March 20 is celebrated as World Earth Day, International Astrology Day, World Wildlife Day, International Happiness Day, and World Behavior Analysis Day. On this day, important events in history have taken place in different years, including scientific, cultural, and political achievements that changed the course of world history.
World Earth Day
This day, associated with the vernal equinox, is celebrated depending on the year and time zone. The date was chosen because of the moment when the duration of day and night is almost equal in both hemispheres, so it has a general meaning for the entire planet and is not tied to a single state. The idea for such a day appeared in the late 1960s, and the first celebration on the day of the equinox took place in 1970.
March Earth Day is often confused with April 22, although these are two different traditions with the same name. The date of March 20–21 is associated with an astronomical event, and the April date became more famous due to the mass environmental movement. The content of the March day is reduced to a reminder of the common space of life, the dependence of people on the state of the environment, and the fact that natural processes do not know state borders.
Interesting facts
The idea of Earth Day on the day of the vernal equinox was proposed by John McConnell, and it was the March date that appeared as a separate initiative even before the much more popular Earth Day on April 22 became established in the world. Due to the same name, many mistakenly believe that we are talking about the same holiday with the same history.
The first celebration of Earth Day on the vernal equinox took place on March 21, 1970, and on April 22 of the same year another Earth Day was held in the USA. That is why the confusion arises not only because of the name, but also because both dates appeared in the same year.
The Earth is not a perfectly round ball. Due to its rotation, it is slightly flattened at the poles and wider at the equator, so its more accurate shape is closer to an oblate spheroid.
More than 99 percent of the habitable space on Earth is not land, but oceans. If we look not at the surface area, but at the actual volume of the environment in which life exists, the deep sea gives the planet incomparably more habitable space than the continents.
The deepest known point on Earth is the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. It is so deep that if Everest were placed there, the peak would still remain underwater.
The driest place on Earth is not in the Sahara, but in Antarctica. There are areas in the McMurdo Dry Valleys where there is almost no rain or snow, and some places may not have received significant precipitation for millions of years.
The largest living organism on Earth is not a whale or a giant tree, but the Armillaria ostoyae mushroom in the United States. Its mycelium covers several square kilometers, and it is a single organism, not many separate mushrooms.
The Earth did not always have as much oxygen as it does now. In the first billions of years, its atmosphere was completely different, and oxygen in large quantities appeared thanks to microorganisms that began to photosynthesize and gradually changed the entire planet.
The continents of the Earth are still moving. Europe and North America are moving away from each other by a few centimeters every year, and it is because of such slow shifts that ancient oceans once disappeared, mountains grew and the outlines of the continents changed.
There are rocks on Earth that are older than most mountains, seas, and even complex life forms. The oldest known terrestrial minerals, in particular zircons, are more than 4 billion years old, that is, they were formed almost at the beginning of the planet’s history.
Lightning heats the air more strongly than the surface of the Sun. In the discharge channel, the temperature can reach tens of thousands of degrees, and it is precisely due to the instantaneous expansion of superheated air that thunder occurs.
On Earth, there are “eternal” lakes that do not mix completely. In such bodies of water, deep layers of water can remain isolated from the surface for thousands of years due to differences in salinity, temperature, or density.
Entire lakes, rivers, and mountain ranges are hidden under the ice of Antarctica. That is, under the largest ice shield on the planet there is its own complex world of relief, which was completely invisible to people for a long time.
Ukraine also has a very ancient part of the earth’s crust – the Ukrainian Shield. This is one of the oldest geological structures in Europe, where rocks are billions of years old, so in a literal sense, the very ancient history of the Earth comes to the surface on the territory of Ukraine.
International Astrology Day
This day is celebrated in March, when the vernal equinox comes and the Sun enters the sign of Aries. In the Western astrological tradition, this is the moment when the new astrological year begins, so the date is associated with the beginning of a new cycle. This is an unofficial holiday that unites astrologers, researchers of zodiac symbols and people interested in astrological systems.
Astrology Day is primarily associated with the history of astrological ideas, the development of various schools and the interpretation of celestial phenomena in the cultures of different peoples. Astrology existed in many civilizations and in different eras influenced calendars, ideas about time, power, medicine and everyday life. That is why this date is perceived as a reminder of a long tradition that has survived to this day in various forms.
Interesting facts
Astrology arose much earlier than the horoscopes by zodiac signs that we are familiar with. In the most ancient traditions, it was used not to describe the character of an individual, but to predict the harvest, wars, floods, diseases of rulers and the fate of entire states.
The first systematic astrological texts appeared in Mesopotamia. There, priests recorded celestial phenomena for centuries and tried to connect them with events on earth, and later, based on these observations, they formed large collections of interpretations.
The usual division into 12 signs of the zodiac did not form immediately. At first, ancient peoples observed various constellations along the path of the Sun, and later this belt of the sky was divided into twelve equal parts to make the system more convenient for calculations.
A zodiac sign in astrology and a constellation in the sky are not the same thing. In popular Western astrology, the circle is divided into 12 equal sectors of 30 degrees, and the real constellations are of different sizes, so the astrological sign and the astronomical arrangement of the stars do not literally coincide.
Due to the precession of the Earth’s axis, the sky shifts very slowly, which is why one of the main differences between Western and Indian astrology arose. The Western system is oriented towards the seasonal cycle and the point of the vernal equinox, while the Indian system takes into account the stellar background more, which is why the dates of the signs in these traditions differ.
The word “horoscope” did not originally mean a newspaper forecast for the day. In ancient times, it referred primarily to the moment of birth and the sunrise point on the horizon, from which the construction of a natal chart was started.
In the ancient world, astrology was part of a serious educated culture for a long time. It was studied together with mathematics, calendar calculations and astronomical observations, and quite accurate calculations were required to draw a map of the sky.
In medieval and early modern Europe, doctors often turned to astrology. It was believed that the positions of the planets and signs could indicate the auspicious time for treatment, bloodletting, or the preparation of medicines, so medical treatises often contained astrological charts.
Many famous scientists of the past compiled horoscopes. For a modern person, this sounds strange, but in that era the line between astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer was much narrower than it is now, and such a practice was not considered unusual.
In different astrological traditions, the set of main celestial factors is not the same. In the Western system, the Sun, Moon, planets, houses, and aspects are of great importance, in the Chinese system, the cycles of the years, elements, and animal symbols are more important, and in the Indian system, special lunar positions are also important.
Astrological houses are not signs of the zodiac, although they are often confused. Signs are responsible for the type of energy or the way it manifests, and houses show the sphere of life where it manifests itself: relationships, money, career, family, travel and other topics.
In the natal chart, not only the Sun sign is considered the most important for popular astrology. For many astrologers, the Moon sign, the ascendant, the position of Venus, Mars and the mutual arrangement of the planets are no less significant, so a newspaper description of one sign gives only a very simplified picture.
The term “Mercury retrograde”, which has become popular in popular culture, does not mean the real movement of the planet backwards, but an optical effect that occurs due to the difference in the speed of movement of the Earth and Mercury. In astrology, this period has acquired a separate symbolic meaning, although astronomically it is only about the apparent displacement.
The most ancient astrology was much less “personal” than modern. Horoscopes for individual people began to spread later, and at first the main attention was paid to kings, states, wars and major natural events.
World Wildlife Day
This day is associated with the vernal equinox, when a new seasonal cycle begins in nature, so the date is well suited to the theme of the renewal of natural systems. The idea of this day is focused on the restoration of ecosystems, which need to regain their ability to develop independently: rivers – to flow more freely, meadows and steppes – to restore natural vegetation, animals – to take their places in food chains again.
Restoring wildlife means not just protecting individual rare species, but the return of natural processes in large areas. This is about restoring floodplains, marshes, forests, steppes, seashores and animal migration routes, without which even well-protected areas of nature are gradually impoverished. Therefore, the meaning of this day is connected with a broader approach: to give nature more space and fewer artificial restrictions where possible.
Interesting facts
The term rewilding itself did not originally mean simply planting trees or creating another reserve. It was based on the idea of returning the large natural processes that keep the ecosystem alive: the free movement of water, natural grazing, seed dispersal, seasonal migrations and the impact of large animals on the landscape.
The spring equinox was not chosen for this day by chance. It is symbolically associated with the renewal of natural cycles, and does not yet belong to the history of one state or one culture, so such a date is easily perceived as common for different countries.
In the restoration of wildlife, it is often not rare predators that are important, but ordinary herbivores. It is large herbivores that can maintain open meadows for years, prevent the territory from quickly becoming overgrown with monotonous shrubs and create a mosaic landscape in which more species survive.
One of the most interesting ideas of rewilding is that sometimes the best solution for nature is to interfere less. After the water regime is restored, human pressure is reduced, or individual species return, the ecosystem can begin to recover on its own, without constant manual management.
In Europe, wildlife restoration is often associated with the return of beavers, and this is one of the most striking examples. Beavers build dams, slow down water, create wetlands and shallow reservoirs, which leads to more fish, birds, insects and moisture-loving plants in one area.
For Ukraine, the topic of wildlife restoration is especially interesting because of the steppes, floodplains and river deltas. Many natural areas in our country have suffered not only from development or plowing, but also from drainage, straightening of riverbeds, excessive interference with the water regime, so in many cases, restoration begins precisely with the return of water and the natural dynamics of the landscape.
Wildlife restoration often gives noticeable results not only for animals and plants, but also for people. Restored wetlands and floodplains hold water better, reduce the risk of areas drying out, mitigate the effects of floods, and help cool the area during hot periods.
One of the little-known points is that restoring nature does not always mean returning the species that lived in the area a hundred or a thousand years ago. In many cases, they look for an ecological role that someone should play in the system: grazing, spreading seeds, changing vegetation cover, or creating shelter for other species.
In the topic of rewilding, it is not the beauty of a single place that is of great importance, but its connection to other areas. Even a well-preserved area of nature loses some of its value if animals cannot migrate, a river is cut off by dams, and plants have no way to spread further.
International Day of Happiness
This holiday was established by the United Nations in 2012 to remind people of the importance of happiness and well-being in life. The main purpose of this day is to draw attention to how economic growth and social development should be aimed at increasing the happiness of citizens, and not only at material achievements.
During this day, people around the world can reflect on the meaning of happiness, as well as on how they can make positive changes in their lives and their environment. Increasing happiness is important for national governments, as studies show that happy people are more productive, have better health and are more likely to support social initiatives.
Interesting facts
In 2018, Denmark was recognized as the happiest country according to the World Happiness Index.
Finns often call their national happiness due to the concept of “sisu” – the ability to overcome difficulties and remain calm even in stressful situations.
In Ukraine, this day has been actively celebrated since 2019, encouraging people to play sports, develop their hobbies and spend more time with their family.
In Thailand, there is a tradition of “laughing from the heart”, when the national holiday begins with mass laughter marathons.
One of the most interesting phenomena of happiness is observed among peoples living in high mountains, where great importance is attached to nature and its influence on the state of mind.
In India and Nepal, there is a holiday during which people exchange gifts, symbolizing the search for inner peace.
The Swiss have one of the highest levels of life satisfaction, which is associated with the economic stability and neutral political position of the country.
In Iceland, local residents associate happiness with the northern lights, which they consider harmonious and improve mood even in harsh climatic conditions.
People who own pets have a higher level of happiness due to emotional support from their pets.
According to studies, working together on social projects, when people help each other, significantly improves the emotional state and strengthens the feeling of happiness.
World Behavior Analysis Day
This day is celebrated in honor of the birthday of B.F. Skinner, one of the founders of this scientific discipline. The holiday was established to draw attention to the importance of behavior analysis in understanding and improving human interactions. Skinner, in particular, developed the concepts of operant learning and stimulus control, which contributed to the development of methods for influencing human behavior through external factors.
This day also emphasizes the achievements of behavior analysts in the fields of education, psychology, health care and social services, where their methods help improve people’s lives, solve problems with adaptation and behavioral disorders. World Behavior Analysis Day is an opportunity for specialists to share their knowledge and experience, and popularize science and its achievements for a wide audience.
Interesting facts
B.F. Skinner not only developed the theories of behavior analysis, but also created a special “Skinner box” where he conducted experiments with animals to study their behavior.
Behavior analysis methods are widely used in the treatment of autism, in particular through applied behavior analysis (ABA), which is one of the most effective approaches to correcting behavior in children with autism.
Behavior analysis is actively used in education, where pedagogical strategies based on this discipline help children with special educational needs achieve academic success.
One of the applications of behavior analysis is working with animals, in particular in training, where the principles of operant learning are used to form desired reactions.
Behavior analysis is used to develop methods for changing bad habits in people, such as smoking or overeating.
Behavior analysis is important for improving corporate culture, where its application helps to form effective personnel management strategies.
Відмінність поведінкового аналізу від традиційної психології полягає в його акценті на вивчення зовнішніх, спостережуваних реакцій замість глибокого аналізу внутрішніх процесів свідомості.
Аналіз поведінки вважається ефективним інструментом для лікування психічних розладів, таких як фобії та тривожні розлади, оскільки зосереджується на зміні шкідливих поведінкових патернів.
У 2018 році було відзначено 75-річчя від публікації класичної роботи Б.Ф. Скіннера «Про поведінку організмів», яка стала основою для подальшого розвитку дисципліни.
Поведінковий аналіз є основою для багатьох сучасних психологічних підходів, включаючи когнітивно-поведінкову терапію (CBT), яка активно використовується для лікування депресії та тривожних розладів.
Історичні події в цей день
1602 — заснована Голландська Ост-Індійська компанія (VOC), перша у світі офіційно зареєстрована публічна компанія. Вона стала важливим кроком до розвитку глобальної торгівлі, і саме через неї Нідерланди змогли значно зміцнити свою економіку, закріпивши за собою торгові шляхи в Азії.
1814 — відбулася війна шостої коаліції: почалася битва при Арсі-сюр-Об, яка стала останньою великою битвою перед взяттям Парижа. У результаті цієї битви французька армія зазнала поразки, що зрештою призвело до відставки Наполеона Бонапарта та падіння його імперії.
1815 — Наполеон I Бонапарт повернувся до Парижа після ув’язнення на острові Ельба, почавши своє «ста днів» правління. Цей період в історії став відомий як період Реставрації, і він завершився битвою при Ватерлоо, що остаточно поклало край амбіціям Наполеона.
1852 — був опублікований роман Гаррієт Бічер-Стоу «Хатина дядька Тома». Ця книга стала одним із найбільших антирабовласницьких творів у США та зіграла значну роль у підвищенні соціальної свідомості щодо прав людини і боротьби з рабством.
1854 — заснована Республіканська партія США, що стала однією з двох основних політичних сил у країні, яка згодом вела боротьбу за скасування рабства та підтримувала індустріалізацію та модернізацію США.
1876 — першим премʼєр-міністром Швеції став Луї Ґергард де Геер. Він був ключовою фігурою у шведському політичному житті і сприяв розвитку країни в складний для неї період.
1883 — підписана Паризька конвенція про охорону промислової власності, що стала основою для міжнародного законодавства з питань інтелектуальної власності і забезпечила захист прав на винаходи та патенти.
1890 — за наполяганням нового імператора рейхсканцлер Отто фон Бісмарк завершив свою політичну кар’єру. Бісмарк був архітектором єдності Німеччини та провів низку важливих реформ, але його відставка стала сигналом для змін у політиці Німеччини.
1890 — був відкритий астероїд 290 Бруна. Це відкриття стало важливим кроком у дослідженні астероїдного поясу, розширюючи наші уявлення про Сонячну систему.
1916 — Альберт Ейнштейн опублікував свою загальну теорію відносності, що змінила основи фізики, включаючи наше розуміння часу, простору та гравітації.
1917 — українського історика Михайла Грушевського було обрано головою Центральної Ради, що стало важливим кроком до формування незалежної української державності в умовах Першої світової війни.
1921 — на плебісциті більшість жителів Верхньої Сілезії висловилися за перебування у складі Німеччини. Це рішення мало важливі політичні наслідки для розмежування територій після Першої світової війни.
1926 — Чан Кайші почав масштабну чистку в армії, що дозволило йому стати одноосібним правителем Китаю та започаткувати нову етап у боротьбі за об’єднання країни.
1933 — поблизу Мюнхена побудовано перший в Німеччині концтабір — Дахау. Це було початком системи концентраційних таборів нацистського режиму, що стала однією з найтемніших сторінок в історії ХХ століття.
1935 — літак Grumman F3F здійснив свій перший політ. Цей біплан став однією з найважливіших військових машин у період перед Другою світовою війною.
1939 — Німеччина висунула ультиматум Литві з вимогою передати Клайпедський край, і Литва погодилася на це вимогу через політичний тиск з боку нацистського режиму.
1956 — проголошено незалежність Тунісу. Цей день став важливим етапом у боротьбі арабських країн за свою автономію та політичну незалежність від колоніальних держав.
1957 — в Ірані було створено спецслужбу САВАК, яка стала відомою за свою жорстоку репресивну діяльність проти політичних опонентів режиму.
1991 — на базі Українського республіканського банку Держбанку СРСР було створено Національний банк України, що стало важливою віхою на шляху до фінансової незалежності України.
1995 — у Токійському метрополітені відбулася заринова атака, організована культом Аум Сінрікьо, яка призвела до численних жертв і стала однією з найжахливіших терористичних атак у Японії.
2003 — американсько-британсько-австралійські війська вторглися в Ірак, що стало початком багаторічного конфлікту в регіоні.
2007 — вийшла комп’ютерна гра S.T.A.L.K.E.R. українського розробника GSC Game World, яка здобула міжнародну популярність і стала однією з найвідоміших ігор в історії відеоігор України.
2015 — повне сонячне затемнення, рівнодення та супермісяць відбулися в один день, що стало рідкісним астрономічним явищем, яке привернуло увагу тисяч людей по всьому світу.
2018 — Україна і Катар підписали угоду про безвізовий режим, що значно полегшило подорожі між двома країнами.
2019 — місто Астана було перейменовано на Нур-Султан на честь експрезидента Казахстану Нурсултана Назарбаєва.
