October 26 is celebrated in Ukraine as the Day of the Motorist and Road Worker, the Holiday of Pleasant Surprises and the Day of Mother-in-law and mother-in-law. On this day, Ukraine traditionally switches to winter time.
This day went down in history with numerous important historical events that influenced science, politics, culture, and public life in the world and in Ukraine. It was on this day that ideas were born that later changed the course of history – from the creation of the first universities and telephones to political decisions and the appearance of cult films.
Day of the Motorist and Road Worker
On the last Sunday of October, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Motorist and Road Worker. This holiday was established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk in 1993. The date was chosen to honor everyone involved in the operation, maintenance and repair of vehicles, as well as the construction and maintenance of roads. The day symbolizes the recognition of the importance of road transport as a key element of the economy and everyday life, because the safety and mobility of the country depend on the quality of roads and the professionalism of drivers.
The holiday has both a domestic and professional dimension: it is celebrated by truckers, as well as employees of municipal services, car services, road services, driving school instructors and ordinary drivers. With the development of motor transport, the role of this sector is only growing – Ukraine has over 170 thousand kilometers of roads, thousands of carriers and millions of motorists who ensure the movement of people and goods every day.
Interesting facts
The first paved road in Ukraine was laid between Kyiv and Odessa back in 1926.
In 1891, the first car, brought by a Belgian engineer, appeared in Odessa, and a year later the first automobile competition was held in Kyiv. speed.
The oldest driving school in Ukraine was founded in 1910 in Kharkiv, when the first driver’s licenses were issued.
In Soviet times, Ukraine produced “LAZ” buses, which were exported to over 30 countries around the world, including Cuba, Vietnam, Egypt and Bulgaria.
The longest highway in Ukraine is M-03 Kyiv-Kharkiv-Dovzhansky, its length is over 750 kilometers.
The famous Ukrainian racing driver Ivan Trokhymovych Bondarenko became the first USSR autocross champion in 1963.
Fragments of old Roman roads have still been preserved on Ukrainian roads, in particular near Kamianets-Podilskyi, where a trade route to Europe once passed.
In the 1960s, an experimental electric car was created in Dnipro, which had a range of up to 80 kilometers – one of the first in Europe.
A holiday of pleasant surprises
This day is designed to remind people of the importance of attention and sincere emotions in everyday life. Its idea is to do something unexpectedly good for others – give small gifts, say kind words, support colleagues, friends or even strangers. The holiday has no official founder, but it quickly spread thanks to social networks, because the simple act of giving someone a pleasant surprise has become a universal form of human warmth.
On this day, people often leave notes with wishes, treat colleagues with sweets or perform small good deeds. In many countries, it has become a tradition to give cards or flowers without a signature to create an atmosphere of mystery and joy. Such spontaneous gestures create a positive environment and help remind us that kindness doesn’t always require an occasion – all it takes is a desire to make someone a little happier.
Interesting facts
In Japan, there is a custom of leaving small gifts for colleagues or friends without explaining the reason – this is part of the culture of “omiyage”, which encourages acts of kindness without expecting gratitude.
In the US, a similar idea is supported by the “Random Acts of Kindness” movement, which originated in in the 1980s and inspired the creation of dozens of films and charitable initiatives.
In Ukraine, the tradition of doing unexpected good deeds has ancient roots – on holidays it was customary to leave gifts for neighbors or help strangers on the road.
Psychologists have proven that even a small surprise increases the level of dopamine and oxytocin, which directly affects the feeling of happiness.
In London, one of the pubs holds an annual day of “anonymous treats”, when a visitor can pay for a drink for the next guest without knowing who it will be.
In Australia, there is a charity platform that allows you to make unexpected donations in the name of another person, after which the recipient receives a notification about it as a surprise.
In Italy, there is a tradition of “caffè sospeso” — a person buys two coffees, but leaves one “in limbo” so that anyone who doesn’t have money can get it for free.
In Kyiv, several coffee shops have also adopted this idea, and now anyone can leave the payment for a coffee for a stranger, creating a small pleasant surprise for them.
Mother-In-Law Day
Every year, on the fourth Sunday of October, International Mother-In-Law Day is celebrated. This holiday appeared in the USA in the mid-20th century as a family tradition similar to Mother’s Day, but it is dedicated to women who became part of the family after marriage. The purpose of the day is to express gratitude to mothers-in-law for their love, care and support. In different countries, this day is perceived differently: somewhere it has acquired a humorous tone, and somewhere it is a real family holiday, when a son-in-law or daughter-in-law thank the woman who raised their husband or wife.
The idea of the holiday is to strengthen family ties and overcome stereotypes, because the image of a grumpy mother-in-law or a strict mother-in-law exists only in humorous stories. In reality, these women often play an important role in supporting the family, helping with children, preserving family traditions and passing on life experience. In the modern world, Mother-in-law’s Day becomes an occasion for a kind word, a joint dinner or just a phone call that can make relationships warmer.
Interesting facts
In the USA, this holiday was first celebrated in 1934 in the city of Amarillo, Texas, at the initiative of a local radio host who dedicated a program to his mother-in-law.
In some countries, such as Great Britain, Mother-in-law’s Day is combined with Mother’s Day, and in Italy it is sometimes celebrate with the whole family with a big dinner.
In Ukraine, mothers-in-law are often joked about in folk folklore, but in reality they are the ones who most often help young parents with childcare.
In Korea, there is a tradition when a son-in-law gives his wife’s mother a piece of jewelry or an exquisite tea set as a symbol of respect for her family role.
In Japan, daughters-in-law traditionally visit their husband’s parents with gifts twice a year – during the New Year period and in midsummer during the Obon holiday.
In Polish families there is a saying “Teściowa to druga mama” — “A mother-in-law is a second mother”, which emphasizes respect for older women in the family.
In Ukrainian villages, there was once a tradition of giving an embroidered towel to a mother-in-law for Christmas, and a loaf of bread to a mother-in-law, as a sign of gratitude for raising a wife or husband.
In Canada, on this day, it is popular to send humorous cards of gratitude, which at the same time combine humor and sincerity in communicating with relatives.
The transition to winter time
In Ukraine, the transition to winter time traditionally takes place on the last Sunday in October. At 4:00 a.m., the clocks are set back one hour, giving people an extra hour of sleep. This is done to make more efficient use of daylight during the cold season, when it gets dark earlier. This system was introduced in Soviet times, and after gaining independence, Ukraine preserved it, focusing on European practice.
Despite the obvious benefits in terms of energy saving, discussions continue every year about the advisability of switching to winter and summer time. Some scientists believe that the time change negatively affects human biorhythms, while others emphasize that the benefits of saving electricity outweigh. The European Union decided in 2019 to gradually abandon seasonal clock changes, but the final decision has not yet been implemented, so Ukraine continues to synchronize time with most European countries.
Interesting facts
The idea of changing the clocks was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, when he wrote about saving candles through better use of daylight.
The transition to summer and winter time was first introduced in practice in Germany and In Austria-Hungary in 1916 during World War I.
In Ukraine, seasonal clock changes were officially introduced in 1981, still within the USSR.
Some countries, including Japan, China, and South Korea, have never introduced the change to a different time, considering it an unnecessary interference with natural rhythms.
In the USA, the change to winter time does not occur simultaneously in all states – for example, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not change clocks at all.
According to experts, in the first days after the clock change, there is an increase in the number of road accidents due to sleep disturbances.
In 2011, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine decided to cancel the switch to winter time, but a few weeks later it was restored due to mass appeals from citizens and the need to coordinate with the international schedule.
On the railway, the switch to another time is taken into account in advance – all schedules are automatically adjusted to avoid confusion in the departure and arrival of trains.
Historical events on this day
1636 — Harvard College was founded in the United States, becoming the country’s first higher education institution. Already in the early 19th century, it became Harvard University, one of the most famous in the world, which educated dozens of Nobel laureates and US presidents.
1810 — The United States annexed West Florida, which had previously belonged to Spain. This event was another step towards expanding the US territory to the south and strengthening its presence in the Gulf of Mexico region.
1861 — German physicist and inventor Philipp Reiss presented a device in Frankfurt am Main that he called the telephone. His device could transmit sounds over a distance, becoming a prototype for Alexander Bell’s future telephones.
1863 — The International Red Cross was founded in Geneva, a humanitarian organization that provides assistance to victims of wars and natural disasters. This date is considered the beginning of the formation of modern international humanitarian law.
1863 — The English Football Association was founded in London, which developed the first official rules of football. It laid the foundation for the modern game, which is enjoyed by billions of people around the world.
1900 — The first subway line, about 15 kilometers long, opened in New York, marking the beginning of one of the most extensive underground transport systems in the world. It immediately revolutionized urban transportation.
1905 — Sweden and Norway officially broke off their union, which had lasted for over 90 years. The two countries parted peacefully, and this process became an example of a civilized resolution of political disputes in Europe.
1938 — DuPont created a new synthetic material — nylon, which quickly conquered the world due to its strength, lightness and flexibility. It began to be used in the production of clothing, parachutes and ropes.
1938 — Augustyn Voloshyn became Prime Minister of the autonomous government of Subcarpathian Rus’, which was part of Czechoslovakia. His activities laid the foundation for the future state aspirations of Transcarpathia.
1939 — the so-called “People’s Assembly of Western Ukraine” took place in Lviv, which, under pressure from the Soviet authorities, adopted a decision to join the Ukrainian SSR, nationalize industry and land. This was the beginning of the Sovietization of the region.
1944 — in Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, American troops inflicted a decisive defeat on the Japanese fleet. This battle became one of the largest naval operations of World War II.
1962 — Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and US President John F. Kennedy agreed to end the Cuban Missile Crisis. Soviet ships returned from Cuba, and the world avoided a nuclear conflict.
1984 — The premiere of the film “Terminator” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger took place in the United States. The film became a cult classic, launched a film series and changed the approach to the science fiction genre.
2012 — the first celebration of Self-Love Day took place, which is designed to remind people of the importance of taking care of their own emotional state and self-esteem.
2014 — Ukraine held parliamentary elections, the first since the Revolution of Dignity. They determined the country’s political course towards European integration and further reforms.
