Every Day Is Special: Ukraine

Showing posts with label Ukraine. Show all posts

August 23 - Ukrainian Flag Day

Posted on August 23, 2022

This is an update of my post published on August 23, 2011:

Ukraine was one of the nations that had been absorbed into the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. When the USSR collapsed in 1991, Ukraine became independent. The blue-and-yellow flag of earlier times, including a short-lived republic in 1918, was resurrected.

People explain the colors by saying that the blue represents the sky over a yellow wheat field or a field of Ukraine's national flowers - the sunflower. Another explanation is that the yellow represents golden roofs of churches and the blue the river Dniper. More simply, some people say that blue and yellow represent water and fire.

Above, churches in Kiev.
Below, the Dniper.

Other nations with blue-and-yellow flags include Sweden (a yellow Scandinavian cross on a blue field), Palua (a golden full moon on blue sky), and Kazakhstan (a golden sun and eagle on blue sky, plus some more golden decorations on the hoist side).

One of the most important flags in the world is the European Union:

Tomorrow Ukraine will celebrate its independence!

Of course, we cannot talk about Ukraine without AGAIN saying that the horrific invasion by Putin and the Russian military is wholly wrong; Ukraine is wholly innocent; and it must stop!

Like other nations, Ukraine has
beautiful scenery and buildings
- and we hope it will soon be a
peaceful place that Ukrainians
can enjoy again!

Also on this date:

Anniversary of the launch of the World Wide Web

Anniversary of the founding of a town by Jacques Cartier

Flip-flop circuit designer William Eccles's birthday

Zoologist Georges Cuvier's birthday

Anniversary of two remarkable rescues

Black Ribbon Day

The Baltic Way Day

Ride the Wind Day

Birthday of songwriter Malvina Reynolds

Anniversary of the establishment of the State of Franklin (!)

Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest boards for:

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

August 14 - Honey Spas in Russia and Ukraine

Posted on August 14, 2022

This is an update of my post published on August 14, 2011:

As always, since the wrongful invasion of Ukraine by the Russian government under Vladimir Putin in February of this year (2022), I want to emphasize that talking about Russian people and Russian culture is difficult, right now - I stand emphatically with Ukraine! - but many of the Russian people are innocent of wrong doing and as against the war as most of the rest of the world is. Note that one of the many overlaps between Russian and Ukrainian culture is this holiday!!

Traditionally, "Honey Spas" is the day on which Russian people gather honey and have it blessed in the church, and then (of course) enjoy eating the honey!

Why this day? The story goes that on August 14, swallows fly away for the winter. Vacant swallow nests resemble honeycombs, and so this date also marks the beginning of the honey harvest.

It seems to me quite early to be talking about the end of summer, the beginning of fall, and the harvest season. Here in Southern California, it will probably be warm-to-hot until mid-October. Or later! However, much of Russia is at relatively high latitudes and far inland, away from the ocean's temperature-moderating effect.

At any rate, I love a good excuse to eat honey! Here is a recipe website.

Learn how bees make honey with this simple video.

Learn how we harvest the bees' honey with another short video.

Also on this date:

Shop Online for Groceries Day

Anniversary of the start AND finish of a very long, very tall construction project

Anniversary of the Printing of the Oldest Printed Book in the World (?)

National Navajo Code Talkers

Independence Day in Pakistan

Anniversary of Palindrome Day (8-14-18)

V-J Day

Oued Ed-Dehab Day in Morocco

World Calligraphy Day

World Lizard Day

Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest boards for:

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

September holidays
September birthdays
Historical anniversaries in September

June 28 - Constitution Day in Ukraine

Posted on June 28, 2022

This is an update of my post published on June 28, 2011:

What a time to talk about a Ukrainian holiday! And yet - what a time to celebrate the modern democratic constitution of this nation!

Since late February, Ukraine has faced a terrible invasion from its larger (area-wise) neighbor, Russia. Ukraine is utterly innocent of wrongdoing but is still paying the price in deaths, injuries, displacement, and destruction - all because of evil intentions on the part of Russia's leader, Vladimir Putin. You probably already know more about this heartbreaking war than you wish to know...So I will relate happier knowledge about Ukraine.

For decades Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, which was dominated by Russia. Today the Ukrainian language, which is the official language, is supplemented by the Russian, which is also widely known. I wonder if the Russian language has become a lot less used, however, given the terrible atrocities needlessly foisted upon Ukrainians by Russian troops.

Usually concerts and fireworks mark the anniversary of Ukraine's 1998 adoption of its constitution, which made it a semi-presidential republic.

Ukraine is the largest country in Europe (Russia, which is larger in area, lies mostly in Asia).

Ukraine is famous for its Easter eggs, called pysanky, for sunflowers (an important export crop and national symbol), and (unfortunately) for the largest nuclear plant disaster in the world, Chernobyl.

The Ukrainian flag is a yellow field topped by a blue
field. Can you see how this photo of sunflowers and
blue skies echos the Ukrainian flag?

Nowadays, of course, Ukraine is known for its citizens' amazing courage and their courageous comedian/actor-turned-president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukraine has been known for beautiful architecture (seen below). The saddest part of war is, of course, the loss of people, but I'm bleeding for Ukrainians losing structures and infrastructure, as well!