September 4: holidays and events on this day

On September 4, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Customs Brokers, as well as World Taekwondo Day and World Sexual Health Day.
On September 4, 1991, a blue-yellow flag was raised over the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine instead of a red-blue one. On September 4, 1928, a new Ukrainian orthography, known as the “Kharkiv orthography”, was officially approved. On September 4, 1882, Thomas Alva Edison launched the world’s first commercial electric light.
Day of customs brokers
This is a professional holiday of people who are engaged in customs clearance of goods, goods and services for their legal transfer across the borders of countries. Customs brokers are an important part of international trade, ensuring compliance with all customs rules and laws, preventing violations and facilitating the proper movement of goods around the world.
Interesting facts
Customs brokers as a professional community appeared in Europe in the 19th century, when international trade began to develop actively. At first, customs services were performed by exporters and importers themselves, but later there was a need for specialists who would specifically deal with these processes.
Every year, customs brokers around the world help process a huge number of transactions worth billions of dollars. Their work includes not only the preparation of documents, but also consulting on issues of taxes, tariffs, customs regulations and requirements for goods.
With the development of technology, customs clearance has become much faster thanks to automated data processing systems. Modern brokers work with electronic customs declarations, which reduces the time spent on paper bureaucracy.
In order to become a customs broker, in many countries it is necessary to undergo special training and pass an exam. In addition, the profession requires knowledge in the field of international law, customs procedures and trade.
Customs brokers not only facilitate trade, but also help countries in the fight against smuggling, illegal movement of goods and evasion of customs payments, thereby ensuring the economic security of the country.
World Taekwondo Day
World Taekwondo Day is a holiday dedicated to the popularization of this Korean martial art. Taekwondo is not only an effective form of self-defense, but also teaches discipline, endurance and respect for others.
Interesting facts
World Taekwondo Day was established in 2006 by the World Taekwondo Federation (World Taekwondo) to mark the anniversary of the sport’s inclusion in the Olympic program at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Taekwondo has thousand-year roots dating back to ancient Korean military traditions. The name “taekwondo” means “the way of the foot and the fist”, which emphasizes the importance of using kicks and punches in this art.
Taekwondo became an official Olympic sport in 2000, greatly increasing its popularity on the world stage. The first Olympic taekwondo competition was held in Sydney, and the sport continues to be part of the Olympics.
One of the key aspects of this martial art is not only physical training, but also moral and spiritual education. Students are taught the principles of honesty, self-improvement, self-control, and respect for others.
Today, Taekwondo is practiced by millions of people in more than 200 countries of the world. This sport unites people of all ages, genders and nationalities, promoting peace and understanding through training and competition.
Taekwondo is one of the most popular types of martial arts among children and young people. Due to its dynamics, acrobatic movements and discipline, it is considered a great way to develop physical fitness and self-confidence.
World Sexual Health Day
World Sexual Health Day is an event that draws attention to the importance of sexual health as a component of overall human well-being. The day is aimed at raising awareness of sexual rights, providing access to information and support from health professionals.
Interesting facts
World Sexual Health Day was launched in 2010 by the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS). The main goal of this day is to emphasize the importance of sexual health in the life of each person and society in general.
Sexual health encompasses not only physical well-being but also emotional, mental and social aspects. Education, protection of rights to freedom and voluntariness in choosing sexual partners, and access to health care services, including disease prevention, are important.
Each year, World Sexual Health Day has a theme that reflects current issues. Topics range from gender equality and the rights of sexual minorities to the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and sex education for teenagers.
Sexuality education is a key aspect of this day. It aims to enable people to make informed decisions about their sexual health, to know their rights and responsibilities, and to prevent the risks associated with unsafe sexual practices.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of people around the world face sexual health problems due to lack of access to quality health care or education. The day aims to draw attention to these challenges and support efforts to address them.
The issue of sexual health also includes the struggle for sexual rights, including the right to privacy, safety and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. World Sexual Health Day is a reminder of the importance of protecting these rights in society.
Historical events on this day
476 year – Fall of the Western Roman Empire
One of the most important events in human history, which took place on September 4, was the fall of the Western Roman Empire. On this day in 476, Odoacer, the leader of Germanic mercenaries in the service of Rome, deposed the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, Romulus Augustulus. This act is traditionally considered a symbol of the end of the Western Roman Empire, which existed for centuries and was one of the most powerful state formations of the ancient world. The fall of Rome marked the beginning of a new era – the Middle Ages, which brought new challenges and changes in political and social structures to Europe.
1282 year – Pedro III became king of Sicily
In 1282, King Pedro III of Aragon officially became King of Sicily. This event took place against the backdrop of the Sicilian Vespers, a popular uprising against French rule that sparked a political struggle for control of Sicily. King Pedro III came to the aid of the rebels, which strengthened the position of the Aragonese crown on the island and set the stage for the long-term dominance of Aragon in the Mediterranean region.
1791 year – Signing of the first constitution of France
On September 4, 1791, Louis XVI signed the first constitution of France. It was a historic step, symbolizing the official transition of France from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. The constitution limited the power of the king and established the principles of equality and human rights that became the basis for the future development of democracy in France and beyond.
1837 year – Invention of the electromechanical telegraph
In 1837, Samuel Morse, a famous American inventor, created an electromechanical telegraph machine to transmit and receive messages using a system of symbols known as Morse code. This invention revolutionized the field of communications, allowing people to transmit information over great distances in a matter of minutes.
1870 year – Proclamation of the Third Republic in France
After the defeat of French troops in the Battle of Sedan and the abdication of Emperor Napoleon III, on September 4, 1870, a significant event took place in Paris – the Third Republic of France was proclaimed. French politicians Jules Favre and Léon Gambetta formed a government of national defense in an attempt to stabilize the country after the military disaster and the fall of the Second Imperial Regime.
1885 year – Opening of the first self-service cafe in the USA
In 1885, the first self-service cafe in the USA was opened in New York. This innovation changed the usual format of customer service, making fast food establishments more accessible and efficient. This approach later became popular all over the world.
1888 year – The invention of the Kodak camera
On September 4, 1888, American inventor George Eastman registered the Kodak trademark and received a patent for a camera that used roll film in cassettes. This event became a revolution in the world of photography, because it made it possible to make the shooting process easier and more accessible to the general population.
1965 year – Protest in Kyiv during the screening of “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”
On September 4, 1965, during the premiere of the film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” by Serhii Paradzhanov, a historic rally against the new political repressions of the Soviet authorities took place in Kyiv. The speech was led by Ukrainian intellectuals, including Ivan Dzyuba, Vasyl Stus and Vyacheslav Chornovil, which marked the beginning of a new stage of the struggle for human rights in Ukraine.
2017 year – Discovery of a medium-mass black hole in the Milky Way
On September 4, 2017, astronomers announced the discovery of a black hole with an average mass of approximately 100,000 solar masses, located in the center of our Milky Way galaxy. This discovery became an important scientific breakthrough, as it allowed a better understanding of the evolution of black holes and their role in the development of galaxies.
Raising the blue-yellow flag over the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
September 4, 1991 became an important date in the history of independent Ukraine, because it was on this day that the blue-yellow flag was officially raised over the dome of the Verkhovna Rada for the first time. It was the last day when the red-blue flag symbolized the former Soviet Ukrainian SSR.
The raising of the blue-yellow flag took place only on the tenth day after the declaration of Ukraine’s independence. The deputies were able to pass the relevant resolution only after several attempts, the third of which became decisive due to the threat of the then Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Leonid Kravchuk, to resign.
At 18:00, Ukrainians gathered near the parliament building witnessed the historic moment when the red and blue flag began to be lowered from the dome of the Verkhovna Rada. However, two flags were raised at the same time – the red-blue Ukrainian SSR and the new blue-yellow one, which caused great indignation among those present. The people were so angry that they almost stormed the parliament building. The protesters demanded the immediate lowering of the Ukrainian SSR flag, and after a conversation with them and the deputies, Leonid Kravchuk ordered the flag to be lowered.
After that, a real celebration began on the square in front of the Verkhovna Rada. People greeted each other, sang “Ukraine is not dead yet!” and made speeches. Deputies, in particular Dmytro Pavlychko, Yaroslav Kendzer and Levko Lukyanenko, were tossed up in the air as heroes of this event.
Two weeks later, the Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada officially gave the blue-yellow flag the status of national, and a few months later, the parliament adopted a resolution on the state flag of Ukraine. This event was an important step on the way to establishing the independence and state symbols of Ukraine.
Approval of “Kharkiv Spelling”
On September 4, 1928, the Council of People’s Commissars of Ukraine officially approved a new Ukrainian orthography, known as the “Kharkiv orthography”. It was the result of a long process of discussion and voting, which took place at the All-Ukrainian Spelling Conference in 1927 in Kharkov, which was the capital of Ukraine at that time. The main goal of the new rules was to create a single Ukrainian spelling that could unite the eastern and western parts of Ukraine, promote the development of the Ukrainian language and cultural unity.
The authors of the new spelling were well-known Ukrainian linguists, including Agafangel Krymskyi, Olena Kurylo and others. The commission also included notable Ukrainian writers and figures, such as Mike Johansen, Serhiy Efremov, Mykola Khvylovy and Mykhailo Yalovy. The process of adopting the spelling was democratic: the project was made public for general discussion, and the conference was attended by representatives of various professions – academics, professors of linguistics and philology, teachers, journalists, writers from all over Ukraine. Even writers from Poland took part in this process.
In 1929, the new spelling was published and implemented in all schools and publishing houses of Ukraine. Even Lviv, which at that time was under Polish control, adopted these rules as a basis.
However, already in the early 1930s, this spelling was recognized as “nationalistic”, and in 1933 it was replaced by a new one, which brought the Ukrainian language closer to Russian. Many authors of “Kharkiv Spelling” became victims of political repression. One of the initiators of spelling, Mykola Skrypnyk, People’s Commissar of Education, committed suicide in July 1933 after accusations of “anti-Soviet activity” began.
Despite the tragic events connected with the fate of “Kharkiv Spelling”, many of its elements remain relevant even today. This spelling is considered one of the most significant reforms of the Ukrainian language in the 20th century.
Thomas Edison turned on the world’s first commercial electric light
September 4, 1882 became an important milestone in the history of mankind and the development of technology. In New York, Thomas Alva Edison launched the world’s first commercial electric lighting, which was a revolutionary achievement at the time. Edison not only created innovative light bulbs, but also ensured the functioning of the entire infrastructure for the electrical system. On this day, the “Pearl Street” power plant on Zhemchuzhnaya Street began supplying electricity to 85 paying customers.
Edison designed a power plant that had to compete with the existing gas lighting system. To make this possible, he developed a unique dynamo machine called “Jumbo” – a 27-ton unit that could produce 100 kilowatts of electricity. This was enough to power 1,200 incandescent bulbs. “Jumbo” was four times more powerful than any existing dynamo machine at that time. Edison installed six such generators, which made it possible to illuminate a square mile of New York, which was a real breakthrough in the city’s lighting system.
In order for electricity to reach its consumers, an extensive network of underground pipes and cables was built, which was also a technical achievement at the time. One of Edison’s biggest challenges was convincing city officials to allow streets to be dug up to lay electrical lines, but he overcame these obstacles.
Despite the technical breakthrough, economic issues remained key. Edison decided not to charge his customers until the entire system was up and running. The first bill for electricity was issued only on January 18, 1883 to the Arizona Copper and Brass Company and amounted to $50.44. However, the power plant remained unprofitable for several years. The total costs of its construction, installation of equipment, laying of underground communications and operating costs were colossal – about $434,500. It was only in 1884 that the Pearl Street Power Station finally became profitable.
The station operated until 1895, when engineers developed more powerful power plants to power larger areas. In honor of this historical object, in 1917, a memorial plaque from the Edison company was installed on one of the walls of the building where the station once stood. One of the dynamo machines created by Edison has survived to this day and is now exhibited in the Henry Ford Museum.
This event marked the beginning of a new era in the use of electricity. Electricity, as Edison said, really became an instrument of power and big finance. However, it is worth remembering the words of Nikola Tesla, who also made a huge contribution to the development of electricity:
“If your hatred could become electricity, the whole world would catch fire.”