What holiday is February 18: all about this day

On February 18, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. Leo, the Pope. Feodosiy, Ahafiya, Vasylyna, Makar, Lev, Yevhen, Anton and Antonina celebrate their name days today.

The world celebrates World Wine Tasting Day, Pluto Day, Battery Day and International Asperger's Day. OBOZ.UA tells about the holidays and significant events of this day.

What holidays are celebrated on February 18

According to the new calendar, on February 18, believers honor the memory of St. Leo, the Pope, also known as Leo the Great. He was elected pope during his stay in Gaul, where he served as a legate. It is said that Leo the Great saved Rome from the Huns led by Attila in 452. The pope left behind a significant legacy of more than 100 sermons and 140 letters. Leo I defended the orthodox doctrine of Christ, in particular, he fought against the heresy of monophysitism, which claimed that Christ had only one nature - the divine.

World Wine Tasting Day, which is celebrated every year on February 18, is a great opportunity for all wine lovers to enjoy its diverse flavors and aromas. It is not only a holiday for gourmets, but also an opportunity to learn more about the culture of winemaking, the history of wine and its significance in different countries.

February 18 is also Pluto Day. It was on this day in 1930 that American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered a previously unknown celestial body. The scientist was looking for the ninth planet, the existence of which was predicted based on the peculiarities of the motion of Uranus and Neptune. The discovery of Pluto expanded humanity's understanding of the solar system.

On February 18, 1745, Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist, chemist, and inventor of the first electric battery, was born. In honor of this event, World Battery Day was established.

International Asperger's Day is celebrated every year on February 18. This day aims to raise public awareness of Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism. Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a person's social interaction and communication. People with Asperger's syndrome may have difficulty communicating with others, understanding social cues, and expressing emotions. They may also have limited interests and repetitive behaviors.

Notable historical events on February 18

• 1386 - the marriage of Grand Duke Vladislav Jagielles of Lithuania with 12-year-old Jadwiga, daughter of Louis I the Great (Hungarian), completed the formation of the Polish-Lithuanian Union.
• 1885 - Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is first published.
• 1930 - American scientist Clyde Tombaugh discovered the 9th planet of the Solar System - Pluto. The announcement was made on March 13.
• 1943 - In his most famous speech, Joseph Goebbels called on the German people to "total war".
• 1954 - Ronald Hubbard founded the Church of Scientology in Los Angeles.
• 1978 - the song "Hotel California" by the Eagles wins the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
• 1978 - the first Ironman (triathlon) competition is held in Hawaii.
• 1979 - snow falls in the Sahara for the first time in many centuries.
• 2014 - the confrontation on the Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, began, killing more than 80 people in 3 days.

Who was born on February 18

• 1516 - Mary I Tudor, Queen of England, nicknamed Bloody Mary.
• 1745 - Alessandro Volta, Italian physicist and physiologist, in whose honor the unit of electric voltage is named.
• 1848 - Tiffany Louis Comfort, American artist and designer, exponent of Art Nouveau (Secession) in decorative and applied arts. The son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, the founder of the world-famous jewelry company Tiffany & Co.
• 1855 - Levko Symyrenko, Ukrainian miller and fruit grower.
• 1856 - Sofia Rusova, Ukrainian writer and public figure, prominent Ukrainian educator.
• 1898 - Enzo Ferrari, Italian automaker, creator of the Ferrari car.
• 1931 - Toni Morrison, American writer, Nobel Prize winner in literature.

• 1933 - Yoko Ono, journalist, artist and musician, best known for her marriage to John Lennon.
• 1934 - Paco Rabanne, Spanish couturier.
• 1952 - James Mace, historian, political scientist, researcher of the Holodomor in Ukraine.
• 1954 - John Travolta, American actor.
• 1989 - Taras Matviyiv, Hero of Ukraine, journalist, public figure who died in the Russian-Ukrainian war.

On this day died:

• 1139 - Yaropolk Volodymyrovych, Grand Prince of Kyiv, Prince of Pereyaslav, son of Prince Volodymyr Monomakh and his first wife Gita, daughter of King Harold II of Godwinson of England.
• 1546 - Martin Luther, Catholic priest, initiator of the movement in the Church later called the Reformation.
• 1564 - Michelangelo Buonarroti, Italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet and engineer.
• 1851 - Carl Jacobi, German mathematician.
• 1967 - Robert Oppenheimer, American theoretical physicist.

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