December 21 is the Day of the State Employment Service in Ukraine, and in the world it is the Day of the Winter Solstice, the World Basketball Day, the Crossword’s Birthday and April Fools’ Day.
On December 21, 1991, the Declaration on the Final Termination of the USSR was signed.
Day of the State Employment Service of Ukraine
This professional holiday was established to honor the role of professionals working in the field of employment and ensuring the stability of the labor market. Employees of this service help citizens find a job, retrain or acquire new professional skills. At the same time, they help employers in the search for personnel, creating an important link between demand and supply in the labor market.
The main mission of the employment service is to reduce unemployment and promote the economic activity of the population. This date is a symbolic opportunity to summarize the results of the year, to celebrate the professional achievements of service employees, as well as to focus the attention of society on the importance of solving employment problems.
The State Employment Service of Ukraine was founded in December 1990, when the country’s economy was undergoing significant transformations. This was a response to the challenges of the labor market in the conditions of the transition period to a market economy.
The service actively implements modern technologies. For example, in the 2020s, large-scale use of electronic services began, which allow unemployed citizens to apply for assistance, receive consultations or even undergo training online.
Every year, the employment service organizes thousands of events aimed at increasing the employment of the population. These are job fairs, where you can find a job in just a few hours, and professional training programs that help tens of thousands of people change careers or acquire new skills every year.
Day of winter solstice
The winter solstice is an astronomical event that occurs annually in the second half of December, usually on the 21st or 22nd. It is the day when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most strongly deviated from the Sun, and the northern hemisphere has the shortest day and longest night of the year. From this moment, the length of the day begins to gradually increase, symbolizing the return of light and warmth.
This day has a great symbolic meaning in many cultures of the world. It has long been considered a moment of transition, rebirth and a new beginning. In many ancient traditions, the solstice was associated with sun worship and natural cycles. This holiday was central to cultures such as Celtic, Scandinavian, and Slavic, and was often accompanied by rituals, celebratory rites, and the lighting of fires.
In the modern world, the winter solstice is not only a natural phenomenon, but also a reminder of the harmony between man and nature, the importance of restoring strength and finding inner balance.
Interesting facts
Stonehenge in Great Britain and other similar structures were built to exactly align with the setting or rising sun on that day.
In Slavic traditions, this day was celebrated as the holiday of Kolyada. It was a celebration of the birth of the new Sun, which was accompanied by rites, songs and rituals of protection against evil forces.
In China, the Winter Solstice is a festival of harmony and balance. On this day, it is customary to prepare warm dishes, in particular soup with dumplings, which symbolize family unity.
This is the time of worshiping the Sun and ending the cycle of darkness, which was accompanied by rich feasts and the burning of the “Yolsky log”.
On this day, the Sun rises to the lowest height above the horizon, due to which its rays seem softer and more inclined.
While the northern hemisphere has the longest night, the southern hemisphere has the longest day.
In many cultures, the winter solstice is considered the official start of winter, although climatic conditions may not correspond.
In modern esotericism, this day is perceived as a period when the energy of nature is most conducive to internal transformations and meditation.
World Basketball Day
celebrated on December 21, is a global celebration of basketball, a sport that knows no borders and unites people of all backgrounds. This day is dedicated to recognizing the impact of basketball on society, culture and international relations.
Every year on December 21, fans of sports games celebrate the Birthday of Basketball. It was on this day in 1891 in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, that James Naismith, a Canadian physical educator, introduced the world to a new game called “basketball.” This sports discipline was created as an alternative to popular indoor sports during the cold winter. For the first game, Naismith used two fruit baskets attached to the balcony and a soccer ball.
Basketball quickly gained popularity due to its dynamism, simplicity of rules and the possibility of team play. A few decades later, it became an international sport, and in 1936 it was included in the program of the Olympic Games. Today, basketball is considered one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of fans and professional players.
Interesting facts
The first basketball game consisted of only 13 rules. James Naismith put them together in one night, and most of these principles are still relevant today.
The first games were very simple. An ordinary soccer ball was used as a ball, and peach baskets were used instead of hoops, from which the ball was manually removed after each shot.
The word “basketball” literally means “ball for the basket”, which fully reflects the essence of the game.
Basketball became an international sport very quickly. Already in 1893, the game crossed the borders of the United States and began to spread in Europe and other parts of the world.
There is a Hall of Fame in honor of James Naismith. In Springfield, the birthplace of basketball, there is the Naismith Hall of Fame, which is a symbol of the history of the sport.
Founded in 1946, the National Basketball Association of the United States has become the standard of professional basketball and has gathered the best players in the world.
Crossword birthday
Today the world celebrates the birthday of the crossword puzzle, an intellectual game that has captivated millions of people around the world for more than a century. Crosswords are not only for fun, but also help develop logic, improve memory and expand vocabulary. Their versatility and accessibility have made them a favorite pastime for people of all ages and cultures. Today, this day is an opportunity for all puzzle fans to pay tribute to the simple but brilliant idea of Arthur Wynn.
Interesting facts
On December 21, 1913, the world’s first diamond-shaped crossword puzzle was published in the American newspaper “New York World”. Journalist Arthur Wynn designed it as a diagonal grid of 32 words. Compared to modern versions, it looked quite unusual. According to legend, the idea of creating a crossword appeared thanks to a letter from a reader who sent him a description of an interesting game. In the envelope was a sheet with numerous squares numbered for solving puzzles, as well as a separate list of puzzle questions.
At first, the journalist just laughed at this idea, put the letter away and forgot about it. However, a few days later, during a dinner with friends, he jokingly showed the letter to those present. The guests solved the riddles together, and their interest prompted Wynn to publish the game in the newspaper. Due to the fact that the words in the puzzle intersected with each other, it received the name “cross word”, which in translation means “cross word”.
Crosswords became popular instantly. After the publication of the first puzzle, the newspaper received numerous responses from readers who demanded a sequel. After a few months, crossword puzzles became a regular column.
In Ukraine, the first crossword puzzle was printed only in 1925 in the newspaper “Nova Vechrinya Gazeta” under the title “Intertwined Words”. It is interesting that the writer Volodymyr Nabokov proposed to call this game “crossword puzzle”, but this name never caught on. The word “crossword” remained dominant.
Other countries have their own versions of the origin of the crossword puzzle. For example, in the Republic of South Africa, it is believed that the first crossword puzzle was created in a prison. According to this version, a resident of Cape Town, Willie Orville, who went to prison for a car accident, began to fill in the letters in the square tiles of the prison floor from scratch. Later, he put the puzzle on paper and sent it to a local newspaper.
Despite different theories, the official date of birth of the crossword remains December 21, 1913, which is confirmed in the “Guinness Book of Records”. This day became a starting point for the popularity of crossword puzzles, which are now a favorite intellectual game for people all over the world.
Research shows that doing crossword puzzles regularly helps improve cognitive function, especially in older adults.
There are different types of crossword puzzles. In addition to the classic ones, there are Japanese crosswords, scanwords, cryptocrosswords, number puzzles and even thematic crosswords that can be dedicated to certain events or areas of knowledge.
Crossword puzzles have become digital. Nowadays, you can find thousands of crosswords online, in mobile applications and even on special platforms for puzzle lovers.
Fool’s day
This holiday reminds everyone of joy, frivolity and the ability to find happiness in simple things. This day encourages people to get out of the routine, feel like children and allow themselves a little fun. In a world where we often focus on serious issues and problems, April Fools’ Day offers an opportunity to remember how important it is to sometimes relax, laugh and look at life through the lens of lightheartedness.
This holiday can be an occasion for jokes, fun pranks or even small pranks that will cheer you up and those around you. It symbolizes freedom from social conventions and allows people to momentarily forget about the worries of adult life, plunging into the children’s world of joy and play.
Interesting facts
The holiday is especially popular in schools and children’s groups, where children arrange funny skits, games and raffles.
December 21, one of the shortest and darkest days of the year, is chosen to add a little brightness and warmth to the dreary winter.
On this day, people often arrange fun surprises for loved ones: they exchange objects, arrange funny tasks or even come up with funny stories.
Scientists confirm that humor and cheerfulness help reduce stress levels, improve mood and even strengthen the immune system.
In many countries, this day is accompanied by jokes on social networks, fun flash mobs and the creation of funny content.
Although the holiday is associated with childhood, adults also willingly join in the jokes and pranks, remembering their own carefree years.
Historical events on this day
1846 year – Scottish surgeon Robert Liston was the first in Europe to use anesthesia during a surgical operation. It was a breakthrough in medicine that forever changed the approach to operations. Anesthesia made it possible to reduce patients’ pain and make surgical interventions more effective and less traumatic.
1898 year – spouses Pierre and Marie Curie discovered radium, an element that became key to the development of nuclear physics and medicine. Their discovery was of great importance for the understanding of radioactivity and became the basis for many scientific achievements in the 20th century.
1913 year – the first ever crossword puzzle was published in a New York newspaper. It was created by journalist Arthur Winn. This marked the beginning of the popularity of crossword puzzles, which are still a favorite intellectual game for millions of people today.
1937 year – the premiere of the first full-length cartoon “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” took place in Hollywood. This masterpiece of the Walt Disney studio became an important milestone in the history of animation, opening a new era in the entertainment industry and winning the hearts of viewers around the world.
1988 year – the prototype of the largest aircraft in the world An-225 “Mriya” made its first flight. This legendary plane, developed in Kyiv, became a symbol of Ukraine’s aviation power and is still the largest cargo plane in the world.
1991 year – Azerbaijan and Sierra Leone recognized the independence of Ukraine. It was an important stage in the international recognition of Ukraine as an independent state after the collapse of the USSR.
2007 year – 9 more countries of the European Union joined the Schengen zone: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Malta. This expansion was an important step in strengthening freedom of movement in Europe.
Signing of the Declaration on the Termination of the Existence of the USSR
On December 21, 1991, a meeting of the heads of 11 states – the former republics of the Soviet Union – was held in the building of the House of Friendship in Almaty. At this historic meeting, the Declaration on the final termination of the existence of the USSR was signed, which officially confirmed the end of the era of the Soviet Union. The document declared that the USSR as a subject of international law and geopolitical reality no longer exists. The leaders of the states also expressed their gratitude to Mikhail Gorbachev for his contribution to solving the problems of this period.
The Declaration referred to the termination of the institution of the presidency of the USSR, which was represented by Gorbachev. It was decided to grant him lifelong benefits: a special pension, medical care for the whole family, security and state allowance.
On the same day, the heads of state agreed on the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). It initially included Russia, Ukraine and Belarus – the states that previously signed the Bialowieza Agreement. In Almaty, eight more republics joined the CIS: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Georgia joined later – in December 1993.
The CIS was planned as a new form of cooperation between former Soviet republics. However, from the very beginning, the model of this organization was far from the concept of a state association. Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk emphasized that “the CIS is not a state,” and Russian President Boris Yeltsin emphasized that the new association should function “without the Center, without dictation, only loyal coordination.”
The final termination of the existence of the USSR, recorded in Alma-Ata, became an important geopolitical turning point of the 20th century. On December 25, 1991, the flag of the Soviet Union was lowered over the Kremlin, and it became a symbol of the end of the era of the Soviet empire.
This process of saying goodbye to the Soviet Union passed relatively peacefully, without significant incidents or excesses, which is a unique case in the world history of the collapse of empires. The meeting and the signing of the Declaration were covered by more than 500 journalists, including about 200 representatives of the international press.
