughout the world.
Historical events on this day
1863 – the Englishman Frederick Walton received a patent for linoleum, which became a popular floor covering. Linoleum is still used in many rooms due to its durability, environmental friendliness and ease of use.
1917 — the first championship of the National Hockey League (NHL) started in Canada. The games were played in Montreal and Toronto, starting one of the most popular hockey leagues in the world. Over time, the NHL became a symbol of professional hockey and united the best teams from North America.
1980 — three new metro stations were opened in Kyiv: “Tarasa Shevchenko”, “Petrivka” (now “Pochayna”) and “Prospekt Korniychuk” (now “Obolon”). This became an important stage in the expansion of the Kyiv underground, which facilitated transport connections between the districts of the city.
1981 — two more metro stations were opened in Kyiv: “Lev Tolstoy Square” (now “Ukrainian Heroes Square”) and “Republican Stadium” (now “Olympiyska”). Today, these stations are key hubs of the Kyiv metro.
1984 — in Beijing, the Prime Ministers of Great Britain, Margaret Thatcher, and the People’s Republic of China, Zhao Jiyang, signed a historic agreement on the return of Hong Kong to China’s jurisdiction in 1997. The condition of the transfer was the preservation of Hong Kong’s capitalist system for 50 years. This decision became an important event in international politics and the formation of modern Hong Kong.
1997 — the premiere of the legendary film “Titanic” directed by James Cameron took place. This film became one of the most successful in the history of cinematography, winning 11 Oscars and gaining cult status.
2001 – the world saw the film “The Fellowship of the Ring”, the adaptation of the first part of the trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien “The Lord of the Rings”. This marked the beginning of a new era in the creation of large-scale fantasy films.
2016 — there was a terrorist attack at the Christmas market in Berlin: a terrorist drove a stolen truck into a crowd of people on the Breitscheidplatz square, killing 11 people.
Kharkiv – the first capital of Ukraine: history and interesting facts
Robinson Crusoe left the island
On December 19, 1686, according to Daniel Defoe, his literary hero Robinson Crusoe left the island where he lived for 28 years, two months and 19 days. This episode became the key in the novel “Life, unusual and wonderful adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a sailor from York, who spent 28 years in complete solitude on a deserted island off the coast of America, not far from the mouth of the Orinoco River, where he was swept away as a result of a shipwreck, during which all the crew, except him, perished, with the story of his unexpected release by the pirates; written by him himself”. This is the full title of the novel in the original.
Readers got acquainted with this story through the adaptation of Cornius Chukovsky, which was published in 1935. However, this version had significant differences from the original. The most important of them concerned the religious aspect. In the original, Robinson found solace in prayers and turning to God, which helped him overcome loneliness and fear. Instead, in the Soviet narrative, the emphasis was on science, technology and human reason. The hero overcame difficulties solely thanks to his knowledge and work, without mentioning God.
The novel “Robinson Crusoe”, published in 1719, became one of the first examples of adventure literature. After the success of the book, Daniel Defoe released a sequel called “The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe” in the same year, and a year later the third part appeared – “The Serious Reflections of Robinson Crusoe””
Regardless of which translation or adaptation you choose, the story of Robinson Crusoe remains fascinating for readers of all generations. She not only talks about adventures, but also emphasizes the importance of faith in one’s own strength, endurance and determination in overcoming difficulties. Read it yourself and be sure to introduce this book to children. This is an inspiring story.
Kharkiv is the first capital of Ukraine
On December 19, 1919, Kharkiv was declared the capital of the newly created Ukrainian Soviet Republic, which later became the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic within the USSR. This decision became a symbolic counterweight to the then existing Ukrainian People’s Republic with its capital in Kyiv. The status of the capital was officially enshrined in the Constitution.
The very phrase “First capital” has firmly established itself in the mass consciousness as Kharkiv’s middle name. After all, the city performed the functions of the capital until June 24, 1934, when this status was transferred to Kyiv.
However, in those days there were many capitals in Ukraine. Kyiv was the center of the Ukrainian State of Pavel Skoropadskyi and the Ukrainian People’s Republic. Lviv, Ternopil and Stanislav (now Ivano-Frankivsk) managed to become the capitals of the West Ukrainian People’s Republic. Odesa even had its own Odessa Soviet Republic, and the Makhnovites considered Gulyaipole their capital.
Kharkiv remained a unique city with its rich history, architecture and sights that make it recognizable even today.
Interesting facts
In Kharkiv, for the first time in the Russian Empire, the first short film was shot, which showed Katerynoslavska Street (now Poltava Way).
In 1932, a group of scientists led by Georgy Latyshev split an atomic nucleus for the first time in Ukraine.
One of the most famous tanks of the Second World War was developed in Kharkiv at Plant No. 183 under the leadership of engineer Mykhailo Koshkin.
Freedom Square is one of the largest in the world and one of the key architectural monuments of Kharkiv.
In 1805, Kharkiv National University, one of the oldest and largest universities in Eastern Europe, was founded in Kharkiv.
In the 1920s, Blagovishchensky Bazaar became a place where teacher Anton Makarenko caught homeless people to create his Kuryazka colony.
In 1923, an airport was built in Kharkiv, and already in 1926, the first international route Kharkiv-Tehran began to operate.
In 1958, the first AT-26 soda machines in the USSR appeared in Kharkiv.
Kharkiv became the birthplace of famous KVK teams, and the monument “Student Ball” – a symbol of student life – is also located here.
In Kharkiv, you can find many creative sculptures, including:
- A monument to a soccer ball.
- A monument to lovers, who are also called “victims of anorexia”.
- Monument to the hero of “12 Chairs” – the violinist on the roof.
- Sculptures of Aibolit, Crocodile Gena, Ilya Muromets.
