On July 23, the world celebrates several significant events and holidays, including the World Day of Grandparents, Grandparents and the Elderly, World Sjogren’s Syndrome Day, World Whale and Dolphin Day, Hot Dog Day, the anniversary of the proclamation of the republic in Egypt, the overthrow of the dictatorship in Greece. black colonels” and the Third Republic was founded.
International Day of Grandparents and Elderly People
Every year on the fourth Sunday of July, the World Day of Grandparents and Elderly People is celebrated. This holiday, established by Pope Francis on July 25, 2021, is dedicated to honoring the wisdom, experience and contribution of older people to society. The day is designed to show our gratitude and make sure that older people are not forgotten and neglected. Grandparents are often the link between generations, passing on life experiences and traditions. They are a treasure trove of wisdom and knowledge, and their contributions to families and communities are invaluable. This day emphasizes the importance of intergenerational dialogue and the involvement of young people in the wisdom of the elderly. Whether you are a grandchild, a parent, a caregiver or just someone who recognizes the value of older people, this day provides an opportunity to show appreciation and support. Give elderly people your attention and respect not only on this day, but also throughout the year – this is the most valuable thing.
Interesting facts about grandparents
The oldest grandmother in the world, recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, is Jeanne Calman from France, who lived for 122 years and 164 days. She is also the oldest person who ever lived.
Romanian Rifka Stanescu is officially considered the youngest grandmother in history. She became a grandmother at the age of 23 when her 12-year-old daughter gave birth to a child. Rifka gave birth to her first son at the age of 12, and when she was 23, her daughter became a mother.
In Western Ukraine, a woman became a grandmother at the age of 29. Her daughter gave birth to a child at the age of 15. This case is also considered one of the youngest in the region.
In some countries, where early marriage and childbearing are more common, grandparents can be very young. For example, there is a case in India where a man became a grandfather at the age of 29 when his 14-year-old daughter gave birth to a child.
Research shows that children who bond closely with their grandparents have higher levels of emotional stability and better social skills. They are also less likely to experience depression and anxiety disorders.
Grandparents often provide emotional support and assistance to their grandchildren during periods of crisis, such as parental divorce or family conflict.
In many cultures, grandparents play an important role in the transmission of traditions, language, and cultural values. They are often the main custodians of family histories and heritage.
More and more grandparents are returning to university and college, gaining new knowledge and skills. This helps them stay active and involved in the modern world.
World Whale and Dolphin Day
World Whale and Dolphin Day is celebrated on July 23 and was established by the International Whaling Commission in 1986. On this day in 1982, the IWC voted for a total ban on commercial whaling, which took effect on February 19, 1986. Therefore, another day is also celebrated on February 19 – World Whale Day, dedicated to the protection of marine mammals. This day calls to draw the attention of humanity to the problems faced by whales, cetaceans and other marine mammals. Sometimes environmental organizations of different countries jointly dedicate this day to the protection of one particular species of mammals that is under threat of extinction. According to other sources, this day is celebrated every third Saturday of February.
World Sjogren’s Syndrome Day
Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by dry eyes and mouth because it affects the cells that produce saliva and tears. It can also affect other parts of the body, such as the thyroid gland, kidneys, liver, lungs, and nerves. Other symptoms include joint pain, skin rashes, persistent dry cough, enlarged salivary glands, poor dental health, excessive thirst, and prolonged fatigue. The syndrome was first discovered by Dr. Henrik Sjögren, a Swedish ophthalmologist, in 1933. He met a patient who complained of dry eyes, dry mouth, and joint pain. It was this combination of symptoms that Sjogren noticed and decided to investigate, which led to important discoveries in the field.
Hot Dog Day
On July 23, 1953, the US Chamber of Commerce established Hot Dog Day, celebrating America’s favorite dish. The history of the hot dog begins in the 19th century, when the German butcher from Frankfurt, Johann Georg Lahner, while working in Vienna, created a sausage that became the prototype of the modern hot dog. Sausages then made their way to America, where they quickly became a popular working-class street food sold from stalls and carts.
The name “hot dog” has several versions of origin. One of them is related to suspicions that the sausages may contain dog meat, which has sometimes been confirmed. Another version suggests that the term “hot dog” was coined by a newspaper cartoonist or sports journalist describing the sale of hot dogs during baseball games.
It is known that it was street vendor Harry M. Stevens who decided to place sausages in French buns. Legend has it that he simply ran out of wax paper, which he used to sell sausages. Illustrator Dargan, who noticed this, decided to illustrate this case. However, not being sure of the correct spelling of the word “Dachshund” (the long sausages were called that because of their resemblance to dachshunds), he simply called the bun a “hot dog.” Although there is no exact information about the origin of the name, this story remains one of the most popular versions.
Hot Dog Day has become not only a celebration of this popular dish, but also a part of American culture. Today, hot dogs are an integral part of many holiday events, including picnics, baseball games and other mass events. Millions of hot dogs are consumed annually in the United States, and various hot dog eating contests attract thousands of participants and spectators.
The anniversary of the proclamation of the republic in Egypt
On the night of July 23, 1952, military units that received orders from the “Free Officers” (an illegal anti-monarchist organization of Egyptian army officers, created in 1949 by Gamal Abdel Nasser – only 264 officers) entered Cairo. They blocked the royal palace and government buildings. Early in the morning of July 23, General Muhammad Naguib spoke on the radio and informed his fellow citizens of the overthrow of the government and the monarchy. On July 26, King Farouk and several members of his family were deported to the island of Malta. A republic was proclaimed in Egypt, the first president of which was a veteran of the war with Israel – Muhammad Nagib. Two years later, a young colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser removed Naguib from power and became the second president of Egypt.
There are only six points of their political program:
- The elimination of imperialism and its Egyptian aids.
- Elimination of feudalism.
- Elimination of the domination of capital over power.
- Creating social justice.
- Creation of a strong national army.
- Establishing a healthy democratic life.
The officers began with a policy of reorganization of the political system, which included “purging” and reforming the existing parties. Many prominent political and public figures of the former Egypt were expelled from the political arena in this way, and some were arrested.
In Greece, the dictatorship of the “black colonels” was overthrown and the Third Republic was established
On July 23, 1974, the dictatorship of the “black colonels” was overthrown in Greece and the Third Republic was established. The main ideology of the regime was extreme anti-communism. It is interesting that scientists sometimes call the times of the “black colonels” the “Greek economic miracle” – the growth of the country’s GDP at that time was the first in terms of pace in Europe and the second in the world (after Japan).
In both cases, the regimes were called “the revolution that saved the nation.” Regimes were preceded by political instability, military confrontation between political forces, and the possibility of the destruction of statehood.
In many countries, in order to avoid the “revenge” of “black” forces in the state system, the so-called “insurance mechanism” is provided – the army, people in uniform, who are the guarantor of the stability and sovereignty of the state, as well as the integrating link in the society of the criteria of stability – honor, dignity , discipline.
Obviously, democracy should still be reasonable and controlled. Especially in our country, when each new government declares its position as the only correct one, the previous government as “criminal”, and the people who worked under it are slanderous.
The “Code of a man in uniform” is needed as the basis of the stability of the state, the basis of education of honor, dignity, and morality. Especially now, when it is the military that decides the fate of the country, and possibly the whole world.
Historical events on this day:
- 1888 – a monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky was opened in Kyiv.
- 1901 – the German doctor Robert Koch put forward the theory that rats are carriers of the bubonic plague.
- 1908 – the Young Turk revolution: restoration of the constitution in the Ottoman Empire.
- 1936 – the Institute of the History of Ukraine of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR was established.
- 1951 – the headquarters of NATO was opened in Roquencourt, France.
- 1966 – the first phase of the Kremenchug Oil Refinery was launched.
- 1974 – the dictatorship of the “black colonels” was overthrown in Greece, and the Third Republic was established. This regime was known for its anti-communism and economic growth, sometimes called the “Greek economic miracle”.
- 1975 – Canada has closed its Atlantic ports to foreign fishing vessels.
- 1979 – Ayatollah Khomeini banned the broadcasting of music in Iran, claiming it was corrupting the youth.
- 1980 – the launch of the Soyuz-37 spacecraft, in which the first Asian cosmonaut, the Vietnamese Pham Tuan, flew.
- 1982 – a decision was made on a complete ban on commercial whaling.
- 1990 – Leonid Kravchuk was elected chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR.
