February 26 is celebrated in Ukraine as the Day of Crimean Resistance to the Russian Occupation, and in the world – World Leisure Day, World Pistachio Day and Thermos Day.
On this day, important historical events took place that influenced the development of various countries and world processes.
Day of Crimean resistance to Russian occupation
This date became a symbol of the struggle for Ukraine’s sovereignty and resistance to the annexation of Crimea, which began in 2014. On February 26, 2020, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree to establish the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea as an annual commemorative date in Ukraine.
On February 25, a pro-Russian rally was held under the building of the Crimean Verkhovna Rada. The participants of the action shouted pro-Russian slogans and demanded separation from Ukraine through a referendum. Volodymyr Konstantinov, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of the ARC, addressed the protesters and announced the holding of an extraordinary session on February 26. Information appeared in the mass media that the issue of Crimea’s exit from Ukraine may be raised at the session.
After that, on February 26, two actions took place in parallel under the walls of the Verkhovna Rada of the ARC: a pro-Ukrainian rally organized by the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, which gathered up to 10,000 participants, and a pro-Russian rally with approximately 700 people, initiated by the Russian Unity party.
Due to unsatisfactory security measures taken by law enforcement officers, clashes broke out between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian rally participants, as a result of which two people died. The pro-Russian rally was relegated to the courtyard of the Crimean Verkhovna Rada, and the parliament session scheduled for the day before was canceled. The next day, armed Russian special forces seized the building of the ARC Supreme Council.
World leisure day
This is a day when you can allow yourself to stop, take a deep breath and try to savor every moment of life. In today’s world, where speed has become the main measure of success, this day reminds us of the importance of balance, calm and a conscious approach to life.
The idea of this holiday arose in Italy as a protest against the constant rush and stress. Its founders encouraged people at least once a year to slow down and enjoy the moment without thinking about deadlines and endless tasks.
On this day, you can arrange a real rest: a walk in the park, reading your favorite book, a quiet lunch in a pleasant company or just a leisurely cup of coffee. The main thing is to postpone all the things that can be done later and give yourself the right to rest without feeling guilty.
Interesting facts
The symbolic motto of this day was the statement “And let the whole world wait!”, which conveys its main idea.
In some cities, flash mobs are held, where people walk slower than usual, or even organize leisurely walking competitions.
The concept of “slow life” has spread to different areas – the Slow Food movement appeared as an alternative to fast food, as well as the concept of slow tourism, which involves deep immersion in the culture and traditions of local communities.
In Japan, there is a similar principle of “ikigai”, which encourages people to find joy in everyday things and not rush through life.
Scientific studies confirm that slowing down helps reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
World Pistachio Day
This holiday is dedicated to one of the oldest and most valuable nuts in the world, which is known for its useful properties and special taste.
Pistachios have a rich history. They were grown more than 9 thousand years ago in the Middle East and were considered a symbol of abundance and fertility. Today, these nuts are grown in many countries, including Iran, the USA, Turkey, China and Greece. Thanks to their unique composition, they are not only a tasty snack, but also a useful addition to the diet.
Pistachios are rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats and antioxidants. They support heart health, improve brain function, and even promote good mood. Studies show that regular consumption of pistachios helps lower cholesterol and maintain a healthy weight.
Interesting facts
Pistachio trees can grow for over 300 years and produce a crop only once every two years.
In many cultures, pistachios are considered a symbol of happiness and friendship.
They are one of the few nuts that contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which are good for vision.
In the US, pistachios were usually dyed red to hide the spots left on the shell during harvest.
In Iran, pistachios are called “smiling nuts” and in China they are called “happy nuts” because of their natural split shell that resembles a smile.
Thermos Day
This holiday is dedicated to an invention that has become indispensable in everyday life for keeping the temperature of drinks and food. The thermos was invented in 1892 by Scottish physicist Sir James Dewar. Initially, this device was used to store liquid hydrogen, but later became popular in everyday life. Thanks to the double walls with a vacuum layer, the thermos keeps heat or cold much longer than ordinary containers.
Today, thermoses are used by tourists, travelers, athletes, and even scientists to transport sensitive materials. They are indispensable companions in the cold season, allowing you to enjoy hot drinks longer in nature or on the road.
Interesting facts
The name “thermos” comes from the Greek word “thermē”, which means “heat”.
The first commercial thermoses began to be produced in 1904 in Germany.
During the First World War, thermoses were used to transport medical samples and blood.
In space, astronauts also use thermoses to preserve food and liquids in extreme temperatures.
Some modern thermoses can keep the temperature of the drink for up to 24 hours thanks to the improved vacuum insulation.
Historical events on this day
1616 – Galileo Galilei is forced to accept the sentence of the Inquisition, which forbade him to support and teach the heliocentric theory. Despite this, he is credited with the famous saying: “Still, she turns.”
1832 – Russian Emperor Nicholas I officially declares the Kingdom of Poland an integral part of the Russian Empire, which was a reaction to the suppressed November Uprising. Polish statehood is subject to significant restrictions.
1878 – The trial of Ivan Franko begins in Lviv. He is accused of propagating socialist ideas and views dangerous to the monarchy.
1885 – The Berlin Conference ends, at which European states agree on the division of Africa among themselves, which formally establishes colonial rule on the continent.
1886 – In Horlivka A. Minenkov and O. Auerbach was the first in the history of the Russian Empire to extract mercury, which would become an important stage in the development of industrial chemistry.
1895 – In the American state of Ohio, the first glass-blowing machine was patented, which caused a revolution in the production of glass products.
1921 – The Kamianets-Podilsky State Pedagogical Institute was opened, which will become an important educational center in Ukraine.
1935 – Robert Watson-Watt demonstrates to the British Air Force the radar technology that will play an important role in the future defense of Great Britain during the Second World War.
1936 – In Japan, a group of Imperial Army soldiers attempts a coup d’état, which becomes one of the most high-profile political conflicts in the country before World War II.
1987 – The Church of England decides to admit women to the priesthood, which is an important step towards gender equality in Christian denominations.
1992 – Ukraine officially establishes diplomatic relations with Finland, expanding international contacts after gaining independence.
2004 – The European Parliament recognizes the deportation of the Chechen people, carried out by the Stalinist regime, as an act of genocide.
2014 – A mass rally of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians is taking place in Simferopol, who are advocating for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and protesting against the planned extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea. It becomes the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea.
Victor Hugo’s birthday
On February 26, 1802, Victor Marie Hugo was born – a member of the French Academy and the National Assembly, one of the most famous French writers, the author of the world-famous novels “Notre Dame”, “Les Miserables” and many other works.
His father was a general of the Napoleonic army, and his mother was the daughter of a shipowner, a royalist. In the family, as in the life of Hugo, there was everything: imperial glory, revolutions, uprisings – and all this under the banner of freedom.
He wrote his first book on steam. The subject of the dispute was a period of two weeks, and the reward was a lunch at an inn. In most of his works, the author called for mercy and brotherhood, and his heroes defended the rights of ordinary people – the destitute, the poor, convicts and exiles. Almost all the characters in his novels had real prototypes.
When talks began in Paris about the possible demolition of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, because it seemed to some citizens to be outdated, Hugo wrote a book about it. After its publication, these conversations stopped, and the cathedral became one of the main sights of Paris. In the preface, the author noted: “One of my main goals is to inspire the nation to love our architecture.”
While working on the novel “The Wretched”, the writer focused on three key themes: the humiliation of a man due to the social system, the fall of a woman due to hunger, and the suffering of a child due to the darkness of ignorance. This work is recognized as one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.
As a politician, Hugo received the title of Pen of France, was elected to the Constituent Assembly, founded an anti-radical newspaper, defended the rights of Poland, sought permission to return Napoleon Bonaparte to his homeland, defended the freedom of the press, opposed the death penalty and supported exiles from all over the world. During the war, he was called the “conscience of France” – he wrote appeals to the participants in the hostilities, gave royalties for the manufacture of weapons and aid to the needy, endured the hardships of the siege and fed the children of the poor.
Hugo considered the capitalist system cruel and unjust, which condemns a huge number of people to suffering. However, he believed in solving social and class problems not through revolutions, but through moral improvement, persuasion and peaceful reforms, without changing the social order. He recognized the significant role of economic factors in history, but put the ideals and spiritual motives of people first.
A few quotes from Victor Hugo:
“Everyone will be an owner, and no one will be a master.”
“Change your thoughts, but keep your principles: change the leaves, but keep the roots.”
“The first sign of love in a man is shyness. The first sign of love in a woman is courage.”
“The mind is enriched by what it receives. The heart is what it gives.”
“The paradise of the rich was created from the hell of the poor.”
“To change a person, you need to start with their grandmother.”
“The motto of tyrants is that if the enemy does not surrender, he will be destroyed.”
“God is also blind – on the day the world was created, he did not notice that the devil had crept into his creation.”
“He who opens a school closes a prison.”
“One Hundred Days of Napoleon”
On February 26, 1815, taking advantage of the favorable political situation, Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from the island of Elba. This period in history was called “One Hundred Days of Napoleon” – the last brilliant chapter of the Napoleonic legend, also known as “The Way of the Eagle”.
On March 1, he landed in the Bay of Jouen near Cannes with a thousand soldiers and marched to Paris, bypassing royalist Provence and heading via Grenoble. On March 7, in front of Grenoble, the 5th Line Regiment went over to his side after his impassioned speech: “You can shoot your emperor if you want!”. He went from Grenoble to Paris, met by enthusiastic crowds, which testified to his popular support. On March 18, near Auxerre, he was joined by Marshal Ney, who had previously promised Louis XVIII “to deliver Bonaparte in a cage.”
It is interesting how the headlines of French newspapers changed in 1815 as Napoleon approached Paris:
“Corsican monster lands in Juan Bay”.
“The Ogre is coming across the Highway.”
“The usurper entered Grenoble.”
“Bonaparte took Lyon.”
“Napoleon approaches Fontainebleau.”
“His imperial majesty enters his faithful Paris!”.
In just one hundred days, Napoleon made a number of important changes:
- Introduced a new Constitution, appealing to the people for their consent. Voting results: 1,305,206 votes “for” and only 4,206 “against”.
- Created a new government.
- Addressed an appeal to European monarchs with a proposal for peace, assuring that France would not violate its borders.
- He led the army at the Battle of Waterloo, after which his figure was admired by such prominent figures as Emile Zola, Stendhal, Balzac, Goethe, Lord Byron, Heine, Pushkin and Lermontov.
The outstanding French writer, peer of France and ardent royalist François-René de Chateaubriand wrote after the death of Napoleon: “The world belongs to Napoleon. What he could not conquer by force, his image conquered.”
The first release of the Volkswagen “Beetle” car
On February 26, 1936, the first public car Volkswagen “Beetle” was released – one of the most popular cars in history, which was produced without significant changes to the basic design until 2003. The last Beetle rolled off the assembly line in Mexico in 2003. A total of 21,529,464 units were produced.
The car was developed by the German car designer Ferdinand Porsche. The main idea was to create an affordable car that could be afforded by broad sections of the population. The very concept was proposed by Adolf Hitler, who was then carrying out economic reforms aimed at raising the standard of living of Germans. It is known that he even drew several sketches of the future car. However, the availability of cars was considered only for “racially pure” citizens.
“Beetle” was conceived as a small car capable of accommodating a standard German family of up to five people and developing a speed of up to 100 km/h. The cost was not to exceed 990 reichsmarks – about eight average wages of a worker at that time.
During the Second World War, the “Beetle” was actively used for military purposes. It was upgraded to include 4×4 all-wheel drive, light-masking headlight covers, protective paintwork, removable roof, weapon mounts, larger tires, and increased ground clearance. This version of the car became the only German car of those times that could withstand severe frosts. It was used by the Wehrmacht until the end of the war.
After the war, in 1945, control of the Volkswagen factory passed to the Allies. Production was headed by the British major engineer Ivan Hurst, who even during the hostilities drew attention to the quality of Volkswagen military equipment. He believed that Zhuk could become popular even outside of Germany. Hearst was not mistaken: in 1955, the millionth copy of the “Beetle” came off the assembly line.
In the USA, the car became famous thanks to an effective advertising campaign. In the 1960s, the Beetle became the most popular foreign car in America, and its recognizable design made it one of the symbols of automotive history.
A resonant statement by Winston Churchill
On February 26, 1952, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill officially announced to the world that the country had become the owner of an atomic bomb. The new nuclear weapon was called the Blue Danube, and it became Britain’s first atomic bomb.
The development and production of each unit of this bomb cost the British exchequer approximately 1 million pounds. Thus, Great Britain became the third country in the world, after the USA and the USSR, to independently test nuclear weapons.
It is interesting that Great Britain is the only nuclear state on whose territory nuclear tests have never been conducted. All nuclear tests took place at test sites outside the country, in particular in Australia and the Pacific region.
“Blue Daniub” remained in service until 1962, after which it was gradually replaced by more modern nuclear warheads. Today, the UK is believed to have around 225 thermonuclear warheads, of which approximately 160 are operational. At the same time, the exact size of the British nuclear arsenal remains classified.
