CALENDAR

DATES. EVENTS. PEOPLE.

December 22nd is Power Engineer’s Day in the Republic of Belarus. On this day in 1920, the 8th All-Russian Congress of Soviets opened, which approved the State Plan for the Electrification of Russia (GOELRO). In Belarus, a professional holiday was established by a Presidential Decree in 1995. This is a holiday for all workers in the industry, covering the generation, transmission and sale of electrical and thermal energy to consumers, which they celebrate on one of the shortest daylight hours of the year.


On December 22nd, 1938, coelacanth was caught near the southern part of Africa — the oldest fish on Earth. The discovery of coelacanth caused a sensation in the scientific world. The fish belongs to the coelacanth order, which belongs to the ancient order of the lobe-finned fish, which scientists considered extinct in the Cretaceous period. However, this is more than 70 million years ago!


On December 22nd, 1937, Eduard Uspensky was born (1937-2018), a Russian writer, author of Gena the Crocodile and His Friends, Three from Prostokvashino novels and stories for children, etc. He organised the publishing house of children’s educational literature called Samovar. He was the author and host of the popular musical TV and radio talk show Ships Used to Enter Our Harbour.
 
  
On December 23rd, 1952, the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the largest business union in the country, was established. The BelCCI unites more than 2,500 member enterprises representing all spheres of Belarusian business and provides various types of services, providing comprehensive support for businesses in foreign economic activity.

 
On December 24th, 1982, the V.K. Byalynitski-Birulia Art Museum was opened in Mogilev — a branch of the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus. The exposition of the museum introduces the life and work of the Belarusian artist. Among the exhibits are: documents, photographs of the artist and his family, personal belongings of V.K. Byalynitski-Birulia — a sketchbook, palette, brushes, a hunting rifle, furniture, etc. The museum also houses paintings and sketches of the artist.


December 25th is Christmas for the western Christians — a great feast established in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. On this day, Christmas is celebrated not only by Roman Catholic, but also by the Orthodox of a number of countries of the world, Lutherans and other Protestant denominations. Over the centuries, many traditions of its celebration have been formed — traditional Christmas trees, nativity scenes, divine services and feasts. But in one country or another, local customs are added to the generally accepted rules, giving this holiday national features and originality.


On December 26th, 1812, the Patriotic War of 1812 ended. The remnants of the ‘Grande Armée’ of the French Emperor Napoleon I left Russia, Russian troops crossed the Neman River. The war began to liberate Europe from Napoleon’s troops.



On December 27th, 1912, Vladimir Korol was born (1912-1980), a Belarusian architect, Honored Builder of Belarus, People’s Architect of the USSR, full member of the USSR Academy of Arts. His main works (all co-authored) are located in Minsk: the project of planning and development of Leninsky (now Independence) Avenue, the building of the Main Post Office, the Victory Monument. He is also among the authors of the Brest Hero Fortress memorial complex. Laureate of the State Prize of Belarus. 

  

On December 27th, 1832, Pavel Tretyakov was born (1832-1898), a Russian businessman, collector, founder of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. He was an active member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts and honorary citizen of Moscow. Since 1854, he collected an art collection, since 1856 — works of Russian art, which laid the foundation for the Tretyakov Gallery. In 1892, he donated his collection to the city of Moscow.



December 28th is International Cinema Day. On December 28th, 1895, the first public demonstration of the ‘live moving photography — cinematograph’, invented by the Lumiere brothers, took place in the Grand Café on the Boulevard des Capucines in Paris.


On December 29th, 1972, The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.


Open source photos