International Day of Light

The International Day of Light is an annual celebration on May 16 established by UNESCO to recognize the significance of light and light-based technologies in revolutionizing our society.  

History:

In the year 1960, Physicist and Engineer Theodore Maiman conducted the first successful operation of the laser. To commemorate the special day, International Day of Light came to be observed every year on May 16. In 2015, the United Nations observed International Day of Light to raise awareness about light science and light-based technologies and applications. Following this, in 2016, UNESCO adopted the resolution to celebrate International Day of Light every year. The first International Day of Light was observed in 2018.

Significance:

The day is observed to raise awareness about the significance of light and how we can explore ways to encourage scientific collaboration and possibilities of light-based technologies for innovation, creativity and sustainable societies. The day urges people to come together from all sectors, such as science, technology, art and culture to implement the application of light and light-based technology for innovation and fulfilment of the goals of UNESCO. "This day is a call to strengthen scientific cooperation and harness its potential to foster peace and sustainable development," wrote UNESCO on their official website.

International Day of Families

 

The International Day of Families is commemorated annually on May 15 to highlight the importance of families in society. The day offers a great opportunity to focus on the key role that family plays in our lives and also to recognise the challenges families face today. Family is the most important part of anyone’s life. It offers a sense of security of having someone with whom we can discuss and thoughts and celebrate our happiness. In short, family is our whole world.

International Day of Families: Origin and Significance

In 1983, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission for Social Development recommended that the United Nations focus on family issues. The UN recognised that changing economic and social structures were affecting family units worldwide. Therefore, in 1993, it officially declared May 15 as the International Day of Families.

The day aims to promote awareness of family issues, increase knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic processes affecting families, and celebrate all types of families while acknowledging their diversity and promoting inclusivity. It is also an opportunity to emphasise the importance of maintaining strong relationships with relatives, thereby benefiting both individual families and society as a whole.

Paraguay Independence Day

 

Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest.

Paraguay Independence Day starts on May 14 and ends on May 15 every year, and we know what that means - two days off and unlimited fun and feasting for the people of Paraguay. On this day in 1811, Paraguay gained its independence after nearly 300 years of Spanish rule. Incidentally, Paraguay is the second independent nation in the new world after the United States.

1830, Republic of Ecuador is founded

 

Ecuador is a country straddling the equator on South America's west coast.

Ecuador's early history as a country was a tormented one. For some eight years it formed, together with what are now the countries of Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela, the confederation of Gran Colombia. But on May 13, 1830, after a period of protracted rivalries, Ecuador seceded and became a separate independent republic, with Juan Jose Flores aa president.

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

 

Each year on May 13, the Catholic Church celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary by honouring her message of peace and by reflecting on her apparitions in Fatima, Portugal.

Between May 13 and October 13 of the year 1917, Mary appeared six times to three shepherd children - to brother and sister Francisco, 8, and Jacinta, 6, and their cousin Lucia, 9.

On May 13, 1917, the three children were in the field when they saw a "woman all in white, more brilliant than the sun." She told the children, "Please don't be afraid of me, I'm not going to harm you." When Lucia asked her where she came from, she told them, "I come from Heaven." Our Lady wore a white mantle, edged with gold, and carried a rosary. She asked the children to pray and devote themselves to the Holy Trinity, and "to say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and an end to the war."

Over the course of her appearances, Mary revealed that the children would suffer, especially from the unbelief of their families, and that the two young children, Francisco and Jacinta, would be taken to Heaven, but Lucia would live longer, to spread the message of devotion to the Immaculate Heart.

When she appeared for the last time, Mary told Lucia, “I am the Lady of the Rosary.” That day, 70,000 people turned out to witness the apparition, because Mary had promised that she would show the people the apparitions were true. The crowd saw the sun make three circles, moving around the sky in a zigzag movement, that left no doubt about the truth. By 1930, the Bishop had approved of the apparitions and the message, and the Church has declared them authentic.

Our Lady told the children about her concerns that the world would face war, starvation, and persecution of the Church in the 20th century if people did not make reparations for sin. She told the children, and the Church, to pray and offer sacrifices to God so that peace may be spread across the world.

Our Lady of Fatima also revealed three prophetic “secrets.” The first two were revealed earlier, referring to the vision of hell and the souls languishing, the request for an ardent devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the prediction of the Second World War, and finally the prediction of the damage Russia would do by embracing Communism and rejecting Christianity.

The third secret was revealed in 2000 — “The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated.” This has been interpreted to include the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981, which happened on May 13, the 64th anniversary of the apparitions.

 

 

International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day is an annual celebration on May 12 honouring the invaluable contributions of nurses worldwide. It marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, and recognises the tireless efforts of nurses in providing compassionate care and promoting health and wellness in communities.

International Nurses Day: History

The origins of International Nurses Day trace back to the advocacy efforts of Dorothy Sutherland in 1953, culminating in the official declaration of May 12 as 'International Nurses Day' in 1974. Since then, the day has been celebrated globally to pay tribute to nurses.

International Nurses Day: Significance

Nurses serve as the backbone of healthcare services, playing a pivotal role in safeguarding public health and addressing global health challenges.

International Nurses Day serves as a reminder of the essential role nurses play in promoting well-being and improving health outcomes for individuals and communities.

Florence Nightingale's Birth Anniversary

 

Florence Nightingale, born on 12 May 1820, in Florence, Italy, was a British nurse, statistician, and social reformer who was the foundational philosopher of modern nursing. Nightingale was put in charge of nursing British and allied soldiers in Turkey during the Crimean War. She spent many hours in the wards, and her night rounds giving personal care to the wounded established her image as the “Lady with the Lamp.” Her efforts to formalize nursing education led her to establish the first scientifically based nursing school—the Nightingale School of Nursing, at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London (opened 1860). She also was instrumental in setting up training for midwives and nurses in workhouse infirmaries. She was the first woman awarded the Order of Merit (1907). International Nurses Day, observed annually on May 12, commemorates her birth and celebrates the important role of nurses in health care.