October 20th marks International Sloth Day, Air Traffic Controller Day, and Ukraine's Food Industry Workers Day. What else can we celebrate on this date?

Today, October 20, animal rights advocates and wildlife enthusiasts can participate in events marking International Sloth Day, reports UNN.

Scientists believe that around 11,000 years ago, giant sloths roamed the Earth, weighing up to four tons. Currently, sloths inhabit the tropical forests of Central and South America. Modern sloths weigh between four and nine kilograms, with a body length of about 60 centimeters. While sloths are considered herbivores, they occasionally consume insects or small lizards.

Sloths sleep for nearly 15 hours a day and move very slowly. However, they are capable swimmers, reaching speeds of up to four kilometers per hour.

Sloths have poor eyesight, but unlike many mammals, they can distinguish colors.

The significant value of sloths to the planet's ecosystem lies in the fact that their fur serves as a habitat for certain species of insects.

According to some animal rights activists, sloth populations have decreased by 80% in recent decades. However, conservation organizations do not currently classify them as endangered species. Estimates of sloth population density range from 1.7 individuals per square kilometer in French Guiana to 221 individuals in the Brazilian state of Manaus.

On October 20, 1961, the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA) was established in Amsterdam. This date was chosen to celebrate the professional holiday of air traffic controllers. Today, IFATCA comprises over 50,000 air traffic controllers from 133 countries worldwide.

The profession of air traffic controller requires exceptional knowledge and skills, along with specialized psychological training, which is crucial for individuals bearing the immense responsibility of ensuring the safe and orderly movement of civil aircraft in airspace.

Professional chefs and cooking enthusiasts can also join in the celebration of International Chef's Day today.

The culinary profession is considered one of the oldest. People began preparing food as soon as they learned to create fire. In medieval Europe, chefs were highly valued. In Germany, since the late 13th century, the head chef was regarded as one of the closest individuals to the king. The first culinary school appeared in England in the 19th century.

In Ukrainian chronicles, references to professional chefs date back to the 10th century. Initially, they cooked for the court nobility, and later for monastery refectories.

In Ukraine, food industry workers celebrate their professional holiday on the third Sunday of October.

The food industry encompasses around 40 sectors of production. Thousands of enterprises of various ownership types produce nearly 20% of Ukraine's industrial output.

Additionally, October 20 is World Statistics Day. However, this year, the event is unofficial.

The United Nations Statistical Commission was established in 1946. On October 20, 2010, it organized the celebration of the first World Statistics Day. Over 130 countries and 40 international organizations joined the event. Subsequently, it was decided to hold various thematic events for Statistics Day every five years. Therefore, the next official Statistics Day will be celebrated in 2025.

Today, under the initiative of the World Health Organization, various events are taking place in many countries to mark World Osteoporosis Day—an incurable progressive disease that affects the musculoskeletal system, deforming and reducing bone density, leading to a loss of strength and an increased risk of fractures.

Osteoporosis ranks fourth among diseases that cause disability and fatalities. In most cases, the disease affects individuals (especially women) over 50, when age-related changes in the body are exacerbated by harmful habits and adverse environmental factors. In half of the cases, the asymptomatic progression of the disease complicates early diagnosis.

According to the church calendar, today is the Day of Remembrance of Saint Martyr Artemius of Antioch.

Artemius was a military commander under the Roman Emperor Constantine, who legalized Christianity. When Julian the Apostate ascended to the throne and resumed the persecution of Christians, Artemius did not support him. For this, he was arrested and beheaded after enduring prolonged torture.

Artemius's body was transported to Constantinople, where he was buried in the Church of John the Baptist.

Name days celebrated on October 20 include Artem, Leonty, Mark, Pelageya, and Pelageya.