What holiday is December 31st to January 1st. The history of this holiday in other countries is no less interesting.

Where did this date come from to celebrate the new year in winter? Everyone's favorite holiday New Year has a very intricate history, the beginning of which leads to a deep past.

As you and I know, the countdown new Year starts winter overnight from January 1st to December 31st. But why exactly this date, and not another and why in winter when everything is frozen and everything is asleep?

For the first time, the Romans began to celebrate the New Year during the reign of Emperor Julius Caesar, who also set the New Year's date for January 1. And since then it has gone on and on.

After the Romans, the Europeans began to celebrate the new year, and after that it became widespread in Rus'.

Previously, our ancestors were Slavs noted two holidays: the first at the end of winter and at the beginning of spring, which was similar to the current Maslenitsa, the second holiday was celebrated at the end of December after the winter solstice. People gathered and sacrificed to their gods. An evil old man with a beard, with a large bag, went from house to house, and collected donations from citizens, similar to the current Santa Claus.

After the Baptism of Rus' under the influence of the Byzantines New Year in Rus' noted September 1, which was timed to coincide with the harvest. It was an amazing idea, since it was easier for the evil old man with the sack to collect taxes immediately after the new harvest.

But then Peter 1 came to power and in 1699 issued a decree stating that New Year will be celebrated in Rus' in the winter on the night of December 31 to January 1.

The tree came to us from Germany with the wife of Emperor Nicholas I, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, who was German.

An angry old man with a big bag turned into Santa Claus, who did not collect taxes, but distributed gifts to all children and those who wished.

In 1929, the Soviet Union announced the abolition of the New Year. And only in 1935 the holiday New Year was returned. From the beginning to children and then to adults, for the inhabitants of the Soviet Union, the New Year was celebrated in the winter on the night of December 31 to January 1.

Since then, in our days, the celebration of the New Year has become a tradition and one of the favorite holidays of the Russians.

Are we right now celebrating new year in winter on the night of December 31 to January 1?

After all, the New Year in Rus' has been celebrated for centuries on March 1, on the day of the vernal equinox. Everything wakes up after hibernation, everything around comes to life, birds fly from distant lands. Winter is a symbol of death and the end of the year, only spring can be a symbol of life, revival and beginning.

It would be logical to celebrate the new year on the day of the spring equinox. When the sun, having completed its cycle of circulation, goes to a new circle, and everything starts anew.

Many peoples of the world celebrate the New Year correctly, in the month of March, they call it Navruz. These are countries like Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and others. And we Slavs have lost our roots. Any astronomer will tell you that celebrate new year in winter on the night of December 31st to January 1st wrong. This date has nothing to do with the New Year. So think and reflect whether we are celebrating the new year in the middle of winter correctly.

On December 31, Russians celebrate the New Year.
December 31 is the last day of the outgoing year. On this day, all people prepare for the holiday. Decorate Christmas trees, prepare a festive table. The children are especially looking forward to this holiday, which, before the New Year, is waiting for Santa Claus with gifts.
Everyone believes that on the night of December 31 to January 1, miracles happen, wishes come true. On this holiday, we are surrounded by the closest people, and New Year's greetings are heard. What congratulations on the New Year we hear depends on how our fate will develop in the coming year. After all, if you sincerely wish a person happiness, it will definitely happen. Therefore, you need to take great responsibility in the choice of congratulations on the New Year. It is important that New Year's greetings are original, addressed to a specific person. Each person dreams of something about his own, strives for his goal. And if your congratulations on the New Year consist of banal wishes of “good luck and health”, no one will believe in your sincerity. To avoid this, order the New Year's greetings text to professionals. We will compose New Year greetings that will change the lives of your family and friends for the better!
The most beloved holiday in all countries, where it is celebrated in different ways, is the New Year.
The tradition of celebrating the New Year originated in the third millennium of our era, when at the end of March the water in the Tigris and Euphrates arrived, after which agricultural work began. For 12 days, this event was celebrated with carnivals and masquerades, and on these days any work and courts were prohibited. While in Babylonian captivity, the Jews borrowed the tradition of celebrating the New Year. From them, this tradition passed to the Greeks, and from the Greeks to Western Europe.
After the introduction of a new calendar by Julius Caesar - the New Year began to count from January 1st. From this auspicious day, the Romans began all their major events, bringing sacrifices to their god Janus.
In the last minutes of the outgoing year, all Russians gather in front of the "blue screens" of their televisions to listen to the President with a congratulatory speech. With the last blows of chimes and various fireworks, the long-awaited New Year is coming.

Saint Sylvester's Day.

On the eve of the New Year on December 31, in many Catholic countries, in particular in European countries, St. Sylvester's Day is celebrated. Thanks to the efforts of all, the holiday becomes bigger, more fun and colorful every year. On this day, everyone has fun, jokes, eats a lot, drinks and waits for the coming of the New Year.
What is the history of this holiday? According to legend, in 314 AD, Pope Sylvester caught a terrible monster - the monstrous Old Testament serpent Leviathan. It was believed that in the year 1000 this monster would break free and destroy the world. To everyone's joy, this did not happen - Sylvester defeated the snake and did not give people offense.
Sylvester died on the eve of the new year 336, December 31. The day of his death is revered as the day of Saint Sylvester.
Since then, on December 31, people dress up in fancy dress and call themselves Sylvester Clauses. And in some countries, the tradition has been preserved to call the last day of the outgoing year "Sylvester". Therefore, the question “Where will you go to Sylvester?”, which can be heard in many countries on New Year's Eve, means “Where will you celebrate the New Year?”

Events December 31st.

1600 - British East India Company established.
1621 - Mikulovsky (Nikolsburg) peace between the Transylvanian prince Gabor Bethlen and Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg.
1741 - the grenadier company of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, with the assistance of which Empress Elizaveta Petrovna was enthroned, received the name of the Life Campaign with a special uniform and banner.
1774 - completion of the trial of the participants in the Pugachev uprising. The death sentence was passed on Emelyan Pugachev, Maxim Shigaev and others.
1799 - The final termination of the privileges of the East India Company.
1825 - before the formation of the rebellious soldiers of the Chernigov regiment, the revolutionary proclamation "Orthodox Catechism" written by Muravyov-Apostol and M.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin was read, calling for an armed uprising against autocracy, serfdom and recruitment.
1877 - During the Russian-Turkish war, Russian troops under the command of Joseph Gurko defeat the Turks at Tashkisen.
1888 - the founding congress of the Austrian Social Democratic Party opened.
1898 - the first long-distance telephone line Moscow - St. Petersburg was opened.
1899 - the beginning of the ephemeris time (year).
1907 - the end of the trial of those who signed the Vyborg Appeal.
1917 - new Iskolat (actually the first Soviet government of Latvia) was elected at the Congress of Soviets of Latvia and Valmiera.
1917 - Soviet power is established in Rostov.
1917 - Decree of the Council of People's Commissars recognizing the state independence of Finland.
1917 - by decree of the Council of People's Commissars, the offices of the State Duma and the Provisional Committee were abolished.
1918 - The German army left Vilnius.
1918 - The Rote Fahne newspaper becomes the central organ of the German Communist Party.
1918 - Soviet troops occupied Ufa.
1919 - during the Donbass operation, units of the 6th Cavalry Division of the Red Army defeated the Markov Infantry Division in the Alekseev-Leonovo region. The Bolsheviks take control of the Donbass.
1919 - Soviet power is restored in Makeevka.
1926 - The Latin Monetary Union officially ceased to exist.
1935 - the first electric train left the Baltic Station for Krasnoe Selo.
1941 - The city of Belev was liberated.
1942 - the first issue of the Bulgarian newspaper Otechestven Front.
1942 - the troops of the Stalingrad Front completely defeated the 4th Romanian army and inflicted a heavy defeat on the 4th German tank army.
1943 - the first meeting of the Craiova Rada Narodova, the provisional parliament of Poland.
1943 - liberation of Zhitomir.
1944 - Craiova Rada Narodova adopts a decree on the transformation of the Polish Committee of National Liberation into the Provisional Government of the Polish Republic.
1944 - Montenegro is liberated.
1945 - AMGOT handed over to the Italian authorities the last areas of Italy under its control, effectively ceasing to exist.
1946 - completion of the evacuation of British and French troops from Lebanon.
1952 - Protocol on the gratuitous transfer by the Soviet government to the government of the PRC of all rights to jointly manage the CChRW with all its property.
1960 - trolleybus traffic was opened in Volgograd.
1963 - Dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
1965 - Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai were awarded the Order of Lenin.
1966 - 8 magnitude earthquake in the British Santa Cruz Islands in Oceania.
1968 - the termination of the activities of the United Socialist Party of Iceland in connection with its entry into the electoral bloc "People's Union".
1968 - the world's first flight of the Tu-144 supersonic passenger aircraft.
1970 - The Kemerovo region was awarded the Order of Lenin for the second time.
1975 - in the coastal part of the Filchner Ice Shelf in West Antarctica, a seasonal scientific station and expeditionary base Druzhnaya was opened.
1994 - First Chechen War: Russian troops storm Grozny.
1999 - Boris Yeltsin resigns as president of the Russian Federation. Vladimir Putin has been appointed acting president.

Happy New Year everyone!

Finally the long-awaited day has come. All the people are bustling about and getting ready for the celebration. Someone cooks at home, others run for gifts. Only now it is worth paying attention that in addition to the New Year there are other celebrations.

What events do we celebrate on December 31

Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis around the World

Every year on December 31 in this country they spend with chores. After all, there is not only the New Year on the nose, but also the day of solidarity. Such a celebration is celebrated not only in Azerbaijan, but also in other countries of the world where there are Azerbaijani diasporas. Such a first time was announced in 1991 on 16 December. Then it was proclaimed by the leader of the country Heydar Aliyev.

As the President of the country noted, the main idea of the Day of National Solidarity is the unity and solidarity of local residents. Here they show respect for the national and spiritual values of the people, as well as ideas and feelings associated with belonging to the Azerbaijani people.

Day of workers of the customs service of Kyrgyzstan

The day of customs service workers is held in the republic every year. This holiday was established in 2006 on February 15th. To date, the State Customs Inspectorate under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic has been reorganized into the State Customs Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Such a committee plays an important role in the formation of new market relations, as well as in protecting the economic sovereignty and economic security of the country. The Customs Union protects the rights of citizens and business entities.

What other celebrations take place on December 31st?

Saint Sylvester's Day

On December 31, on New Year's Eve, many Catholic countries celebrate St. Sylvester's Day. The holiday, thanks to the efforts of all, every year becomes larger, more colorful and more fun. On this day, people like to joke, eat a lot and have fun. After all, the New Year is coming soon. The history of the holiday begins with the legend of 314.

In this year, Pope Sylvester I caught a terrible monster - the monstrous Old Testament serpent Leviathan. It was believed that such a monster in the year 1000 could break free and destroy the whole world. But this did not happen, because Sylvester defeated the snake. On New Year's Eve 336, Sylvester died. Since then, people have been fond of dressing up in fancy dress and calling themselves Sylvester Clauses.

Hogmanay

If you do not know what Hogmanay is, then this is the same New Year, only in the Scottish style. This large-scale event includes all kinds of fiery entertainment. This includes parties, performances and attractions.

The biggest and most significant events take place on the streets of Edinburgh and Glasgow. This holiday is also very ancient. It was also celebrated by the pagans. On this day they worshiped fire and the sun. The Vikings had something similar, their holiday was also associated with the solstice. Locals believe that if a fire is lit on the evening of December 31, it will give them wisdom from the old year to the new one. This method is also effective in order to end your black hardships and thoughts from the past.

Other elements of national color are also dances. One of them is called Kylie. The essence of this dance is a sign of the first night. The essence of the sign is that the prosperity of seven depends on the first guest who comes to the house.

twelfth Night

Yule ends on the 12th at night. The twelfth night is the night of the birth of the New Year and the new life cycle. The gates of the worlds are open on the 12th night, and all their inhabitants can come together to celebrate Yule. People consider this day to be the most peaceful time of the year. Then the evil spirits are worthy of respect and salutation.

There is also a belief that the candles in the Yule wreath should burn all night. Burning candles and their light symbolizes happiness in the house and good luck. The next day after 12 at night was the "Day of Destiny". The new sun is again above the horizon and the day is getting longer.

Feast of the Nineteenth Day of the Month of Sharaf

According to the Gregorian calendar, December 31 is considered the month of Sharaf. Translated from Arabic, this word means honor. On such a day is the first day of the month of Sharaf in the nineteen-month Bahá'í calendar.

All the great religions bring up only the good in people. And if there are negative manifestations, then this, as a rule, is due to fanaticism and a misunderstanding of the essence of the teaching. Bahá'u'lláh was the founding prophet of the Bahá'í Faith. And he said that if religion becomes a source of hatred and discord, then it is better to do without it altogether. Religion should only be sources of love and friendship.

Celebrations in the folk calendar on December 31

Modestov day

On the last day of the year, people celebrate the memory of St. Modest. He served as archbishop in Jerusalem in the 7th century. According to the legend, Modest was born in Asia Minor in a Christian family. Modest became the rector of the temple and took tonsure. And when Persian troops attacked Palestine and Syria and destroyed everything, Modest was ordered to manage the entire Jerusalem church.

Saint Modest in Rus' was considered the keeper of cattle. So he was always prayed for protection from death and predatory animals. Men on such a day arranged feasts for brothers. Meat dishes should have been served. Thus, people thanked for caring for the flocks.

Name days of people

Vera, Victor, Vladimir, George, Elizabeth, Zoya, Ivan, Ilya, Mark, Martin, Mikhail, Modest, Nikolai, Sevastyan, Semyon, Sergey, Sophia, Thaddeus, Fedor.

Interesting historical events

1857 - Queen Victoria of England declared Ottawa the capital of a British colony.
1869 - the ruins of the temple of Artemis of Ephesus, one of the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world, were discovered.
1898 - the first international telephone line Peter - Moscow was opened in Russia.
1942 - the defense of the Caucasus during the Great Patriotic War was completed.
1943 - Zhytomyr is finally liberated from the Nazi invaders.
1968 - the world's first supersonic passenger aircraft Tu-144 made a test flight.
1999 - Boris Yeltsin announced the early resignation of the powers of the head of state.

Born on this day

Pierre-Charles de Villeneuve 1763 - French military figure.
Émile Loubet 1838 - French politician and president of the Third Republic in France.
Giovanni Boldini 1842 - Italian painter and portrait painter.
Anatoly Kuznetsov 1930 - Soviet and Russian actor.
Semyon Farada 1933 - Soviet and Russian film and theater actor.
Vincas Bodini 1842 - Italian painter.
Vincas Kudirka 1858 - Lithuanian composer.
Henri Matisse 1869 - French painter.
Elizaveta Zarubina 1900 - Soviet intelligence officer.
Anthony Hopkins 1937 - British and American actor.
Connie Willis 1945 is an American science fiction writer.
Lyudmila Pakhomova 1946 - Soviet figure skater and Olympic champion.
Regina Dubovitskaya 1948 - Russian TV presenter and journalist.

Since then, on December 31, people dress up in fancy dress and call themselves Sylvester Clauses. And in some countries, the tradition has been preserved to call the last day of the outgoing year "Sylvester". Therefore, the question “Where will you go to Sylvester?”, which can be heard in many countries on New Year's Eve, means “Where will you celebrate the New Year?”

Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis around the World

Every year on this day in sunny Azerbaijan they prepare to celebrate not only the New Year, but they also celebrate the Day of National Solidarity of Azerbaijanis who live in different countries of the world. It must be said that this day was proclaimed for the first time on December 16, 1991, introduced by the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, when he was still the chairman of the Supreme Mazhilis of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. After the proclamation, the entire Azerbaijani people adopted it as a national holiday. Several tens of millions of Azerbaijanis live all over the world, not only in their native land, but also in many Muslim countries, CIS countries, Scandinavian countries, France, Great Britain, and the countries of the Middle East. However, the largest diaspora, which numbers approximately two million people, lives in Russia. The main idea of the Day of National Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis, as Aliyev stated, is the unification and solidarity of all Azerbaijanis of the world, wherever they are, and the unification lies in respect for the national and spiritual values of the Azerbaijani people, in attachment to the historical homeland, and an indestructible sense of the idea, pride in the fact that we all belong to the Azerbaijani people.

Shchedrets

The day of December 31, which is celebrated by the inhabitants of the whole world as the last day of the outgoing year, was previously known to everyone under the old name Shchedrets. This day ends the Christmas holidays. Since ancient times in Rus', Christians have loved this holiday very much, there are a great many ancient traditions regarding this day. According to the custom, a table full of dishes was laid in Shchedrets, pork was an obligatory dish on this rich table, people believed that this dish would be a guarantee of a good harvest and well-being for the whole next year. Why pork, because pork meat is fatty and satisfying, this is how people wanted to live the coming year. Before people sat down at the dinner table, they entertained each other with special songs, which the people called - generosity. These songs were also supposed to bring good luck and prosperity. People gathered in small groups, dressed up as devils, witches and animals, and walked around the village, while singing songs and begging their neighbors for various treats or money. Both adults and children took part in this ceremony, absolutely everyone who had such a desire. According to the custom in Shchedrets, groups of people in disguise had to beat the neighbors from house to house and sing schedrovki under the windows; with their songs, the schismatics begged the owners of the house for some food, household trifles or money. The owners of the house, according to tradition, had to deny the generous people, laugh it off. In this case, the mummers sang schedrovki, the text of which contained comic threats. And only after that the owners were obliged to give presents to the mummers. By treating these people, according to legend, the owners ensured good luck for their house for the whole next year. It was considered a great shame and a bad sign if the owners did not treat the mummers, such a host was not only called a stingy person, it was also believed that terrible diseases, various misfortunes would overtake him, and he would have a bad harvest. This is how people walked in the evening with songs, and collected various treats in bags, and when the bags were full, the mummers went to their home, and sat down with their family at the rich table to celebrate this wonderful holiday. Saint Sylvester's Day

On the eve of the New Year, in some Catholic countries, namely in European countries, the population celebrates St. Sylvester's Day. This wonderful holiday from year to year becomes more majestic, more fun and more diverse. On St. Sylvester's Day, all people have fun, joke a lot, eat with pleasure, and everyone is waiting for the New Year to come. What is the history of this holiday? There is a legend that in the year 314 from the Nativity of Christ, Pope Sylvester I caught a terrible monster of an ominous archaic snake, which was called Leviathan. According to legend, in the year 1000, this serpent was supposed to break out and destroy the whole world. Sylvester caught him and saved people from this grief. Such a legend has existed since ancient times and has been passed down by our ancestors from generation to generation. Saint Sylvester went to heaven exactly on December 31, since then the day of his death has been revered as the day of Saint Sylvester. On this holiday, it is customary to dress up in masquerade costumes, dressed up people call themselves Sylvester Clauses. In some countries, by tradition, the last day of the year is called "Sylvester".

Hogmanay

This holiday begins to be celebrated on the last evening of the month of December, and it lasts all night. Hogmanay is considered the same New Year, only in the Scottish national style. The celebration of this day includes a whole torchlight procession, various beautiful fiery entertainments. This day is rich in fun parties, performances and original rides. The most significant Hogmanay events associated with the celebration of this festival take place in Edinburgh and Glasgow. If we talk about the origin of the word Hogmanay, then it is rather doubtful. Some say that it originated from the Gaelic word "oge maidne", the literal translation is "new morning", while other historical sources claim that the source of this holiday originated from an Anglo-Saxon phrase that was written as "Haleg Moneth" and translated as "holy month". However, it does not really matter which version is really true, the only important thing is that this is a very important ancient holiday, it was celebrated even by pagans who worshiped fire and the sun in winter. The main symbol of the Hogmanay holiday is considered to be fire. It was lit when it gets dark on December 31, thanks to the lit fire, the transfer of wisdom from the old bygone year to the coming one is accomplished. It is generally accepted that all the negative thoughts and hardships that were in the past year have come to an end, and people enter the new year with pure hope in their souls. That is why an important role is assigned to the fiery procession and other events that are associated with the fire element. A very important event on this day is the “kaili” dance and the so-called “sign of the first leg”, this sign lies in the prosperity of the very family that the most noble guest enters first. It was considered very important that he must be dark-haired and not have any physical defects on his body.

Feast of the Nineteenth Day of the Month of Sharaf

In accordance with the Gregorian calendar, just on this day they begin to celebrate Sharaf, which means, when translated from Arabic, “Honor”. According to the 19-month Baha'i calendar, this particular day is due to an important holiday called the Nineteenth Day of the month of Sharaf. As you know, all major world religions bring up only positive qualities in people. In the event of negative manifestations, it was believed that fanaticism and a misunderstanding of the very essence of this righteous teaching were to blame. According to historical data, the Prophet Baha'u'll is considered the founder of this holiday, after all, it was he who proposed such a faith as Baha'i. In addition, she declares such a fact that if suddenly a religion has planted discord and hatred, this religion must be abandoned. Because it is religion that should bring people strong friendship and true love.

December 31 in the folk calendar

Modestov day

December 31, this is the last day of the outgoing year, on this day they celebrate the memory of St. Modest, who served as archbishop in Jerusalem in the seventh century. According to historical data, Modest was born into a Christian family in Asia Minor. He was just a boy when he was imbued with an attraction to a hermit life and took the tonsure. After some time, the young man became the abbot of the monastery of St. Theodosius the Great in Palestine. When Persian troops attacked Syria and Palestine, they destroyed Christian churches and captured the Jerusalem Patriarch Zechariah. At that time, Modest was assigned to manage the entire Jerusalem church. Later, Modest restored the destroyed Christian shrines, buried the remains of the murdered people, and Patriarch John the Merciful helped him in this difficult task. However, after about fourteen years, Patriarch Zachary returned from captivity, and Modest transferred back to him all his temporary powers. By the will of fate, the patriarch died, and Modest again took his post.

In ancient Rus', Saint Modest was considered the guardian of cattle, Christians prayed to him that he would protect their pets from death and predatory animals that could attack cattle in droves. According to the old custom, on Modestov's day, men, as usual, tripled bratchina, a kind of collective feast, meat appetizers were an obligatory dish on them. It was believed that in this manner the saint was thanked for taking care of the herds of domestic animals. Women were strictly forbidden to play cards on this day. Christians believed that if women played cards, then in the summer the chickens would peck all the cucumbers and the harvest would be lost. On this day, it was possible to predict the fate of the whole next year. For prediction, a current was used on which bread was threshed. Anyone who wanted to know his share lay down on the current and listened: if something rattled under the questioner, it foreshadowed death, ringing was heard, it means that the wedding will soon be, and if the fortuneteller hears threshing, it means he will be rich.

There was also such a custom: on the evening of December 31, you had to take twelve boxes, pour salt into them, name each box with the name of one of the twelve months, and the next morning people checked the boxes. If in some box the salt has become wet or melted, the month that the box is named will be wet.
It was also believed that the weather in the month of June should be the same as on this holiday.

Historical events December 31

1968 Testing of the world's first passenger supersonic aircraft

The first flight of a unique aircraft took place on December 31, 1968. In 1971, at the international exhibition of aviation technology, in France, the Tu-144 made a number of demonstration flights. With its appearance and aerodynamic capabilities, it pleasantly surprised the guests and organizers of the international review. The supersonic speed of the liner allowed him to overcome the distance in one hour that a conventional plane covered in 2 hours. In addition, for its time, the ship had a rather unusual design and design, which caused admiration and surprise on the part of ordinary people and specialists. However, despite its original external data and amazing aerodynamic capabilities, in practical use, the aircraft turned out to be rather weak in technical terms. The accident that happened in 1973 in Le Bourget serves as a confirmation of the technical imperfection of the aircraft. During the accident, all crew members died, the causes of the plane crash have not yet been clarified. In 1975, the Tu-144 made its first long-range flight on the Moscow-Alma-Ata route, the flight passed without incident. Since 1977, regular passenger flights on this aircraft began to operate on the Moscow-Alma-Ata route. Only two vessels operated on the route. In addition, specially trained pilots were allowed to control the Tu-144, Aeroflot flight personnel were taken on board only as reserve pilots. A ticket for a liner cost more than a regular Tu. Due to imperfect technical characteristics and constantly occurring incidents, the operation of the vessel was called into question. In 1978, another plane crash occurred, which put an end to the Tu-144 passenger career. In the future, the aircraft was used for some time for postal transportation, but was soon decommissioned.

1999 Boris Yeltsin resigned

On New Year's Eve 1999, Russia's first president, Boris Yeltsin, resigned. Power was transferred to the then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. In his body address, Boris Nikolaevich informed the Russians about the serious state of his health and the impossibility of fully fulfilling the duties of the President of the Russian Federation. Boris Yeltsin left the presidency ahead of schedule, which became a precedent in Russian history of the 20th century. For a Russian person, President Yeltsin went down in history as the first president of independent Russia, as a democratic and reformer president. Boris Nikolaevich was distinguished by a peculiar Russian flavor, an open soul and true love for the motherland. In his last speech as head of state, Yeltsin expressed the hope that with the coming to power of young and talented politicians, Russia would receive a new impetus in its development. The President expressed hope that the foreign and domestic policy pursued by him, in general terms, would be preserved by his successor. The President also apologized to the citizens of Russia for the mistakes made and promises not kept. After his resignation, Boris Nikolayevich went on a well-deserved rest, and in April 2000 he was awarded a certificate of a pensioner and labor veteran. Shortly after Yeltsin resigned as head of state, presidential elections were held in the country, which were won by Putin V.V. However, as subsequent events showed, Putin began to pursue a policy of centralization and usurpation of power, which was fundamentally different from the democratic style of government of Boris Yeltsin. The Yeltsin era is a difficult test for the Russian people, which he passed with honor, including thanks to Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin.

1857 Ottawa is the capital of Canada

In 1857, on December 31, Queen Victoria of Great Britain declared the capital of colonial Canada, a small village in the south of the colony - Ottawa. In the past, on the site of the village there was a kind of import, that is, a place for trade, where Indian tribes held fairs. Later, during the colonization of the continent, on the site of Ottawa, a lumberjack village arose, which 40 years later was declared the capital of a new colony. At that distant time, Ottawa was the only settlement that existed in the region of the great American lakes. In 1867, Ottawa became the official capital of the Dominion of Canada. Today, Ottawa is a large city, the fourth largest in the country. Ottawa performs the functions of not only the capital of the state, the city is an important cultural and economic center of the country. The population of Ottawa is approaching one million people. Ottawa is a very green and clean city. In the capital of Canada there is no such thing as the outskirts, because the city, both in the center and on the outskirts, is well-groomed and clean. Neat cottages, tidy streets and manicured lawns, ornate government offices, and a perfectly preserved old town make Ottawa one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A traveler who has visited the capital of Canada at least once will never forget the comfort and beauty of this city.

year 2009 Espoo attack

On December 31, 2009, in one of the shopping centers in the Finnish city of Espoo, a mentally ill native of Albania opened fire indiscriminately at employees and visitors to the shopping center. As a result, several people died, dozens were seriously injured. The terrorist turned out to be an Albanian citizen, Ibrahim Shkupolli. Presumably the reason for this act was a quarrel with his beloved. During the conflict, Ibrahim killed the girl in her house and then went to the mall. Arranging a bloody showdown there, Ibrahim committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. Ibrahim came to Finland to work, he was married at home, but this did not stop him from starting an affair far from his homeland. The investigation also established that the deceased girl worked in the same shopping center where the tragedy occurred. The offender first began to shoot at cars standing near the shopping center, and then broke into the building of the center. After the shooting at the shopping center, Ibrahim went to his brother's house, but the police soon arrived there. Not wanting to surrender to justice, Ibrahim shot himself at 11:13. After such a daring crime, the Finnish government decided to revise the principles of migration policy. It is supposed to toughen the conditions for immigration into the country, and for some countries to limit it altogether.

2007 Elections to the Parliament of Bhutan

On December 31, elections were held for Bhutan's new parliament, the National Council. The number of deputies of the council is not large, only 25 members. Interestingly, the people elect 20 deputies, the remaining 5 are appointed by the king. Elections are held under direct voting conditions in twenty provinces. The number of voters does not exceed 313,000 people. According to the electoral legislation of Bhutan, elections in the province can be held if at least two candidates apply for a parliamentary mandate. In the first election campaign in five provinces, elections were not held, due to the presence of only one candidate, or the complete absence of candidates for a deputy mandate. Elections to the National Council are very different from elections to the National Assembly. Elections to the assembly are held according to party lists, and to the national council according to the majoritarian system. They try to elect people respected by the people, representing the interests of all sectors of society, to the national council. Candidates for the national council must strictly meet two main criteria: not be a member of any political party and have completed higher education. Candidates are selected by special assemblies, "zomdus", convened in each province. Thus, the constitutional reform carried out in Bhutan gives hope for building a democratic society in the country.

December 31st were born

Anthony Hopkins(1937), American actor, director

The actor was born in the UK in the city of Port Talbot, Wales. When the guy was twenty-six years old, he graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After graduating, he played in amateur theater and unexpectedly won a scholarship that gave him the opportunity to study at the Theater and Music College in Cardiff. He studied there for two years and was drafted into the army. After serving, Anthony was invited to audition for Sir Laurence Olivier, who at that time directed the National Theatre. After two years, Hopkins became an understudy for Olivier. Once in the environment of artistic bohemia, the previously unsociable Anthony blossomed before our eyes. He became very sociable, he was called "the soul of the company." Soon he began to play in productions of Shakespeare, and in the cinema he played his first role in 1968, it was a film of a historical orientation. Then the British Academy this film was recognized as the best, and was recognized as the best leading role of Anthony Hopkins. Tony was very happy, because this was his first award. The actor appeared on American screens in 1973, critics wrote that this was the most successful role of Hopkins in his acting career. This was followed by many films and performances with the participation of Tony. And in 1987, Queen Elizabeth awarded Anthony a knighthood, which meant that his merits in the art of Great Britain were appreciated all over the world at home. Subsequently, he was nominated for an Oscar as the performer of the best lead role, was the owner of the title of Best Actor. In the director's field, the actor showed himself in 1996, released a film based on A.P. Chekhov, personally wrote the music for the film and, moreover, starred in the title role. Then he shot a variety of films, and he himself took part in them, if not the main, then necessarily a cameo role. Anthony Hopkins has a professional gift for acting. Each of his roles is not played, but lived by the actor.

Semyon Farada(1933-2009), outstanding comedian

An outstanding artist was born in the Moscow region, December 31, 1933, in the village of Nikolskoye. Surname at birth, Ferdman. He received his higher education at the Bauman University, after graduation he began working as an engineer. Since 1970, Farada begins to try himself on the stage. In 1972, the young artist was invited to work at the Taganka Drama and Comedy Theater. There he plays in productions: “The Master and Margarita”, “Hamlet”, “The Good Man from Sezuan”, etc. Farada first appeared in the cinema in the late 1960s, in the film “Vacations in the Stone Age”. Seeing the comedic talent of the actor, the directors began to invite Farada to comedic roles. In the films “The Same Munchausen”, “Garage”, “After the Rain on Thursday”, “Magicians”, “Formula of Love”, Farada plays brilliantly, for which he receives a number of prizes and awards. The great actor played in more than 70 films, and each of his roles became original and unique. The last famous film works of the actor were: “Midshipmen, forward” and “Private detective, or Operation-Cooperation”. In 1999, the artist was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia. In recent years, Semyon Lvovich was seriously ill, after two strokes, the actor became disabled. Long-term treatment and rehabilitation did not give a significant effect. In recent years, the artist was in a helpless state and needed around the clock care and attention.

Elizabeth Zarubina(1900-1987), Soviet intelligence officer, lieutenant colonel of the KGB

An outstanding Soviet intelligence officer was born on December 31, 1900, in the Moldavian village of Rzhaventsy. She graduated from the Faculty of Philology of the University, was fluent in Romanian, English, German and French. Since his youth, he has been a member of communist organizations in the underground Komsomol organization of Bessarabia and in the Communist Party of Austria. In 1925, she took Soviet citizenship and began working as an interpreter for the USSR trade representative in Vienna. In 1928, she undergoes training and special training in Moscow, where she is given personal documents for me, Gorskaya Elizaveta Yurievna. In the same place, she marries the scout Vasily Zarubin. In 1929, the Soviet secret services introduced the Zarubins into the Western European community. Posing as a Czech married couple, Zarubins leave for Denmark, and from there they go to Paris. The Zarubins were distinguished by high professionalism and a sense of duty, and unlike other masters of intelligence, the married couple never failed. In the 1990s, it became known about the great contribution of the Zarubin spouses in reconnaissance of the secrets of the creation of the American atomic bomb. Elizaveta Yulievna was an extremely beautiful woman, she was brought up in the spirit of high culture and education. In everyday life, the scout was unusually modest and shy. Thanks to her selfless work, she rose to the high rank for a woman, lieutenant colonel of the State Security Committee. Even during her lifetime, she was called the legendary scout.

Pierre-Charles de Villeneuve(1763-1806), Admiral of the French Navy

Admiral was born on December 31, 1763, in a noble family. From the age of 15 he has been serving in the Marine Guard. Takes part in the colonial wars in America. In 1786 he was transferred to the Mediterranean fleet, where he already commanded a ship. During the reign of Napoleon, Pierre successfully moves up the ranks. He takes part in the Egyptian campaign of Napoleon, but behaves very contradictory. On the one hand, he takes command of the fleet, instead of the deceased Admiral Bruet, and on the other hand, surrenders to the British off the coast of Malta. Despite the first failures, in 1904, Napoleon appointed Pierre-Charles, rear admiral of the fleet. A year later, Pierre-Charles de Villeneuve becomes the commander of the entire French fleet. Conducts an unsuccessful Franco-Spanish naval operation against the English fleet. Travels to the Caribbean. In general, Napoleon is not very pleased with the admiral, de Villeneuve, often violates the orders of the emperor, in emergency situations he shows passivity and weakness. This happened during a joint Franco-Spanish operation, during which the admiral simply abandoned his allies and retreated. Some historians attribute this contradictory behavior of the admiral to the poor state of the French fleet and the admiral's desire to maneuver and get away from complete defeat, is an attempt to save the fleet. His last unsuccessful battle was the battle of Cape Trafalgar, in this battle the admiral suffers a crushing defeat. This ends the career of Pierre-Charles as a military strategist.

Emile Loubet(1838-1929), President of France

Born in Marsanne, France. He started his career as a lawyer. In 1885 he was elected to the Senate, and a year later became a minister. In 1892, he was appointed prime minister of France, but he did not stay in this post for a long time and soon resigned due to behind-the-scenes games and political scandals. Two years later, he again becomes the prime minister of the country. After that, he is elected President of the Senate. In 1899, Loubet was elected President of the Third French Republic. In those days, the President of France was elected in Parliament. During the reign of Emile Lube, in France, the foundation of the state apparatus was laid, permanent ministries appeared. In the period before the First World War, the president takes an active part in the creation of the anti-German coalition - the Entente. Maintains close ties with the English and Russian courts. He makes state visits to England and Russia. He met with Emperor Nicholas and King Edward of England. By nature, President Loubet was an honest and respectable person, tried to find a compromise in conflicts, strictly followed the laws and the constitution. Never violated presidential protocol. After the end of presidential powers, he settled in the small town of Montelimar, whose inhabitants asked Emil to be their mayor. The president lived a long life and almost lived to see the 91st year.

Name day December 31

George, Vera, Elizabeth, Mark, Zoya, Sergey, Fedor.