March 10 marks National Anthem Day of Ukraine, International Day of Women Judges, International Bagpipe Day, International Wonder Day and Commonwealth of Nations Day. A number of memorable events took place on this day, which left their mark in history.
National Anthem Day of Ukraine
It was on this day in 1865 in the city of Przemyśl (now Poland) that the song “Ukraine is not dead yet” with lyrics by Pavel Chubynskyi and music by Mykhailo Verbytskyi was first publicly performed during an event dedicated to the memory of Taras Shevchenko.
The history of the anthem begins in 1862, when the poet, ethnographer and folklorist Pavlo Chubynskyi wrote the poem “Ukraine is not dead yet.” This work quickly gained popularity among the Ukrainian intelligentsia and patriotic youth. In 1863, the poem was published in the Lviv magazine “Meta”, where it was seen by the composer and priest Mykhailo Verbytskyi. Inspired by the patriotic content, Verbytsky created music for the poem, first for the guitar, and later adapted it for the choir.
The song quickly spread among Ukrainians and became a symbol of national identity and the desire for independence. During the period of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UNR) and the West Ukrainian People’s Republic (ZUNR), “Ukraine is not dead yet” was performed as a national anthem. However, in Soviet times, the song was banned due to its nationalist content, which contradicted communist ideology.
After the declaration of independence of Ukraine, the musical version of the anthem was officially approved by the Verkhovna Rada on January 15, 1992. And on March 6, 2003, the parliament adopted the Law “On the National Anthem of Ukraine”, approving the text of the first verse and chorus of the song “Ukraine is not dead yet” as the official national anthem.
Interesting facts
The original manuscripts of the text and music of the hymn, written by the authors, are stored in the Vasyl Stefanyk Scientific Library in Lviv.
The first recording of the anthem “Ukraine is not dead yet” was made in October 1910 in the German city of Cologne at the Gramophon company with the participation of the outstanding Ukrainian opera singer Modest Mentsynskyi.
The song “Ukraine is not dead yet” was the national anthem during the existence of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the People’s Republic of Ukraine. In the Soviet Union, it was not approved as the anthem of the Ukrainian SSR, as the text contradicted the communist ideology.
The author of the words of the anthem, Pavlo Chubynsky, was exiled to the Arkhangelsk province of the Russian Empire for his patriotic poem “for having a harmful influence on the minds of the common people.”
During the Orange Revolution of 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity of 2013–2014, the national anthem of Ukraine united millions of Ukrainians and became a symbol of the struggle for freedom and independence.
International Day of Women Judges
This day highlights the importance of gender equality in judicial systems around the world and honors the contribution of women judges to strengthening the rule of law, protecting human rights and ensuring justice.
The holiday was initiated by the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) in 2009 to encourage more women to pursue careers in the judiciary and to address the challenges they face. In 2021, the UN General Assembly officially declared March 10 as the International Day of Women Judges, an important step in recognizing the role of women in justice and promoting gender equality.
Interesting facts
In 2017, women made up 40% of judges worldwide, which is 35% more than in 2008.
In most European countries, women make up the majority of professional judges or magistrates; however, they make up only 41% of national supreme court judges and 25% of court presidents.
The presence of women in judicial positions ensures that judicial systems reflect the societies they serve, promoting fairness and inclusion.
International bagpipe day
This holiday is dedicated to one of the oldest musical instruments – the bagpipe, which has a rich history and is an important part of the cultural heritage of many peoples.
A bagpipe is a wind musical instrument consisting of an air bag and several tubes through which the sound is blown. The instrument has been known since ancient times and has been used in various cultures, including Scotland, Ireland, Galicia, Bulgaria and other countries. In Scotland, the bagpipe has become a national symbol and an integral part of cultural traditions
On this day, bagpipe players from all over the world hold concerts, festivals and master classes, demonstrating the skill of playing the bagpipe and popularizing this unique instrument. There are also exhibitions dedicated to the history and diversity of bagpipes in different cultures.
Interesting facts
There are more than 130 varieties of bagpipes, each of which has its own characteristics and sound.
The earliest description of a bagpipe-like instrument dates back to 400 BC in Egypt.
In Scotland, the bagpipe is used during important events such as weddings, funerals and military ceremonies, highlighting its importance in the country’s cultural life.
Bagpipes were often used in military units as a tool to raise morale and coordinate the actions of soldiers.
The bagpipe is a traditional instrument not only in Scotland, but also in Ireland, Bulgaria, Spain (Galicia), France (Brittany) and many other countries, where each region has its own unique variations of the instrument.
Today, the bagpipe is not only used in traditional music, but also integrates into modern music genres such as rock and pop, demonstrating its versatility and adaptability.
International Day of Awesomeness
This is an unofficial but positive holiday that encourages people to remember their own uniqueness, recognize their achievements and appreciate the amazing moments of life. The idea for this holiday arose in 2007, when Kevin Lawler and his trainee Freddy Maneiro jokingly decided to celebrate Lawler’s “coolness”. Later, the idea spread through social networks, and the date March 10 was chosen not by chance – it is the birthday of Chuck Norris, a famous actor and martial artist who has become a symbol of strength and confidence.
International Wonder Day is a great opportunity to pause in the daily hustle and bustle to remember how many miracles are happening around us. This holiday reminds us that there is wonder in every person, in every achievement, and even in ordinary things. Recognizing your uniqueness is not about selfishness, but about understanding your own strength and potential.
This day also calls for appreciating the unique moments of life and sharing these emotions with others. After all, the more we notice miracles around us, the more they appear in our lives. And this is the real magic of the International Day of Wonder.
Interesting facts
There are people in the world who achieve the impossible. For example, there are people who have visited all the countries of the world, spending years of their lives, millions of kilometers of travel and hundreds of air flights. Their persistence and thirst for discovery inspire others.
There are those who changed the world with science, winning the first places among scientists, discovering new elements or revolutionary phenomena that changed the way we look at the world. Their intelligence and perseverance became the basis for the development of entire branches of science.
Among the amazing people there are also those who overcame life’s difficulties. For example, great composers who lost their hearing, but continued to create music that amazes the world even centuries later. Or artists who painted masterpieces, being deeply locked in their own inner world.
Some famous people had very unusual habits. For example, one famous composer counted out by hand every day the exact number of coffee beans for his perfect cup of coffee. Another artist collected wigs, having in his collection dozens of different specimens. These are not only interesting facts, but also evidence that individuality always manifests itself in small things.
There are stories of people who overcame serious mental disorders, returned to their usual lives and became an example for others. They demonstrate how strong the human spirit can be.
Commonwealth of Nations Day
This holiday is celebrated annually on the second Monday of March in 54 member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. It symbolizes unity, shared values and cooperation between the states that were once part of the British Empire and are now independent sovereign countries.
The Commonwealth of Nations is an international intergovernmental organization that unites countries from different continents that share a common history and strive to achieve common goals in the development of democracy, human rights, and economic progress. The legal status of the Commonwealth was defined by the Statute of Westminster in 1931. In 2012, the organization adopted the Commonwealth Charter, which describes 16 core values and commitments of member states, including justice, human rights, democracy and social equality.
The population of the countries that make up the Commonwealth is almost 2.5 billion people, which emphasizes its global scale and influence. Every year, before the Commonwealth Day, the member states hold conferences to maintain communication between themselves and resolve possible conflicts.
Interesting facts
The Commonwealth unites both large and economically developed countries, such as Canada, Australia and India, and small island states, such as Tuvalu and Nauru.
Every four years, the Commonwealth Games are held, where athletes from participating countries compete in various sports, similar to the Olympic Games.
English is the official language of the Commonwealth, which facilitates communication and cooperation between countries with different cultural and linguistic traditions.
Countries are free to join or leave the Commonwealth. For example, Zimbabwe left the organization in 2003, and Rwanda joined in 2009, although it was not previously part of the British Empire.
The countries of the Commonwealth actively cooperate in the sphere of trade and investment, which contributes to economic development and strengthening of ties between states.
Historical events on this day
1535 – The Spanish bishop Tomás de Berlanga, on his way from Panama to Peru, discovered the Galapagos Islands due to a deviation from the course. This archipelago in the Pacific Ocean later became famous for its unique flora and fauna, which inspired Charles Darwin to develop the theory of evolution.
1801 – The first official population census was conducted in England, Scotland and Wales. This made it possible to obtain accurate data on the number of residents and their social status, which became an important step for planning the economic and social policy of the state.
1830 – The mountain peoples of Dagestan and Chechnya began an active struggle for their independence against the Russian Empire, striving to preserve their culture, traditions and self-government.
1862 – In the United States of America, paper money was introduced into circulation for the first time, which became an important stage in the development of the country’s financial system and simplified money circulation.
1876 – Inventor Alexander Graham Bell made the first successful telephone call, saying to his assistant, “Mr. Watson, come here, I need you.” This event marked the beginning of a new era in communications.
1878 – A pocket edition of “Kobzar” by Taras Shevchenko was published in the Geneva printing house under the leadership of Mykhailo Drahomanov, Fyodor Vovk and Agapiy Lyakhotskyi. This edition contributed to the popularization of the poet’s work among the general public.
1893 – The territory of modern Ivory Coast officially became a colony of France, which affected its further political and socio-economic development.
1905 – One of the biggest battles of the Russo-Japanese War ended with the defeat of Russia. The Battle of Mukden was one of the largest military operations before the First World War.
1906 – In London, the Bakerloo subway line was opened, which improved transport connections in the city and contributed to the development of public transport.
1910 – China officially banned slavery, which was an important step in the direction of social reforms and improvement of human rights in the country.
1910 – French aviator Emile Aubrin made the first successful night flights on the “Blerio” monoplane, demonstrating the capabilities of aviation in conditions of limited visibility.
1943 – German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel arrived at the bunker near Vinnytsia, trying to convince Adolf Hitler to evacuate German troops from North Africa due to the difficult military situation.
1943 – In the Soviet Union, work on the creation of nuclear weapons began, which was a response to similar projects in other countries and led to a nuclear arms race.
1945 – There was a massive bombing of Tokyo by American aircraft, which became the bloodiest air raid in the history of wars, resulting in the death of about 100 thousand people.
1959 – In Tibet, an uprising of the local population against the Chinese authorities began. Tibetans have come out to defend their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and to preserve their national identity. The resistance was brutally suppressed, and the Dalai Lama was forced to flee to India.
1975 – In Moscow, during a hockey match between the USSR and Canada national teams, a tragic stampede occurred. Fans, trying to get scarce chewing gum, created chaos, as a result of which 21 spectators were killed and another 25 were injured.
1976 – Polish traveler Krystyna Hojnowska started the first ever female solo circumnavigation. This trip became a landmark event for the development of women’s seafaring.
1990 – The first parish of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) was created in Kyiv, which became an important event in the revival of religious life in Ukraine.
1992 – Ukraine was admitted to the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, which was an important step on the way to integration with international security structures. On the same day, the orchestra of the Honor Guard of the Presidential Regiment of Ukraine was founded, which became a symbol of state celebrations
