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18 January: what is celebrated today
18 January is a day of delicate contrasts. On the one hand, it reminds us of the fragility of life by commemorating a rare disease that affects very few children in the world, but demands all possible scientific and social attention. On the other, it celebrates the bright tenderness of Winnie the Pooh, that bear who accompanies generations of readers; and it also opens the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a period of reflection that invites us to seek what unites more than what separates. Three very different observances which nevertheless share a thematic thread: the need to accom
International Day of Alternating Hemiplegia Syndrome
Alternating Hemiplegia is one of those diseases which, because of its extreme rarity, may go unnoticed by most people, but profoundly affects the lives of those who have it and their families. It causes episodes of paralysis on one or both sides of the body, accompanied by abnormal movements, dystonias and difficulties that appear and disappear almost always in connection with sleep. Its unpredictable nature turns daily life into a continuous exercise in adaptation.
It was not until 18 January 2012 that science identified mutation of the ATP1A3 gene as responsible for most cases. That date opened a door to hope: it named what had previously been bewilderment and provided a starting point for research. Although there is still no cure, patient associations, researchers and families work to make this disease visible and demand progress that can improve the quality of life of the children who suffer from it.
Commemorating this day is an act of solidarity: a reminder that even the rarest diseases need a community that faces them, supports and accompanies them.
Winnie the Pooh Day
At the opposite end of the spectrum from drama is a character who has sweetened the childhoods of millions of children: Winnie the Pooh. This day is celebrated in honour of the birth of his creator, A. A. Milne, who in 1926 brought to life the most endearing bear of the Hundred Acre Wood. Alongside Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and the rest of his friends, Pooh stars in stories that appear simple but conceal deep emotional wisdom.
The world of Winnie the Pooh is a refuge: a place where friendship is the compass that guides the days, where clumsiness is a charming trait and where honey is both food and metaphor. It is a reminder that tenderness is also a form of resistance, especially at times that demand haste or competitiveness. Children celebrate it with drawings, themed parties and readings that revive its magic; adults with a luminous nostalgia that returns them, for a moment, to innocence.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Every 18 January, the Octave for Christian Unity begins, a centuries-old tradition that brings communities from all over the world together in a common prayer that ends on 25 January. In a world marked by divisions, conflicts and inequalities, this week seeks to remind us that faith can create encounter, dialogue and reconciliation.
The 2025 theme, «Do you believe this?», invites reflection on the consistency between convictions and actions. The texts for each day —taken from different biblical quotations— revolve around justice, compassion, humility and accompanying vulnerable people. These are qualities that transcend denominational boundaries and appeal to a shared ethic.
The celebrations include vigils, ecumenical meetings, activities for young people and the traditional vespers prayer at the Basilica of San Pablo Extramuros, presided over by the Pope on 25 January. More than a series of religious events, this week is an invitation to practise a type of unity that begins in everyday life: listening, healing wounds and building bridges.