Handwriting Day, Maternal Health Awareness Day and Women’s Healthy Weight Day are celebrated on January 23.
Handwriting Day
This day is also known as Handwriting Day. The date was chosen because John Hancock, the first signer of the US Declaration of Independence, was born on this day. His name has become a symbol of a bright and recognizable signature, so this day is dedicated to the art of hand writing, which is gradually losing popularity in the modern digital age.
Handwriting played an important role in the development of civilization. Since ancient times, people have used various means of writing, from clay tablets to parchment and paper. Calligraphy skills were considered a sign of education and refined taste. Nowadays, despite the active use of keyboards and touch screens, handwritten text remains an important element of personal expression and creativity.
Interesting facts
The oldest manuscript in the world, found on the territory of modern Greece, dates back to about the 15th century BC.
In ancient Egypt, scribes were highly educated people and had a special status in society.
In many schools around the world, calligraphy lessons remain mandatory to preserve the tradition of beautiful writing.
Writing text by hand helps to remember information better and contributes to the development of cognitive abilities.
A person’s handwriting is unique for each person, it is used in forensics to identify an individual. Handwriting reflects her character, mood and even health. Scientists and graphologists claim that a lot of interesting things about a person can be learned from handwriting.
Maternal Health Awareness Day
The day aims to raise awareness of the importance of maternal health and draw attention to the problems associated with maternal mortality. This date is designed to remind society about the importance of supporting women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, as well as the need to provide quality medical care.
Maternal mortality remains a serious problem in many countries of the world, particularly in those with limited access to modern medical technologies and skilled care. The main causes are complications during pregnancy or childbirth, including bleeding, infections, high blood pressure, and complications related to chronic diseases.
Thanks to this day, public organizations, medical institutions and volunteers strive to popularize programs aimed at improving the health of mothers, as well as educational initiatives that help women and their families understand the risks of pregnancy and childbirth.
Interesting facts
Each year, more than 800 women worldwide die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, although most of these cases are preventable.
Access to quality prenatal care reduces the risk of maternal mortality several times.
Educating women and their families about the basics of health care during pregnancy is an important factor in reducing the risks.
The problem of maternal health is global: even in developed countries, there are significant differences in maternal mortality rates depending on social status, race or ethnic origin.
According to the WHO, the world has made significant progress in reducing maternal mortality over the past few decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic has partially reversed this progress.
Women’s Healthy Weight Day
This is a special day that emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle, a harmonious attitude to one’s own body and a proper approach to weight for women all over the world. Its purpose is to remind that beauty and health are closely related to physical and psychological well-being, and not just numbers on the scales.
The day also aims to counter the unrealistic beauty standards often imposed by the media and help women accept and love their bodies by working towards a healthy lifestyle rather than striving to achieve an ideal that may be harmful or unattainable.
Interesting facts
The day was first started in the US as part of the fight against eating disorders and unhealthy diets.
Research shows that women who focus on health rather than weight have a more positive self-image.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis, which is especially important for women.
A healthy weight for one person may be completely different for another, depending on age, gender, genetics, activity level, and other factors.
A balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, proteins and healthy fats helps not only to control weight, but also to maintain overall health.
Regular exercise strengthens muscles, improves heart function, and increases energy.
A positive view of yourself, maintaining stress resistance and avoiding self-criticism are important components of health.
Historical events on this day
1556 year – one of the deadliest earthquakes in human history took place. About 830,000 people died in China’s Shaanxi province. This tragedy became a symbol of the enormous destructive force of nature.
1579 year – the Union of Utrecht was signed, which united the seven provinces of the Northern Netherlands in a military-political union against Spanish oppression. This became the basis for the creation of an independent Dutch state.
1593 year – the decisive battle of the Kosynsky Uprising began between the external troops of the Ostrozki–Vyshnivetskyi and the registrars under the leadership of Krysztof Kosynskyi. It was a key episode in the history of Cossack uprisings.
1838 year – the hydrographer Clément Adrien Vensandon-Dumoulin carried out the first calculation of the magnetic inclination, which contributed to the localization of the South Magnetic Pole. This invention had a significant impact on navigation and scientific research.
1912 year – the International Opium Convention was signed in The Hague, which became the first international agreement on the control of narcotic substances. This decision was an important step in the fight against drug abuse.
1945 year – the evacuation of the civilian population from East Prussia, organized by Germany, began. It was the largest sea evacuation in history.
1950 year – the Israeli Knesset declared the western part of Jerusalem the capital of Israel, despite the UN resolution, which demanded the separation of the city into a separate administrative unit.
1960 year – the Swiss Jacques Picard and the American Donald Walsh on the bathyscaphe “Trieste” for the first time in history reached the bottom of the Mariana Trench at a record depth of 10,916 meters.
1964 year – the first ever heart transplant from a chimpanzee to a human took place at the Mississippi State University Medical Center. The operation, performed under the leadership of Dr. James Hardy, became a significant stage in the development of transplantology.
1973 year – there was an eruption of the volcano Eldfetl on the island of Geimaey, Iceland. This eruption caused significant destruction, but became a valuable source of knowledge about volcanic activity.
1992 year – Ukraine established diplomatic relations with Vietnam, strengthening international ties and cooperation.
2002 year – 18-year-old Ruslan Ponomaryov from Kramatorsk prematurely became the youngest world chess champion according to the FIDE version, entering the history of chess.
2015 year – the battles for the Donetsk airport, which had been going on since September 2014, ended. The Ukrainian military left the airport, entrenched on the outskirts of the city. These events became a symbol of the heroism of Ukrainian “cyborgs”.
January 23, 2005 the inauguration of the third President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, took place, which became an important event for Ukrainian society after the large-scale events of the Orange Revolution. About 500,000 people gathered on Independence Square in Kyiv to witness this historic moment. 59 official foreign delegations confirmed their presence at the celebrations, demonstrating the support of Ukraine from the world community.
The ceremony, which cost 800,000 dollars, symbolized the hopes of millions of Ukrainians for changes, reforms and democratic development of the country. During the oath, Viktor Yushchenko put his hand on the Constitution of Ukraine and the Peresopnytsk Gospel — a unique historical monument that symbolizes the spirituality and heritage of the Ukrainian people. After taking the oath, he crossed himself and kissed both books, showing respect for statehood and spirituality.
After receiving the attributes of presidential power, Yushchenko went to the Mariinsky Palace, and then to Maidan Nezalezhnosti, where he delivered a speech in front of thousands of people present. After addressing the people, he released white doves into the sky, symbols of peace and hope. However, one of the birds was unable to take off immediately. The president was not lost – he helped the pigeon to rise into the sky, which became a symbolic moment that remained in the memory of many.
This inauguration was filled not only with celebration, but also with hopes for a new page in the history of Ukraine. For the people who gathered on the Maidan, she became the embodiment of the desire for a better future.
