October 9: World Post Day, International Day of the Top, and International Day of the Top.

Today, October 9th, postal services and their employees in many countries around the world celebrate their professional holiday - World Post Day, reports UNN.

It is believed that the earliest prototype of the postal service existed in present-day Iran in the 5th century BC. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the postal exchange between countries was regulated by bilateral agreements. However, in the 19th century, there arose a need to optimize this process.

In 1840, British citizen Rowland Hill proposed a system of prepaid postal services for correspondence. This led to the creation of the world's first postage stamp. Within a country, a uniform charge was applied for all letters, regardless of distance.

In 1863, at the initiative of the U.S. Postmaster General Montgomery Blair, a conference was held in Paris to develop unified principles and rules for the mailing of letters between countries. Representatives from 15 countries in Europe and America participated in this conference.

On October 9, 1874, in Bern, representatives from 22 countries established the General Postal Union, which was renamed the Universal Postal Union four years later.

Currently, national postal operators from 192 countries are members of this organization. Ukraine is also a member of the Universal Postal Union.

Before the full-scale Russian invasion, the national postal operator "Ukrposhta" had around 11,000 branches throughout Ukraine, supported by approximately 60,000 employees.

Additionally, today, on the second Wednesday of October, we can celebrate an event dedicated to one of the most beloved toys of many generations of children - International Spin Top Day.

Scientists refer to the spin top as one of the oldest toys. The oldest spin top discovered by archaeologists is over six thousand years old. The first spin tops were made from wood.

Different cultures have their unique spin tops. For instance, the Chinese spin top flips onto its tip while spinning, while Latin American toys are launched using a string. Some spin tops, if launched correctly, can spin for over an hour.

In Ukraine, since 2000, an unofficial Realtor's Day has been observed - a professional holiday for those who provide intermediary services in real estate sales and rentals.

According to the church calendar, today is the Feast Day of Apostle James.

James was regarded as one of the most devoted disciples of Jesus. After the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, James preached his teachings in Judea, Palestine, Syria, and Greece.

It is believed that many people were moved by his sermons and were baptized immediately. According to tradition, pagans captured James in Palestine and crucified the apostle.

Name days on October 9 are celebrated by Jacob, Jan, Alexander, Athanasius, and Vladimir.