November 25 is the Day of the Fight for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the Day of Home Cooking, and this day is also full of interesting historical events.
Day of struggle for elimination of violence against women
Every year on November 25, the international community celebrates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, declared by the UN General Assembly in 1999. This date is a symbol of the fight against gender-based violence and a reminder of the importance of protecting women’s rights around the world.
The date was not chosen by chance. It commemorates the Mirabal sisters, three activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered on November 25, 1960 for their political activities against the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Their tragedy became a symbol of the fight against violence and oppression.
On this day, governments, public organizations, activists and international institutions join forces to raise public awareness of the problem of violence, which can manifest itself in physical, psychological, economic or sexual forms.
The day also kicks off 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which runs until December 10, Human Rights Day. During this campaign, there are numerous actions, flash mobs, exhibitions, seminars that call for action to end violence and support victims.
Interesting facts
The slogan of combating gender-based violence is often associated with the color orange, which symbolizes a bright future without violence.
According to the UN, every third woman in the world is a victim of physical or sexual violence at least once in her life.
In many countries, marches, conferences and educational events are held on this day to draw attention to this social problem.
In the 21st century, actions often cover the topics of cyber-violence, harassment on social networks and the protection of women in the digital space.
More and more men are joining anti-violence campaigns, particularly through movements like HeForShe.
Day of home cooking
It is a holiday dedicated to gastronomic traditions that create an atmosphere of coziness, warmth and family unity. In the modern world, where the fast rhythm of life forces many to eat in cafes or order food, home cooking remains a symbol of sincerity, care and love.
This holiday encourages people to return to the origins of culinary art, to remember the recipes handed down from grandmothers and great-grandmothers, and to enjoy the true taste of dishes prepared with love. Home cooking is not only about food, but also about time spent together discussing recipes, chopping ingredients or sharing cooking secrets.
Interesting facts
Research shows that the smells of home-cooked food can trigger pleasant memories and create a sense of security.
Cooking at home has a therapeutic effect, reducing stress and improving mood.
Family values, stories and customs are often passed down through the home kitchen.
Homemade food is usually healthier and cheaper than restaurant meals or convenience foods.
Famous people born on November 25
Felix Lope de Vega (1562–1635) is a Spanish playwright, poet and novelist, one of the most outstanding representatives of the “golden age” of Spanish literature. He was the author of more than 1,500 plays, of which about 400 have come down to us. His work significantly influenced the development of theater in Europe. The most famous plays are “The Dance Teacher”, “Fuente Ovejuna” and “The Dog in the Hay”.
Lope de Vega is known as the “Phoenix of Spanish genius” for his phenomenal creative output.
His life was full of passions: he served in the navy, was banished from Madrid because of a love scandal, and entered the priesthood at the end of his life.
Charles-Michel Delepy (1712–1789) is a French abbot, pedagogue and humanist, founder of the first school for deaf and mute children in the world, who developed a system of dactyl alphabet (hand alphabet), which became the basis of modern sign language.
Delepi devoted his entire life to the education of hearing-impaired children. His methods enabled the deaf to gain access to education for the first time.
He believed that “the deaf and dumb have the right to communicate and be understood”, which was a revolutionary idea for the 18th century.
Mykola Pirogov (1810–1881) is an outstanding Ukrainian doctor, surgeon, anatomist and teacher, the founder of field surgery. He was the first in the world to apply anesthesia in the field during combat operations, introduced the technique of plaster bandages for the treatment of fractures, and also created an atlas of human anatomy that is used in medical education to this day.
In 1870, he worked as a surgeon in the war, saving the lives of soldiers. Pirogov was also an active teacher and advocated reforms in medicine.
Ivan Nechuy-Levytskyi (1838–1918) is a Ukrainian writer, publicist and translator, a classic of Ukrainian literature, the author of many realistic works depicting the life of a Ukrainian village. His most famous works are “The Kaidash Family”, “Mykola Dzhera” and “Clouds”.
Nechuy-Levytskyi was one of the first to start writing prose in the living Ukrainian language, which made his works close to the people. The writer actively worked on translations of the Bible into Ukrainian, contributing to the spread of national culture.
Historical events on this day
1500 year
Christopher Columbus, while on his third voyage to the New World, was arrested on charges of abuse of power. He and his brothers were sent to Spain in chains, which was a dramatic end to one of the stages of his research activity.
1795 year
The last king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Stanislav II August Poniatowski, abdicated. This event symbolized the final liquidation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as a state after the third partition between Austria, Prussia and Russia.
1905 year
The first issue of the newspaper “Hliborob” was printed in Lubny. It was the first legal Ukrainian-language newspaper in the sub-Russian Ukraine, which was an important step for the development of the Ukrainian language and culture in the conditions of imperial oppression.
1936 year
Germany and Japan concluded the Anti-Comintern Pact, aimed at countering the spread of the influence of the Communist International. This union became an important stage in the formation of military-political blocs before the Second World War.
1992 year
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a resolution on the issuance of privatization property certificates. This step became part of large-scale economic reforms in post-Soviet Ukraine.
2003 year
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law on lowering the minimum wage from 237 ₴ to 205 ₴. This caused a significant public outcry, because the decision affected the financial condition of the least protected sections of the population.
2004 year
At the meeting of the Academic Council of the National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” it was decided to deprive Leonid Kravchuk of the title of honorary doctor. The reason was the wording about “discrediting the image of the academy”.
2018 year
An incident took place in the Kerch Strait, which became the first open case of military aggression by Russia against Ukraine under the Russian national flag since the beginning of the war in 2014. This event sharpened international attention to the conflict between the two countries.
On November 25, 1867, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel patented dynamite.
Its development became revolutionary in many areas — from mining to military equipment. The basis for the creation of dynamite was nitroglycerin, which Nobel, by mixing with diatomite (a porous rock), turned into a safer explosive substance. This greatly simplified and made safer the process of using explosive technologies, especially in construction and mining. Until the middle of the 20th century, dynamite remained the main explosive material until it was replaced by cheaper and safer components.
Immediately after the invention, in 1868, Nobel and his father were awarded the Gold Medal of the Swedish Academy of Sciences for the use of nitroglycerin as an explosive. However, his work caused a mixed reaction in society. Nobel was often criticized for the fact that his inventions were used not only in industry, but also in military conflicts, to mine and destroy fortifications.
This criticism was especially sharp when in 1888 Nobel’s obituary was mistakenly published under the heading: “Blood Millionaire Died.” In the article, he was called a “merchant of explosive death.” This incident deeply affected the inventor and probably influenced his decision to direct his wealth for the benefit of humanity.
By the end of the 19th century, Alfred Nobel was the owner of numerous factories for the production of dynamite, nitroglycerin, ballistite (smokeless gunpowder) and parts for weapons. He was also involved in the oil business. Despite this, Nobel considered himself a pacifist and dreamed that the terrible consequences of the explosions would force humanity to abandon war. In one of his statements, he emphasized: “War is the most terrible crime. I would like to invent a substance or a machine of such destructive power that war would become impossible.”
Nobel bequeathed his considerable wealth to the creation of a prize that would be awarded annually to people who have made the greatest contribution to the development of science, culture and peace. In his will, he stated:
“All my movable and immovable property must be converted into liquid assets, and the proceeds distributed by a fund to reward those who during the year have brought the greatest benefit to humanity.”
In addition to scientific and technical achievements, Nobel was also interested in literature. He wrote dramas and left behind numerous philosophical reflections. Once he declared: “Any democracy leads to the dictatorship of scum”, emphasizing his skeptical views on politics. His ideas about peace, science and humanity continue to inspire the modern world.
Oleksandr Petrovych Dovzhenko died on November 25, 1956
He was an outstanding Ukrainian and Soviet director, screenwriter, actor and teacher, Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR and People’s Artist of the RSFSR. His creativity and contribution to the development of cinema made him one of the brightest artists of the 20th century.
Dovzhenko was born on August 30 (September 11 according to the new style) in 1894 in the village of Vyunytsia, near the town of Sosnytsia in Chernihiv Oblast. He grew up in a poor peasant family, where only two of 14 children survived: Oleksandr and his sister. Since childhood, he showed interest in art, although his life path was not easy. After studying, numerous moves and participation in the Civil War, in 1921–1923 Dovzhenko engaged in the diplomatic service, working in Varna and Berlin. During this time, he studied painting in Munich and the Berlin Art School.
Returning to Kharkiv in 1923, Oleksandr began working as an artist, creating magazine covers, book illustrations, and political cartoons for local newspapers. In 1926, he unexpectedly went to Odessa, where he began to study cinematography. It was here that his career as a director was born, which later brought him world recognition. One of his most famous works was the film “Earth”, which was highly praised in Europe, and UNESCO included it in the top five films of world cinema.
After this success, Dovzhenko worked at the Moscow film studio “Soyuzkino” (later “Mosfilm”). In 1939, after Stalin’s remark about the need to create a “Ukrainian Chapaev”, he shot the film “Schors”, which brought him the Stalin Prize of the first degree in 1941.
During the Second World War, Dovzhenko worked as a war correspondent and managed a front-line film crew while stationed on the South-Western Front with the rank of colonel. His works of this period reflected the fortitude and tragedy of war.
In the post-war years, Dovzhenko taught at VDIK, educating a new generation of cinematographers. At the same time, he worked on projects that remained unrealized due to his death. In 1951, his trip to the construction of the Kakhovskaya HPP deeply impressed the director and inspired him to create the film “Poem about the Sea”. Unfortunately, he did not have time to finish this film – his heart stopped on the night of November 25, 1956. The work on the painting was completed by his wife – Yulia Solntseva.
In 1957, the Kyiv Film Studio of Feature Films was named after Oleksandr Dovzhenko, and in 1972 the Gold Medal named after him “For the best military-patriotic film” was established. Despite the difficulties and poverty that accompanied his life, Dovzhenko left a huge creative legacy, and his name became a symbol of Ukrainian cinema. Whenever the revival of Ukrainian film art is discussed, the promise to breathe new life into the film studio that bears the name of this great master is mentioned.
On November 25, 1992, the Federal Assembly of Slovakia decided to divide the country into two independent states — the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
This decision entered into force on January 1, 1993. Before the adoption of the agreements on the division of the republic in September 1992, a survey of public opinion was conducted regarding the attitude of the population of Czechoslovakia to the division of the country. In Slovakia, 37% of respondents supported the distribution, while 63% were against it. In the Czech Republic, 36% of respondents were “for” and 64% were “against”.
Slovak President Vaclav Havel and Prime Minister Marian Chalfa, who opposed the division of the federation, resigned. Due to the results of the survey, which indicated significant opposition to the partition, it was decided to avoid holding a referendum on this issue.
The process of the division of Slovakia took place peacefully, without serious problems or conflicts. Since then, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have maintained warm friendly relations and cooperated in many areas, especially in matters related to defense and security. This division became an example of peaceful resolution of political differences between nations.
