November 18 marks the Day of the Sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the World Day for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation of Children, the Cruel Treatment of Children and Violence against them, together with the European Day for the Protection of Children from Violence and Sexual Exploitation, as well as Santa Claus’s birthday.
Sergeant Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
This holiday was introduced to honor the important role of non-commissioned officers in the Ukrainian army. Sergeants perform critical duties at the tactical level, often acting as a bridge between command and the rank and file. They are responsible for discipline, personnel training and have a great influence on the morale of units.
Interesting facts
The Day of the Armed Forces Sergeant was officially celebrated for the first time in 2019. The introduction of this holiday emphasized the importance of the role of non-commissioned officers in the modern army, where professional training of non-commissioned officers is one of the main components.
With the beginning of Russian aggression in 2014, sergeants became indispensable leaders on the front line. They not only maintained order and fighting capacity, but also showed heroism and leadership skills in difficult conditions.
In Ukraine, there are specialized educational institutions and courses where sergeants are taught both combat tactics and leadership skills.
In the modern Ukrainian army, the structure and role of noncommissioned officers are largely adapted based on NATO standards, where noncommissioned officers play a key role in the functioning of the army. They are the backbone of the team, performing both command and technical functions.
On this day, many non-commissioned officers are awarded state awards for bravery and exemplary service. This is part of the support and motivation for those who work every day to protect Ukraine.
World Day for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Maltreatment and Violence against Children and European Day for the Protection of Children from Violence and Sexual Exploitation
This is an important day to draw the attention of the world community to the problem of violence against children and to take measures to solve it, as well as to prevent and fight such crimes.
European Children’s Day is a platform for reminding the importance of national and international measures that protect children from violence and exploitation. Such measures include improving legislation, conducting prevention programs and supporting victims.
On this day, emphasis is also placed on the need for cooperation between various state, international and non-governmental organizations for the effective protection of children.
Organizations and activists spread information among children and their families about possible risks, ways to protect themselves and resources for seeking help.
On this day, it is also important to remind about the need to include educational programs for children and adolescents that help recognize danger and teach how to act in risky situations.
Santa’s birthday
Santa’s birthday is celebrated on November 18, although the exact year of his birth is unknown. The place of its appearance is traditionally considered to be somewhere in the north. He is often called Frost Ivanovich, and he usually comes accompanied by his granddaughter Snow Maiden.
Interesting facts
The first mention of Moroz as a fairy-tale character appeared in 1840 in the book “Children’s Tales of Grandfather Iriney” by Volodymyr Fyodorovych Odoevsky, where he appears under the name Moroz Ivanovich. However, he became the real “Santa Claus” only in the 20th century – in the image of an old man with a long white beard, in a fur coat, felt boots, with a magical staff and a bag of gifts.
Santa Claus is also known by various names such as:
- Treskun
- Moroz Yalinkovich
- Morozko
- Grandfather Student
The repressions after the 1917 revolution also affected Santa Claus, as he was considered a symbol of Orthodox Christmas. However, his return to the New Year holidays took place thanks to an initiative from Kharkiv. On December 28, 1935, in the newspaper “Pravda” P. P. Postyshev published an article where he suggested celebrating the New Year with a Christmas tree for children. This led to the spread of New Year holidays with new, reinterpreted paraphernalia that once had a Christmas meaning.
The official return of Santa Claus took place on December 30, 1935 in the Kharkiv Palace of Pioneers, where the first official Christmas tree was also held. The Snow Maiden accompanied Santa Claus for the first time in January 1937 in Moscow.
According to legends, Santa Claus has a family. His wife is Matinka Zima, and they have three daughters: Stuzha, Vikhola and Metelitsa. Stuzha and Vikhola have no family, but Metelitsa married Burana, the son of the Snow Queen, and they had a daughter, Snow Maiden.
Every year, thousands of letters from children from different countries arrive at the residence of Santa Claus. In each letter, children share their wishes and requests for gifts. In some countries, there are special postal services that help organize the forwarding of letters.
This holiday was introduced not only for fun, but also to honor the folklore and cultural traditions associated with the image of Santa Claus, who from ancient times personified winter, frost and New Year’s miracles.
Unlike Santa Claus, who wears a red suit and has the build of an ordinary man, Santa Claus is usually dressed in a long blue or red fur coat decorated with patterns. He wears a hat, boots and holds a staff, which reinforces his image as a powerful master of winter forces.
Santa Claus has his “relatives” in many cultures. For example, in Finland his counterpart is Joulupukki, in the USA – Santa Claus, in France – Pere Noel. Each country has its own traditions, but all these images are united by the spirit of winter magic and belief in New Year’s miracles.
Historical events on this day
In 1626 Pope Urban VIII consecrated St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, which became the residence of all subsequent Popes. St. Peter’s Cathedral, located in the Vatican, is one of the grandest Christian churches in the world and an important symbol of the Catholic faith. The construction of the cathedral lasted more than a century and brought together the most famous architects and artists of the time, such as Michelangelo and Bramante.
In 1654 the heroic defense of the Cossack fortress of Busha on the Podilla from Polish troops began. This event became one of the most famous pages in the history of the Cossack struggle for independence. Bush Fortress was an important defensive point, and its defense is a symbol of resilience and self-sacrifice of the Cossacks.
In 1775 Empress Catherine II issued a decree on the introduction of the division of the Russian Empire into provinces. This reform contributed to the centralization of power and the streamlining of the management of the vast territories of the empire. The division into provinces made it possible to manage the country more effectively and carry out administrative and economic reforms.
In 1883 a unified system of time determination was introduced in the USA. Before that, each city set its own time, which caused confusion, especially with the development of railways. The introduction of unified time zones was an important step for time synchronization and greatly improved the convenience of the transport system in the country.
In 1918 declared the independence of the Republic of Latvia. It was an important step for the Latvian people seeking self-determination after centuries of domination by various empires. Karlis Ulmanis, who became an outstanding political figure in the history of the country, was elected as the first head of the government of independent Latvia.
In 1928 the cartoon “Steamboat Willie” produced by the Walt Disney Company was released. This day is considered the birthday of Mickey Mouse, who became a symbol of the Disney company and one of the most famous animated figures in the world. The cartoon marked the beginning of a new era in animation and brought Walt Disney to world fame.
In 1943 during the Second World War, in the course of a counteroffensive, German forces knocked out Soviet troops from the city of Zhytomyr. This event was part of the larger fighting on the Eastern Front, when the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany fought for control over Ukrainian territories.
In 2005 The US Senate repealed the restrictive foreign trade amendment Jackson-Venick for Ukraine. This amendment, passed in 1974, restricted trade with countries that violated human rights. The cancellation of the amendment for Ukraine became a symbol of improved relations between the two countries and recognition of Ukraine’s efforts towards democratic reforms.
