DAY 1100 RUSSIAN AGGRESSION
February 27 marks the World NGO Day, International Polar Bear Day, World Spay Day, Anosmia Awareness Day, and Carefree Day.
In Georgia, it is Khachapuri Day; in Israel, it is Family Day; in Germany, it is Women's Carnival; and in Vietnam, it is Doctor's Day.
The Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Procopius of Decapolis.
International Polar Bear Day
This event was established by the non-profit organization Polar Bear International. Polar bears diverged from a common bear ancestor thousands of years ago and underwent significant evolutionary changes necessary for survival in Arctic conditions. The polar bear is the largest land carnivore on the planet, standing between 1.8 and 3 meters tall.
Polar bears are exceptionally adapted to icy environments. Their fur consists of two layers, which helps prevent heat loss. In fact, polar bear fur is not white but transparent. Each hair reflects and scatters sunlight, which is why we perceive their fur as white. Our eyes also perceive the color of ice or snow.
World Spay Day
This day originated in the USA in 1995, initiated by actress and singer Doris Day. In 2006, the event expanded beyond the borders of one country and gained global status. Spaying pets can help address the issue of homelessness, as it prevents them from reproducing and makes them less aggressive.
Khachapuri Day
February 27 is celebrated annually as National Khachapuri Day in Georgia—a holiday dedicated to one of the most famous and beloved dishes of Georgian cuisine. Khachapuri, which translates to "cheese bread" (from the Georgian words "khacho" - cheese and "puri" - bread), symbolizes the hospitality and culinary artistry of Georgia.
Anosmia Awareness Day
This event was created in the USA in 2012. Anosmia is the complete or partial loss of smell, which poses a threat to overall human health. The absence of smell can lead to digestive issues and makes it harder to detect toxic substances. Anosmia can be congenital or acquired (e.g., due to illness).
World NGO Day
In 2009, student Marcis Lior Skadmanis decided that such a holiday should be added to the calendars of countries around the world. However, his idea was only supported in 2010 at the NGO Forum, with the first celebration taking place in 2014.
International Optimist Day
February, being the shortest winter month, has two holidays related to optimists: the first Thursday of February and then February 27. It remains unclear who initiated this event and when.
Carefree Day
This day is celebrated annually on February 27 and serves as a wonderful reminder of the importance of embracing simplicity in our daily lives.
Notable Birthdays:
150 years since the birth of Vladimir Petrovich Filatov (1875-1956), a Ukrainian ophthalmologist, surgeon, poet, memoirist, artist, inventor, founder of the school of domestic ophthalmologists, organizer and first director of the Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine;
130 years since the birth of Ivan Mikhailovich Pigulyak (1895-1982), a Ukrainian editor, publicist, military and socio-cultural figure (USA). The birth date is given according to ESU; other sources state he was born on September 24, 1895;
100 years since the birth of Alexander Alexandrovich Belyaev (1925-2006), a Ukrainian scientist, linguist, methodologist, educator;
95 years since the birth of Galina Ivanovna Voskoboynik (1930-2020), a Ukrainian public figure, philanthropist (USA).
Also on this day:
1933 - The arson of the German Reichstag, which was used by Hitler as a pretext for dissolving the Reichstag and establishing a dictatorship in the Third Reich;
1942 - Mass executions at Babi Yar by German troops of members of the Ukrainian nationalist underground;
1952 - The UN held its first meeting in its new headquarters in New York;
1991 - President George Herbert Walker Bush announced the liberation of Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm;
2014 - Russian special forces in military uniforms without insignia seized the buildings of the parliament and the Council of Ministers of Crimea and raised Russian flags over them;
2015 - In Moscow, near the Kremlin, one of the main leaders of the political opposition to Putin's regime, former Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Boris Nemtsov, was shot dead.
Church Holiday:
Feast Day of Saint Procopius of Decapolis
Procopius was a Palestinian monk, an iconoclast fighter, confessor, and saint. He dedicated his entire life to serving God. He was born in the city of Seleucia (modern-day Jordan). He initially was a monk in Constantinople, where he bravely opposed Emperor Leo III, who refused to honor icons. For this, Procopius was imprisoned and beaten with iron rods. He remained there until the death of the emperor (741 AD). He died in old age.
Name Days: Makariy, Mikhail, Petr, Stepan, Yakov.