Russia marked Hairdresser's Day on September 13, alongside a holiday devoted to charlotte cake and other autumn pies. Around the world, the date also brings World Chocolate Day and a celebration of cachaça, Brazil's national spirit.
Hairdresser's Day is an unofficial observance that has been marked in Russia since the early 2000s, though it is not clear who started the tradition. Hairdressing professionals themselves do not agree on a single date: some mark the occasion on September 13, others on September 14, and some celebrate on both days. Vocational schools that train hairdressers typically hold graduation ceremonies around the date, while salons run promotions, competitions for stylists and masterclasses for clients.
Hairdresser's Day and Other Russian Observances
September 13 also carries several other Russian observances. Tank Crew Day, which falls on the second Sunday of September each year, coincides with the date this year. The day is also set aside for charlotte cake and other autumn pies, and it marks the founding of both Rostov Oblast and Krasnodar Krai.
World Chocolate Day and Cachaça Day
Cachaça, sometimes called Brazilian rum, is a strong spirit distilled from sugarcane juice. It is believed to have been invented in the 1550s. The drink was first consumed by enslaved workers on plantations before indigenous tribes came to appreciate it, and it later overtook Portuguese port wine in production volume. Over time cachaça became one of the symbols of Brazil and found fans well beyond its borders.
World Chocolate Day is tied to the birth of Milton Hershey on September 13, 1857. Hershey founded the confectionery company that bears his name, which remains one of the largest chocolate bar makers in the world today. In moderate amounts, chocolate is considered a healthy food rich in magnesium, iron and other trace elements. It is said to support brain function and lower the risk of heart disease, though dark chocolate with a lower sugar content is recommended for the greatest benefit.
Other observances marked around the world on September 13 include the anniversary of penicillin's discovery, World Sepsis Day, Positive Thinking Day and a grape harvest festival held in Romania.
Orthodox Feast: The Virgin's Belt
The Orthodox Church marks the Placing of the Venerable Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos on September 13. The belt is one of three principal relics in Constantinople associated with the earthly life of the Virgin Mary. According to church tradition, shortly before the Dormition of the Virgin, the belt and robe of the Mother of God passed to two devout widows living in Jerusalem, who handed the relics down through generations. At the turn of the fifth century, the belt was brought to Constantinople and placed in a richly adorned reliquary inside one of the city's churches dedicated to the Mother of God.
After Constantinople fell twice, in 1204 and finally in 1453, the belt was removed from the city. Fragments of it are still kept in various parts of the world today, including one held at Kazan Cathedral in St Petersburg.
The Orthodox calendar also marks September 13 as a day of remembrance for the hieromartyr Cyprian and for Patriarch Gennadius I of Constantinople, as well as the Council of the New Martyrs of Jasenovac.
Folk Weather Signs
Traditional Russian folk sayings tied to September 13 are used to forecast the coming season. If frogs sink to the bottom of ponds, colder weather is said to be on the way. Large anthills in the forest are taken as a sign of a cold winter ahead, while swans flying low are said to signal snow. Spiders hiding away are read as a sign of rain, while chickens that venture outside during rain are said to mean the weather is about to improve.
Notable Birthdays
Russian singer and songwriter Alexander Rosenbaum turns 75 on September 13. Before becoming a performer, he spent six years working at an ambulance station and trained as a physician. He began performing with musical groups in the 1970s and launched a solo career in 1983. Over his career he has written more than 850 songs and poems, including the well known compositions "Waltz-Boston," "Gop-Stop" and "Sadness Swept In." In 2001 he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation.
Also born on September 13 is Russian singer Irakli Pirtskhalava, who turns 49. Of Georgian origin, he became known under the stage name "Irakli" as a contestant on the reality show "Star Factory." His best known songs include "Vova-Chuma," "London-Paris," "Drops of Absinthe" and "I'm With You," and he has also appeared on the television shows "One to One!" and "Last Hero."
Other notable figures born on September 13 include British writer Roald Dahl (1916-1990); Soviet partisan Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya (1923-1941), the first woman to be named Hero of the Soviet Union; Russian composer Oleg Kvasha, who turns 68; Ilya Segalovich (1964-2013), a Russian programmer and co-founder of the internet company Yandex; and Russian gymnast Ksenia Afanasyeva, a world champion who turns 35.
