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22 August: what is celebrated today
The calendar gives us days that seem designed to remind us who we are and what we must defend. 22 August is one of them: a date that moves between the joy of popular culture and the solemnity of remembrance, between dances that celebrate life and the silence that honours those who suffered violence for their beliefs.
World Folklore Day
Folklore is not a mere echo of the past: it is the voice of peoples that remains alive in every song, every embroidery, every story told around the fire. World Folklore Day invites us to look at these expressions that convey identity and belonging, reminding us that our roots remain firm because generation after generation strives to preserve them.
The term was coined in 1846 by William John Thoms, but its essence is much older: it is the sum of dances, legends, trades, superstitions and customs that sketch the soul of a community. On this day, anonymous creativity, shared memory and the cultural strength that crosses borders are celebrated.
International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
On that same 22 August, the UN reminds us of another truth: the freedom to think and believe continues to be persecuted in many parts of the world. The International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is a call to stop intolerance and make visible the pain of those who have been discriminated against, assaulted or even killed for defending their convictions.
It is a reminder that diversity should not be a cause for fear, but for dialogue. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights makes it clear: faith, spirituality or their absence are personal choices that deserve absolute respect.
World Plant Milk Day
Every 22 August, World Plant Milk Day is celebrated, an initiative created in 2017 by Robbie Lockie, co-founder of Plant Based News, and subsequently developed together with ProVeg. The day invites people to learn about plant-based alternatives made from soya, oats, almonds, rice and other ingredients. It also seeks to promote more sustainable eating and introduce the public to different options for replacing milk of animal origin in everyday consumption.
Three messages, one purpose
22 August invites us to dance to the rhythm of tradition, but also to reflect on the urgency of building a world in which diversity is celebrated rather than punished.
In the end, both teach us the same thing: that the world’s true richness lies in its plurality.