World Labyrinth Day
Designs with intricate passages in which it is easy to get lost are part of puzzles, computer games and landscape design
Green labyrinths of hedges have long been present in the gardens of kings and nobles Today, when creating structures with paths, dead ends and intersections, bushes with pineapple fruits, stones, mirrors and other materials are used
The labyrinth on the playground is a favorite pastime for little visitors Adults often use the structure for meditation and transcendental experiences This idea is promoted by The Labyrinth Society, an organization from the United States that established World Labyrinth Day in 2009 Walking along its paths helps you concentrate, stop internal dialogue and calm the mind, taking a step towards enlightenment
The oldest building in the world with numerous corridors and dead ends is considered to be a building with an area of 70 thousand m2, located near Lake Birket Qarun in the suburbs of Cairo According to legends, the Egyptian labyrinth, in which the tombs of pharaohs and crocodiles were found, consisted of 3 thousand above-ground and underground rooms The complex served as a place for religious mysteries and ritual sacrifices The Knossos labyrinth is one of the most famous in the world The structure with many passages was designed for King Minos by the engineer Daedalus In a labyrinth with an area of 22 thousand m2 lived the Minotaur, killed by the ancient Greek hero Theseus
According to the founders of World Labyrinth Day, the events, which bring together thousands of people from different parts of the globe, help create a wave of energy aimed at world peace The American Maze Society invites everyone to walk through the labyrinthine structures at exactly 1:00 pm on the first Saturday in May Participation in the action helps create waves of peace and tranquility that slowly move from one time zone to another
The ancient Scandinavians believed that a complex system of intricate corridors would not lead a purposeful person astray They believed that going through the labyrinth would help solve the existing problem, protect themselves from adversity and find good luck For believers, wandering along confusing paths symbolizes the path to God The crawling of Christians on their knees through the labyrinth painted on the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France was equated to a religious pilgrimage in the Middle Ages
The ancient Chinese were convinced that evil spirits could only move in a straight line; winding paths would confuse them Therefore, in the Celestial Empire, labyrinths were built before entering the city and entering the house The paths along the seashore, fenced with stones, were always passed by the ancient Germans who went fishing
Today, hedge mazes are found in Australia, France, Great Britain, Italy, Hungary and other countries Every year they attract millions of tourists who enjoy wandering along the numerous green corridors, enjoying the ideas of landscape designers In Russia, on the Solovetsky Islands, there are stone labyrinths of the pre-Christian era, called “Babylons” and considered places of power On the first Saturday in May, thousands of people walk along these and other tangled paths, thereby accumulating energy for the sake of world peace