On November 12, the world honors several international initiatives — from Pneumonia Day to World Ergonomics Day, while in Ukraine today they unofficially celebrate the Day of the Ukrainian-language Press; in the church calendar — the commemoration of the holy martyr Josaphat and the icon of the Mother of God "Merciful", and folk signs and customs advise to refrain from haste and travel.
November 12 is marked by several important international and national dates that are worth celebrating or considering in personal greetings. The United Nations has designated this day as World Pneumonia Day, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the detection, prevention and treatment of this dangerous disease. Today is also World Ergonomics Day, highlighting the importance of designing workplaces to reduce health risks and increase productivity.
In the informal calendar of Ukraine, November 12 is often associated with the Day of the Ukrainian-language Press - the celebration originates from the idea of remembering the first Ukrainian publications, in particular the first issue of the newspaper "Khliborob", published in 1905. It is worth congratulating colleagues from newspapers, magazines, and other Ukrainian-language media on their professional day.
In addition, there are several "more frivolous" occasions for congratulations on this day: Chicken Soup Day, Geographic Systems Day, and Antibiotic Awareness Day - all of them have their own thematic initiatives and local campaigns.
In the church calendar according to the new style, on November 12, the icon of the Mother of God "The Merciful" is honored - according to tradition, those who feel a burden on their souls and need relief through sincere repentance and prayer turn to this image. The faithful also remember the holy martyr Josaphat; according to the old style, in Orthodoxy on this day they honor Saints Zinovy and Zinovia and the icon "Ozeryanskaya".
On this day, folk signs pay special attention to the behavior of birds and morning phenomena. If a thick fog spreads in the morning, then, according to signs, warming is expected soon; the appearance of bullfinches predicts the rapid arrival of winter, and the long stay of swans - a warmer December. Other signs say: if tits chirp loudly in the morning - expect a frosty night, and fears about travel are justified - November 12 was traditionally considered not the happiest day for a long journey.
Customs for good luck on this day vary: some advise dedicating the day to prayer or a good deed, others to remain calm and avoid fuss. Folk beliefs also warn that being too nervous can lead to mistakes, so it is better not to plan risky trips or important undertakings.
Several famous compatriots were also born today, including philologist Yosyp Bodiansky, orthopedic surgeon Mykhailo Sitenko, playwright Ivan Krushelnytsky, and poets Zenoviy Krasivsky and Mykola Syngayivsky — a good reason to remember their contribution to culture and science.
