Walpurgis Night, Border Guard Day: what else is celebrated on April 30
Kyiv • UNN
April 30 is Walpurgis Night with pagan roots, Border Guard Day, International Noise Awareness Day, and other events. The memory of the Holy Apostle James is honored.
Today, April 30, Walpurgis Night begins - a holiday that has pagan roots and symbolizes spring renewal, the fight against evil spirits and the coming of light, writes UNN.
Walpurgis Night
Walpurgis Night is celebrated on the night of April 30 to May 1, and has deep roots in European folk traditions and pagan rites.
The holiday is named after Saint Walpurgis, who is considered the protector against dark forces. In the Middle Ages, she was associated with magic and the protector against evil forces.
Usually this holiday is accompanied by various rituals. This includes lighting large bonfires, dancing, singing and various rituals that symbolize purification, restoration of the power of nature and the victory of light over darkness. People believe that magical forces are strongest at this time, and that fire helps to ward off evil spirits.
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Border Guard Day
Border Guard Day in Ukraine is celebrated annually on April 30. On this day, we thank those who defend the state border, ensuring the security of the country.
Also, this holiday is not only an opportunity to thank current servicemen, but also to honor the memory of border guards who died or were wounded in the line of duty.
Today, in the time of a full-scale war, this profession is becoming even more important, because it is the border guards who are the first to meet the enemy and the last to leave the captured territory.
International Noise Awareness Day
The International Noise Awareness Day is celebrated on the last Wednesday of April. The main goal of this holiday is to draw attention to the harm that noise causes to our health, in particular to mental health and hearing.
This day was established in 1996 in New York, at the Center for Hearing and Communication. Since then, it has been celebrated annually in many countries, calling for a reduction in the level of noise in the environment.
This is especially true for residents of large cities, where background noise has long become the norm, and silence is a rare phenomenon.
World Stationery Day
Also, on the last Wednesday of April, the world celebrates World Stationery Day, the purpose of which is to remind us of the role that stationery plays in our daily lives.
This holiday was established in 2012, and it gives people the opportunity to re-evaluate the beauty and functionality of paper, pens, notebooks and other stationery, as well as to feel the pleasure of writing text by hand.
World Day of Mobility and Accessibility
April 30 marks the World Day of Mobility and Accessibility. And although the event is not officially established, it draws attention to important topics - ensuring equal access, supporting people with disabilities and creating a barrier-free environment.
The Day is intended to encourage authorities, businesses and communities to work towards creating an inclusive environment where everyone can live with dignity, regardless of their physical or sensory limitations.
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Jeans Day
Another holiday that is celebrated on the last Wednesday of April, and this year fell on April 30 - Jeans Day. This day is a symbol of protest against stereotypes that justify sexual violence.
The holiday dates back to 1998, when a court in Italy acquitted a man accused of raping an 18-year-old girl. The judges decided that because the girl was wearing tight jeans, which are supposedly difficult to remove without help, it means that the girl agreed to sexual intercourse. This outraged the public, and women in Italy, and later in other countries, began to go to work in jeans as a sign of solidarity with victims of violence. Since then, Jeans Day has become a global initiative that calls for combating sexual violence.
Commemoration of the Holy Apostle James, brother of St. John the Theologian
On April 30, according to the new church calendar, Orthodox believers commemorate the Apostle James Zebedee, brother of St. John the Theologian.
Together with his brother John, he was a fisherman until Christ called him to become a "fisher of men" - to preach the Gospel. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, James actively carried the word of God. His preaching activity provoked resistance from the Jewish leaders, and he was later executed by order of King Herod Agrippa. Before his execution, the Apostle James remained faithful to Christ, and one of his informants, repenting, accepted the faith and was executed with him.
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