On November 23, the Holodomor Victims Memorial Day is celebrated in Ukraine, in the world –
International Suicide Survivors Day, International Day Against Impunity and International Aura Awareness Day.
Remembrance Day of Holodomor victims
November 23 is a special day for all Ukrainians. This date reminds of one of the most painful issues in the history of Ukraine – the Holodomor, which became a real genocide against the Ukrainian people. Every year, the fourth Saturday of November is dedicated to honoring the memory of the millions of innocent victims of these tragedies. This tradition was started in 2003. Every year on this day, people light candles to express solidarity with the millions of victims. Holodomor Memorial Day is not only mourning, but also a reminder of the importance of preserving historical truth and national unity.
Holodomors struck Ukraine three times: in 1921–1923, 1932–1933, and 1946–1947. The Holodomor of 1932-1933 was the largest and most brutal, as a result of which more than 7 million people died. This famine was artificially created by the Soviet authorities as part of the policy of destroying the national consciousness of Ukrainians. The confiscation of grain, the introduction of grain procurement quotas, the ban on leaving starving regions – all this was part of a planned act of genocide.
On this day, Ukrainians light memorial candles on the windows of their homes, take part in memorial events and honor the dead with a moment of silence. A candle burning in the dark symbolizes not only sorrow, but also the strength of a nation that has stood up in the face of such terrible trials.
Interesting facts
The Holodomor of 1932-1933 is recognized as a genocide of the Ukrainian people in more than 20 countries of the world, including the USA, Canada, Poland, Australia, and Estonia.
One of the methods of repression was “black boards” – villages that were accused of not fulfilling bread procurement. Their inhabitants were deprived of food, which made starvation inevitable.
Only after the independence of Ukraine in 1991 did archival documents become available that revealed the extent of the crime. Previously, the topic of the Holodomor was forbidden.
The National Museum of the Holodomor-genocide was created in Kyiv, and monuments to the victims of the Holodomor were erected in many cities around the world.
International Day of Survivors of Suicide
This day, which falls on the third Saturday in November, is special for those who have lost loved ones to suicide. This unofficial but globally important tribute is dedicated to people who have experienced an extremely difficult experience of loss and bear the emotional burden of this tragic ordeal.
International Day of Suicide Survivors has two key goals:
- Bereavement Support: People who have lost someone to suicide often experience deep feelings of guilt, grief and isolation. This day gives them the opportunity to find support, share experiences and understand that they are not alone.
- Raise awareness of suicide prevention: In addition to supporting victims, this date draws attention to the need for mental health and suicide prevention.
As on Holodomor Memorial Day, a candle lit in memory of lost loved ones is a symbol of support. In many countries, on this day, meetings are organized for those who have experienced a loss. They can share their emotions and get advice from professionals.
Interesting facts
According to the WHO, about 700,000 people die from suicide every year. This exceeds the number of deaths from wars and natural disasters combined.
The highest rate of suicides is observed among teenagers, young people and the elderly. Those facing mental disorders or social isolation are especially vulnerable.
Most suicides can be prevented with timely psychological and social assistance.
People who have lost loved ones need special support. Compassion shown in even the smallest gestures can make a difference.
International Day of Combating Impunity
This day, celebrated every year on November 23, draws attention to the problem of impunity for crimes, especially those related to human rights violations, crimes against journalists, activists and human rights defenders. This day has become a symbol of solidarity with those who suffer from impunity and a call to society and authorities to ensure justice.
The date was not chosen by chance: on November 23, 2009, 32 journalists were killed in the Philippines in the so-called Maguindanao massacre. This tragedy became one of the most massive and brutal attacks on journalists in history. The killings went unpunished for years, prompting international organizations to focus on the problem.
Impunity undermines the foundations of justice by allowing human rights violations to go unpunished.
Journalists and human rights defenders who stand up for the truth are often targeted for harassment and violence.
When criminals go unpunished, society loses faith in the justice system.
Impunity creates the ground for new crimes, as potential criminals are not afraid of accountability.
International Aura Awareness Day
International Aura Awareness Day is a day dedicated to spreading information about this specific neurological phenomenon that most often accompanies migraines, epilepsy or other disorders. The day is designed to raise awareness of the symptoms of aura, how to diagnose and treat it, and to support those who experience the condition in their daily lives.
An aura is a set of temporary neurological symptoms that may occur before the onset of a migraine or as part of an epileptic seizure. It is the result of changes in brain activity, in particular in blood supply or electrical activity.
Interesting facts
About 20% of migraine sufferers experience an aura, but it is not always accompanied by a headache. This phenomenon is known as “migraine without headache” or “no migraine”.
Usually, aura symptoms last from 5 to 60 minutes, although sometimes they can last a little longer. A prolonged aura (more than an hour) requires medical consultation to rule out other neurological disorders.
About 90% of people who experience an aura experience visual disturbances: flickering, flashes of light or dark spots that can resemble kaleidoscopic images.
Aura is not limited to migraines. It can also be part of epilepsy, strokes, panic attacks and even sometimes accompany other disorders of brain activity. In some cases, the aura can cause a feeling of déjà vu or distortion of the perception of time and reality. This often happens with temporal lobe epilepsy.
For many people, an aura serves as a useful warning of an impending migraine attack or epileptic seizure. This gives them time to take medication or take precautions.
Although rare, some people experience specific odors during the aura, such as the smell of burning, citrus, or even metal.
Aura symptoms, such as perceptual distortions, are sometimes mistaken for signs of mental disorders. However, an aura is a physiological, not a psychological phenomenon.
Scientists still do not fully understand the mechanisms of aura. The main theory points to a temporary electrical “wave” in the brain that affects its activity and blood supply.
Historical events on this day
1492 — Spanish King Ferdinand declared that the property of Spanish Jews belonged to the crown. This decision became part of Spain’s repressive policy towards the Jewish community after the expulsion of the Jews from the country.
1793 — the city commune of Paris closed all churches. This event was associated with anti-religious politics during the French Revolution.
1852 — the first mailboxes were introduced in England. This was an important step in the development of the communication infrastructure.
1877 — The USA paid Canada $5.5 million for the eternal right of fishing and navigation on the St. Lawrence River. This agreement was of strategic importance for both countries.
1906 — the German physicist Ferdinand Braun discovered the phenomenon of unipolar conductivity of crystals, which later became the basis for the development of semiconductor technologies.
1918 — in Berlin, sailors seized the chancellor’s residence and arrested Friedrich Ebert. The event became part of the revolutionary movement in Germany after the First World War.
1921 — US President Warren Harding forbade doctors to prescribe beer as a medicine to patients, which closed the loophole for bypassing the “dry law”.
1923 — the American Jacob Schick patented an electric shaver, which revolutionized the field of personal hygiene.
1923 — the Communist Party was banned in Germany. This was part of a policy aimed at weakening radical movements in the Weimar Republic.
1936 — the first issue of the magazine was published in the USA Life. The publication quickly became popular thanks to its innovative photojournalism.
1953 — the Queen of Great Britain Elizabeth II and her husband went on a trip to the countries of the Commonwealth, which lasted until May 15, 1954.
1961 — a De Havilland Comet 4 passenger plane of the Argentine airline Aerolíneas Argentinas crashed near Campinas (Brazil) shortly after takeoff. 52 people died.
1962 — the Il-18D aircraft of the Hungarian company Malev Airlines crashed during the landing approach at Le Bourget airport (France). 21 people died.
1962 — the Vickers 745D Viscount airliner of the American airline United Air Lines fell to the ground during a flight from Newark to Washington. 17 people died.
1963 — the premiere of the TV series “Doctor Who” took place in Great Britain, which later became one of the longest-running and cult TV projects.
1964 — Boeing B-707-331 of the American company Trans World Airlines crashed during takeoff. Of the 73 people on board, 51 died.
1964 — the English Catholic Church used Latin for the last time during the liturgy, after which it switched to the vernacular.
1976 — the plane NAMC YS-11A-500 of the Greek company Olympic Airways crashed in a mountainous area. 50 people died.
1980 — a series of powerful earthquakes in southern Italy killed more than 4,800 people.
1981 — in China, private business was allowed, which was one of the country’s first steps towards reforms and the opening of the economy.
1991 – singer Freddie Mercury officially confirmed that he has AIDS. The next day he died.
1993 — Moldova introduced the national currency — lei.
1996 — an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767 plane seized by terrorists crashed near the Comoros Islands. 125 people died out of 175 on board.
1996 — the first Russian-Chechen war officially ended. Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree on the withdrawal of 6,000 troops from Chechnya.
2003 — as a result of the Rose Revolution in Georgia, President Eduard Shevarnadze resigned.
2022 — during the war in Ukraine, the Russian military launched a massive missile attack, firing more than 70 missiles at Ukrainian cities. Energy infrastructure facilities were damaged, which caused a large-scale blackout in the country.
November 23, 2004: symbolic oath of Viktor Yushchenko
This day went down in the history of Ukraine as one of the brightest and at the same time controversial events of the Orange Revolution period. On November 23, 2004, after the closing of an extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada, presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko symbolically took an oath of loyalty to the people of Ukraine in the session hall.
The event took place in conditions where the leadership of the parliament and part of the deputies left the hall. Yushchenko read the text of the presidential oath, keeping his hand on the Bible. After that, the present deputies and guests sang the national anthem of Ukraine.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Lytvyn, commenting on the situation, said: “There was no inauguration, it was street democracy.”
After taking the oath, Viktor Yushchenko and his supporters went to Independence Square. There he publicly declared himself the president of Ukraine. The situation became even more tense when a crowd of his supporters tried to break into the parliament building.
On the same day, Yulia Tymoshenko, one of the key figures of the Orange Revolution, made a loud statement: “From this day Viktor Yushchenko begins to perform the duties of the President of Ukraine.”
She called on supporters to “seize power” and refuse any negotiations with political opponents.
Later, this event was called a political and psychological act of pressure designed to strengthen Yushchenko’s position and mobilize his supporters against the background of falsification of the results of the second round of the presidential elections. However, this step was a reflection of the then political crisis and social division. And although it was rather symbolic in nature, for many Ukrainians this event remained one of the symbols of the struggle for justice and democratic choice.
November 23, 1981: Private business allowed in China
November 23, 1981 became a historic date for China. It was on this day that the authorities officially allowed the existence of private business, which marked the beginning of deep economic reforms that fundamentally changed not only China, but also the global economy.
By this time, the private sector in China was virtually destroyed. By 1952, 83% of the economy was under state management, and by 1958, private enterprises had ceased to exist altogether. 94% of agriculture was collectivized, and the rest of the economy became state or mixed (public-private). All this led to stagnation, famine and economic collapse.
The reforms, which began in 1981, allowed for private enterprise as a complement to the socialist economy. This decision became revolutionary and opened a new page in the history of China. The state not only controlled and regulated the private sector, but also began to protect its rights.
A key factor in the success of the reforms was the introduction of the concept of private property and its protection. In China, even the smallest owner received the right to legal support for his assets, which increased confidence in the system. In addition, in 2007, a law was passed that officially guaranteed the rights of private owners. Although the land remained the property of the state, other assets of entrepreneurs received legal protection.
These reforms had a deep ideological impact. In 2002, the Communist Party of China adopted the concept of the “Three Representations”, which included workers, peasants and entrepreneurs. This allowed businessmen to join the ranks of the party, which was evidence of a radical change in the attitude towards entrepreneurship.
The results of the reforms exceeded all expectations. China, which for centuries suffered from mass hunger and poverty, in less than a decade turned into the “factory of the world”, supplying international markets with affordable goods. Economic reforms also helped lift millions of people out of poverty and gave impetus to the formation of the middle class.
However, the state retained control over key sectors of the economy — up to 35% of the economy remains state-owned. These industries (resources, energy) ensure strategic stability, influence on prices and loyalty of the population to the Communist Party.
The Chinese model, which combines capitalism with a socialist system, has become a unique example of economic success. She proves that even in difficult conditions, with a clear plan and professional execution, it is possible to achieve outstanding results.
