Kaleidoscope Day

The inventor of the kaleidoscope, Scotsman David Brewster, was born on December 11, 1781 The optical device he created has been one of the most beloved children's toys for centuries The pipe with mirror elements folded at an angle and colored glass, which appeared in Russia in the era of romanticism, aroused delight among adults Kaleidoscope Day is celebrated on December 11, the scientist’s birthday The popularity of this funny device among people of all ages is understandable The kaleidoscope not only relieves fatigue of the optic nerve, but also generates positive emotions - dispels melancholy and improves mood 15 minutes of viewing pictures created by colored shards is equivalent in effectiveness to 5 minutes of healthy laughter Did you know that? Kaleidoscope in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century was social entertainment for the elite Brewster's invention "colored" the lives of representatives of the upper classes Colored fragments, flowers or dried insects were placed inside an ordinary kaleidoscope - into an aphaneidoscope Devices with precious stones inside the tubes were created according to individual orders Such kaleidoscopes were very expensive The appearance of the device in Russia coincided with society's fascination with transparent pictures - stained glass The fashion for them was introduced by M Lomonosov, who, according to one version, invented the kaleidoscope before D Brewster, but did not give this “trifle” due attention, and therefore did not file a patent The patterns, ever changing under the influence of an unknown force, perfectly corresponded to the era of romanticism Painters of that time were keen on depicting natural light phenomena in the form of sunrises and sunsets In the kaleidoscope, artists were attracted by the riot of colors and the unusual harmony of patterns, which had a mesmerizing effect Did you know that? A kaleidoscope is often compared to a mandala - a complex geometric symbol that is interpreted as a model of the Universe There is a legend that the device was invented long before Brewster during meditation by the ancient Egyptians Followers of the philosophy of the priest and architect Imhotep used polished limestone fragments instead of colored glass The simple toy has not stopped being improved since its invention Over the years, American Charles Bush changed the angle of the mirrors and their shape, as well as the contents of the device The scientist was responsible for the invention in 1870 of the “office” kaleidoscope - a black tube made of thick cardboard with a rotating bronze ring, which was attached to a beautiful wooden stand The artist Meryl Ann Butler, fascinated by the effects of color on the human body, came up with the idea at the end of the 19th century chacroscope The Irishwoman was convinced that the device helps people open their “inner” vision The artist added 4 additional colors to the traditional colors of the glass fragments: gold, responsible for the masculine principle, silver for the feminine, symbolizing love, pink and purple, as the personification of rebirth American Clifford Kuhn, head of the department of psychiatry at the University of Kentucky, used it in the mid-twentieth century kaleidoscope for treating patients Did you know that? The world's largest kaleidoscope was built in Japan in 2005 In the pavilion of the EXPO exhibition in Nagoya, a symbolic triangular Earth Tower 47 m high was erected Water flowed down its walls, forming various patterns depending on the direction of the sun's rays Kaleidoscope Day was established in honor of the mysterious device, shrouded in myths and secrets It was not for nothing that in the Middle Ages the kaleidoscope was considered a tool of magicians: according to legend, some device designs were used for predictive purposes Only initiates could interpret the symbols, deciphering the patterns that appeared in the eyepiece The device has not lost its magical appeal today, which is why people all over the world celebrate Kaleidoscope Day on December 11