Today, Tuesday, November 18, 2025, is the 1363rd day of the full-scale war in Ukraine. On this day, they honor a church holiday, remember important historical events, mark professional and international dates, and celebrate name days.
What is the church holiday according to the new calendar?
On November 18, believers commemorate the holy martyrs Plato and Romanus. Both saints suffered during the cruel persecution of Christians under the reigns of Emperors Maximian and Diocletian.
Saint Plato, a native of Ancyra, is known for his unwavering faith. He openly rebuked the pagans for their idolatry, for which he was brutally tortured. Despite the terrible tortures, the saint was not forced to renounce Christ.
Saint Romanus, a deacon from Caesarea in Palestine, also spoke out against pagan rites. He was tortured in an attempt to force him to renounce his faith, and when he refused, his tongue was cut out. According to legend, he continued to speak miraculously to the people. After prolonged torture, the saint was strangled in prison.
What not to do on November 18
The people associated this day with the arrival of real winter. Traditionally, there were certain prohibitions:
• do not do hard physical work, as it "takes away strength"
• do not light a fire unnecessarily - so as not to invite a fierce winter
• do not set off on a long journey - the path can be unpredictable and slippery
Folk signs and traditions
November 18 was called Plato's Day. They said: "Plato has come - he leads winter by the hand." It was believed that it was after this day that the cold weather finally sets in.
Signs:
• snow on Plato - winter will be early and severe
• clear and frosty weather - for a cold but dry winter
• sleet or rain - winter will be with thaws
• south wind - for a mild and short winter
• low fog - warming is approaching
Name Day November 18
The following people celebrate their name day on this day: Mykola, Platon, Roman.
Children born on November 18 were considered especially talented and sensitive to the arts. The talisman of this day is opal, a stone that, according to legends, reveals hidden abilities and protects health.
Among the famous people born on this day:
• 1847 — Volodymyr Navrotskyi, Ukrainian economist and publicist
• 1859 — Kost' Levytskyi, jurist and head of the State Secretariat of the ZUNR
• 1886 — Sofia Albinovska-Minkevych, Ukrainian artist
Memorable dates November 18
Important events took place on this day:
• 1626 — Pope Urban VIII consecrated St. Peter's Cathedral
• 1654 — the defense of the Cossack fortress of Bush began
• 1838 — Taras Shevchenko completed the first version of the poem "Tarasov Night"
• 1883 — a unified time system was introduced in the USA
• 1918 — Latvia declared independence
• 1928 — premiere of the cartoon "Steamboat Willie", the debut of Mickey Mouse
• 1978 — mass suicide of the "Temple of the Peoples" sect in Guyana
• 2007 — tragedy at the Zasyadko mine: more than 100 miners died
What holidays are celebrated in Ukraine and the world?
November 18 marks Sergeant's Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - a day of gratitude to those who ensure discipline, organization, and combat readiness of units.
The world celebrates Mickey Mouse Day, the legendary Disney character who first appeared in a 1928 cartoon.
Also, November 18 is the World Day for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation of Children and the European Day for the Protection of Children against Violence and Sexual Exploitation. These dates remind society of the need to actively protect children's rights and support those who have suffered from violence.
