Holidays and commemorative dates:
father’s day – this annual holiday in honor of dads is celebrated in many countries. On this day, we have the opportunity to express our love and gratitude to our parents.
In Ukraine, Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. Some historians believe that the roots of this holiday go back to the Bible, because in some countries of Western Europe it is celebrated simultaneously with the Ascension of the Lord.
In Germany and German-speaking countries (Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg), the holiday dates back to 1900, when during the celebration of the Ascension in Berlin, a group of men decided to separate from the main company and organize their own holiday.
Father’s Day became a national holiday and non-working day in 1934. However, modern German “leftists” sometimes emphasize the pagan roots of this day because of its Nazi past. It was officially celebrated in the GDR until 1967.
In the USA, the holiday began to be celebrated on June 19, 1910, thanks to the initiative of Mrs. Dodd from the city of Spokane, Washington, who wanted to honor the memory of her father, who, being a widower, raised six children.
This day became a national holiday in the USA in 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday of June a national holiday. Other countries have also started celebrating this day by honoring parents.
In Ukraine, the idea of a national Father’s Day arose in 2006 thanks to public organizations. After collecting signatures in support of the initiative and several public forums, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports developed a draft presidential decree establishing this holiday.
Due to financial difficulties and other reasons, the final decision was made only in May 2019, when the Cabinet of Ministers supported the corresponding presidential decree, which was subsequently signed. Since then, Ukrainians celebrate Father’s Day together with most countries of the world.
Unfortunately, due to the war, not all parents in Ukraine can be near their children on this day. Some protect their family and country at the front, and some have already become heroes.
International Waterfall Day – dedicated to celebrating the beauty of waterfalls, which are one of the most impressive natural phenomena on our planet.
International Day of Domestic Workers – this holiday recognizes the important work of domestic workers who provide cleaning, cooking and care for households around the world.
International Day of the African Child – every year on June 16, the world celebrates the International Day of the African Child. This event was founded by the Organization of African Unity in 1991. It is the anniversary of the demonstration in Soweto, South Africa.
Events on this day:
1858 – In Springfield, Illinois on the Gettysburg Field, during the election for the post of candidate for senator from the Republican Party, Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous speech “The House Divided”, which brought him victory.
“And every house divided against itself will not stand.” – the future president paraphrased words from the New Testament. The speech was devoted to the different views of society and the government on the issue of slavery and made a huge impression on the voters. Lincoln won.
Poet and historian Carl Sandberg said: “The Gettysburg Address is one of the greatest American poems that has significance and resonates far beyond American shores.”
The text of the Gettysburg Address is carved on the pedestal of the Abraham Lincoln monument in Washington.
There is one more of his iconic phrases that every modern politician should know: “You can fool a part of the people all the time, you can fool the whole people for a while, but you can’t fool the whole people all the time.”
Lincoln certainly knew how to speak eloquently. But still, he said his most important word in history – he united the country and became the main hero of America.
1903 – the Ford Motor company was founded.
1919 – Pope Benedict XV recognized the independence of the Ukrainian People’s Republic.
1934 – the first congress of writers of Ukraine opened in Kharkov, the Union of Writers of Ukraine (SPU) was created.
1940 – the USSR presented Estonia and Latvia with ultimatums demanding a change of government and the introduction of additional Soviet units. The next day, the Red Army occupied Estonia and Latvia.
1998 – for the first time, a birth was shown live on the Internet. A 40-year-old American woman gave birth to a boy named Sean.
