July 12 is celebrated as World Flight Attendant Day, Day of Colorful Eyes, World Barbecue Day, and Paper Bag Day.
World Flight Attendant Day
The flight attendant profession has been an integral part of air transportation for more than 80 years. It originated in Germany in 1928, when specially trained people were hired to provide service and comfort during the flight. Initially, it was an exclusively male profession, but since 1930, US airlines began to hire young girls, which became a marketing move to attract passengers. In addition, women weighed less, which was important for aviation. The first flight attendant is considered to be Ellen Church from the state of Iowa, who not only worked as a flight attendant, but was also a nurse.
Interesting Facts:
- The first flight attendants were not only cute, but also highly qualified nurses, which ensured the safety of passengers on board.
- Flight attendants undergo special training, which includes not only passenger service, but also first aid, emergency response and even self-defense skills.
- In modern aircraft, flight attendants serve more than 50 million passengers every year, ensuring their comfort and safety.
Paper Bag Day
This ecological holiday is aimed at drawing attention to the problem of environmental pollution and raising awareness about the benefits of using paper bags. Unlike plastic bags, paper bags decompose naturally and do not harm the environment. They are made from renewable resources and can be easily recycled.
Interesting Facts:
- The first paper bag was invented in 1852 by Francis Waller, who developed a machine for their production.
- Paper bags can withstand up to 10 kilograms of weight, making them a reliable and environmentally friendly option for shopping.
- Many supermarkets and shops around the world have already switched to using paper bags, supporting the environmental initiative.
World barbecue day
World barbecue day is traditionally celebrated on the second Friday of July. Barbecue is a dish that originates from the nomadic tribes of Asia, but similar methods of cooking meat over an open fire exist in many cultures around the world. The method of preparing shish kebab involves cutting the meat into small pieces, which are marinated and cooked on skewers or a grill.
Interesting Facts:
- In Georgia, shish kebab is called “mtsvadi”, in Japan – “yakitori”, and in Brazil – “churrasco”.
- Shashlyk is considered one of the oldest dishes, which was prepared by primitive people over an open fire.
- Different countries have their own unique recipes and methods of marinating meat for barbecue, which makes this dish very diverse.
Day of multi-colored eyes
Colored Eyes Day celebrates the uniqueness of people with heterochromia, a condition in which the eyes are different colors. It can be both a congenital feature and the result of an injury or disease.
Interesting Facts:
- Heterochromia occurs in less than 1% of the world’s population, which makes it quite rare.
- Famous people with heterochromia include actresses Mila Kunis and Kate Bosworth, as well as musician David Bowie.
- Heterochromia can be complete, when one eye is a different color, or partial, when only part of one eye is different in color.
Historical events of July 12
- 1679 — King Charles II of England issued the Habeas Corpus Act, which guaranteed the judicial rights of citizens and protected them from illegal imprisonment.
- 1776 — The famous British navigator James Cook set off on his last expedition from the port of Plymouth.
- 1917 — During the First World War, in the Battle of Ypres, the German army used mustard gas, known as mustard gas, for the first time.
- 1970 — The Norwegian researcher Thur Heyerdahl on his reed boat “Ra-2” reached the shores of Barbados after 57 days of sailing, confirming the possibility of ancient sea voyages.
- 1989 — The last execution under the Soviet regime of the Ukrainian military man, UPA soldier, member of the OUN, Ivan Savich Honcharuk, who fought for the independence of Ukraine.
On July 12, 1970, Tur Heyerdahl crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the papyrus boat “Ra-2” in 57 days and reached the shores of Barbados. The first attempt, carried out a year earlier, ended in failure halfway through, when the first boat “Ra” sank due to structural defects. The first boat was built in Egypt by craftsmen from Lake Chad. The paper boat “Ra-2”, on which the team successfully crossed the ocean, was built for the Tour by Bolivian Indians of the Aymara tribe from Lake Titicaca. The crew consisted of seven people from different countries of the world – a Russian, a Japanese, a Moroccan, an Italian, an Egyptian, an American. The Soviet Union was represented by doctor Yurii Senkevich, who participated in three Heyerdahl expeditions.
“Ra” has something in common with a spaceship: here and there – boundless space, and a small island in the middle of it, and people who have to live and work side by side on the island for a long time. The expression “side by side” in these circumstances has a real literal meaning. And it sometimes sounds not as optimistic as it might seem from the outside. Let’s imagine the best option that can be invented: a crew consisting of only wonderful, perfect people goes on an interplanetary journey. Is there a guarantee that they won’t get hard on each other during the flight?
Tur was convinced that people of different political views, nationalities and religions, united by a common goal, would always be able to fruitfully cooperate and live in peace, even on a small raft. And the fact that “Ra-2”, built according to the type of ancient Egyptian ships, was able to cross the Atlantic Ocean, confirmed his theory that long before Columbus, people on wicker ships migrated from one continent to another without maps and compasses, following the winds and currents
