September 13 is International Chocolate Day, Penicillin’s Birthday, and Barber’s Day.
On September 13, 1440, the trial of one of the most mysterious historical figures began in the episcopal residence, which later became the basis for the famous fairy-tale character – “Bluebeard”.
On September 13, 1902, fingerprints were used for the first time as proof of a criminal’s guilt in Great Britain.
International Chocolate Day
On September 13, connoisseurs of sweets around the world celebrate International Chocolate Day. This is a holiday for everyone who loves this aromatic product, which has conquered millions of people with its multifaceted flavors and useful properties.
Interesting facts
Chocolate comes from Central and South America, where it was actively consumed by the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations. They considered chocolate a divine gift and used it not only as food, but also in ritual ceremonies.
The Aztecs valued cocoa beans so much that they used them as currency. 100 cocoa beans could buy a slave, and a cup of hot chocolate cost only a few beans.
It is known that chocolate stimulates the production of serotonin and endorphins, the so-called hormones of happiness. This makes it one of the most popular mood-boosting products out there.
Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (70% or more) has antioxidant properties. It has a positive effect on the work of the cardiovascular system, improves brain activity and even helps reduce stress.
A house made entirely of chocolate was built in Switzerland. It was the largest chocolate object registered in the Guinness Book of Records.
When the Apollo 11 astronauts went to the moon in 1969, their provisions included chocolate bars. This proves that even in space, people cannot do without this delicacy!
Penicillin’s birthday
On September 13, the world celebrates the birthday of penicillin, one of the most important discoveries in medicine. In 1928, the British bacteriologist Alexander Fleming made a revolutionary discovery – he accidentally discovered the antibiotic properties of the fungus Penicillium notatum, which marked the beginning of the era of antibiotics.
Interesting facts
Fleming did not set out to find a new antibiotic. He was working on the study of bacterial cultures and noticed that one of the petri dishes was infected with mold, but the area around it did not grow bacteria. This was the beginning of his research, which led to the creation of the first antibiotic.
During World War II, penicillin saved thousands of lives by treating infections in wounded soldiers. This was a real breakthrough in medicine, because before that infections were one of the main causes of death on the battlefield.
Although Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, it was not until the 1940s that it began to be mass-produced, thanks to the work of scientists Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chein. They developed methods of purification and scale-up of production, which allowed the antibiotic to be used in clinical practice.
For their discovery, Alexander Fleming, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945.
Penicillin was the first antibiotic to effectively treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, syphilis, and many other previously fatal diseases.
An important caveat: the overuse of penicillin and other antibiotics has led to the problem of bacterial resistance. This means that some strains of bacteria no longer respond to antibiotic treatment, which is a serious threat to the health of modern medicine.
Hairdresser’s day
Every year on September 13, the Day of the hairdresser is celebrated – a holiday of those who can turn an ordinary look into a work of art with the help of scissors, a comb and a hair dryer. This date is a great opportunity to celebrate talented masters who work with hair and create stylish hairstyles that emphasize the individuality of each person.
Interesting facts
The art of hairdressing has a centuries-old history. Even in ancient Egypt, hairdressers were highly respected, and pharaohs’ hairstyles were symbols of status and power.
The first official hairdressing school was founded in France in 1765. Its graduates became innovators in creating complex hairstyles that were very popular at the French court.
In different historical periods, a hairstyle could indicate a person’s social status. For example, in the Middle Ages, noble women wore very elaborate hairstyles, and in the 18th century, powdered wigs were popular among the European aristocracy.
Men’s hairdressing salons, or barbershops, became popular back in the days of Ancient Rome. There, men not only got haircuts, but also discussed politics and social issues.
The “bob” hairstyle, which appeared in the 1920s, became a symbol of women’s emancipation and the changing role of women in society. She embodied independence and courage.
In the world, competitions of hairdressers are regularly held, where they demonstrate their skill in creating the most complex and creative hairstyles. One of the most prestigious competitions is the World Hairdressing Championships.
Historical events on this day
1776 – Founding of the city of Dnipro
The city of Dnipro, currently one of the largest industrial and cultural centers of Ukraine, was founded in 1776. It was originally named Katerynoslav in honor of the Russian empress Catherine II. The city became strategically important for the development of the south of the country due to its location on the Dnipro River and played a significant role in the formation of the region’s economy.
1788 – New York becomes the capital of the USA
In 1788, the city of New York was declared the first capital of the United States of America. This became an important moment in the history of the young state after gaining independence. However, New York retained the status of the capital for only a few years, until 1790, when the capital was moved to Philadelphia, and later to Washington.
1848 – Opening of the Department of Ukrainian Language at Lviv University
In 1848, the first department of the Ukrainian language was created at Lviv University. This became an important step in the development of the Ukrainian language and culture in the conditions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The department played a key role in the preservation and popularization of the Ukrainian language at the academic level and in scientific circles.
1902 – The first case of using fingerprints as evidence in a court of law in Great Britain
In 1902, fingerprints found at the scene of a crime were used as evidence in court for the first time in Great Britain. This case became historic, because it opened a new era in criminology, introducing scientific methods into the investigation of crimes, which significantly improved the accuracy and efficiency of judicial processes.
1960 – Decree of the President of the USA on the installation of a monument to Taras Shevchenko
On September 13, 1960, US President Dwight Eisenhower signed a decree to erect a monument to the outstanding Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko in Washington. This monument has become an important symbol of recognition of Ukrainian culture in the USA and a gathering place for the Ukrainian diaspora.
1982 – DC-10 plane crash at Malaga airport
In 1982, a DC-10 plane crashed at the Spanish airport of Malaga. 50 people died as a result of the accident. This tragedy shook the world aviation community and led to increased security measures at international airports.
1989 – The first cases of AIDS in Ukraine
In 1989, the first cases of AIDS were recorded in Ukraine. The first two patients were young women from Kyiv. This discovery marked the beginning of the fight against the deadly disease in Ukraine and increased public awareness of HIV/AIDS.
1993 – Signing of the agreement between Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat
In 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat, signed a historic agreement on the recognition of Palestinian autonomy. This was one of the first serious steps towards a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
2008 – Terrorist attacks in Delhi, India
In 2008, as a result of a series of terrorist attacks in the capital of India, Delhi, up to 30 people died. The attacks were part of a wave of violence that swept the country during that period and forced the Indian government to rethink its approach to counter-terrorism.
Trial of “Bluebeard”
On September 13, 1440, the trial of one of the most mysterious historical figures began in the episcopal residence, which later became the basis for the famous fairy-tale character – “Bluebeard”. According to the plot of Charles Perrault’s fairy tale, Bluebeard was a rich man with beautiful houses and many fortunes, but his appearance and the mysterious disappearance of his wives were terrifying. In real life, behind this image stands Gilles de Montmorency-Laval, Baron de Re – Marshal of France, alchemist and one of the richest people of his time.
Gilles de Re was born into a noble French family. Orphaned at an early age, his grandfather, Jean de Craon, took care of his upbringing. Already at the age of 14, Gilles gained fame in battles against the British. At the age of 16, his grandfather decided to marry him off, and after several failed attempts, he finally married a cousin who brought him a substantial dowry of around 100,000 livres in gold and real estate. This made Gilles one of the richest men in France, and perhaps in all of Europe.
Gilles de Re also played an important role in the Hundred Years’ War, becoming Joan of Arc’s marshal. He considered himself her personal bodyguard, and after her capture by the Burgundians, he unsuccessfully tried to free her. After the execution of Jeanne, Gilles retired and settled in his estate, where he became interested in alchemy, trying to find the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of youth.
However, his research and practice caused concern in the church. Zhili began to be accused of human sacrifice, black magic, murder of children, sexual crimes and numerous other crimes. The trial was one of the most famous in medieval France. It is interesting that at the beginning Gilles denied all accusations and even offered to go through an ordeal – a trial by fire to prove his innocence. However, the court decided to use torture, and under their pressure Gilles confessed to all the charges.
After that, he was promised that if he pleaded guilty, his excommunication would be lifted. On October 26, 1440, Gilles de Re was executed by hanging, and his body was burned along with the bodies of his accomplices. His vast fortune went to the church, which was probably one of the reasons for the trial.
Gilles received the famous nickname “Blue Beard” because of his thick black mustache and beard, which had a bluish tint. However, the legends about his terrible crimes were probably invented by his enemies. In 1992, there was even an attempt to rehabilitate Gilles. Some historians believe that his trial was politically motivated and lacked reliable evidence. In particular, it is claimed that Gilles fell victim to the intrigues of the Duke of Breton, who wanted to take over his estates.
The irony is that it was this court that led to the development of the judicial system, the inquisitorial procedure and the emergence of the role of lawyers and prosecutors in the courts. At that time, judges acted as witnesses, but the main judge was considered to be God, who allegedly indicated the guilt or innocence of the defendants through signs.
Nowadays, Gilles de Re has been rehabilitated, and his story continues to arouse the interest of researchers, reminding us of the complex and ambiguous pages of the past.
First use of fingerprints
On September 13, 1902, a significant event in the history of criminology took place in Great Britain – for the first time, fingerprints were used as evidence of a criminal’s guilt. This case became historic thanks to the Englishman Harry Jackson, who was accused of stealing… billiard balls. During the investigation, the investigator compared fingerprints found at the crime scene with fingerprints from the archives of known criminals. After a match was found, Jackson was arrested. The prosecutor managed to convince conservative English judges and a skeptical jury of the reliability of fingerprints as evidence of guilt. Until this moment, fingerprinting was used exclusively for the identification of a person, but not for proving a crime.
The main idea of the method, which is based on the hypothesis of the invariance of the papillary skin pattern on the palms of a person, was proposed by the Englishman William James Herschel back in 1877. Herschel claimed that fingerprints are unique and unchanging throughout life.
However, despite the fact that dactyloscopy has been actively used in law enforcement for more than a century, there is an opinion that the statement about 100% accuracy of this method does not have sufficient scientific justification. The accuracy of fingerprint identification is estimated to be around 98%, which means that one in 50 cases based on fingerprint identification could be wrong. In addition, with the development of modern technologies, prints can be easily transferred to any object, which opens up opportunities for tampering with evidence. This is an important point for those seeking to critically evaluate the use of fingerprinting in legal proceedings.
Interesting facts
- Fingerprints begin to form in the womb during the first six months of pregnancy.
- Some people are born without fingerprints, which makes it impossible to identify them using this method.
- Twins have different fingerprints even though they share the same genetic material.
- Some animals also have fingerprints, including monkeys and koalas.
- During the Second World War, more than 70 million fingerprints were collected, which became a strong base for forensics for the future.
This method, although not completely flawless, has become an indispensable tool in the fight against crime, changing the approach to investigating cases around the world.
