Today is Freedom Day in Portugal. It celebrates the 1974 Revolution that ended the dictatorship and started a democracy. It also commemorates the first free elections that took place a year later on April 25th 1975.
The peaceful uprising was nicknamed the “Carnation Revolution” after the flowers protesters placed in the military’s guns and tanks in a rare example of a military coup staged to install democracy.
The 1974 revolt by a group of idealist young military captains quickly turned into a popular uprising when the troops were joined by jubilant crowds.
The revolution began on April 25th 1974, in Lisbon. Meeting little resistance from loyalist forces they took less than 24 hours to topple the dictatorship that had ruled Portugal with an iron fist since 1926 under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar and from 1968 under Marcelo Caetano. The events of April 25th transformed the Portuguese regime from an authoritarian dictatorship to a democracy.
Shockingly, no national holidays seem to fall on February 29, so we’ll look ahead to March 1 when Korea will celebrate Independence Movement Day.
The Korean Independence movement was an ongoing campaign to liberate Korea from Japan since 1910. The campaign reached a high point on March 1st, 1919. On this day, a series of public demonstrations happened when Japan was still occupying Korea. These were public demonstrations against the Japanese Government. It was a nationalistic show of strength and resistance against Japanese military rule in Korea.
The March 1st Movement Day, known in Korea as 삼일절 (Samiljeol).
The name 삼일절 (samiljeol) can be broken into three parts:
삼 (sam) = 3
일 (il) = day / 1
절 (jeol) = festival day (word suffix)
The direct translation is “3-1 Festival Day.” This celebration reminds Koreans what happened during the public resistance on March 1st.
On March 1st, 1919, 33 Korean Movement core activists read the Korean Declaration of Independence. Their goal was to put an end to the Japanese occupation in Korea.
Following that, over 2 million Koreans participated in over 1500 demonstrations nationwide, which the Japanese military police attempted to control. This became the biggest national protest against foreign dominance in Korean history. In the end, there were approximately 7,000 people killed, 16,000 wounded, and 46,000 were arrested by the Japanese police force and soldiers. On top of these, many houses, churches, and buildings were burned.
SIGNZZZZZZZZZ
There are no national holidays on February 29, but fortunately there are musician birthdays. Today is the birthday, in 1792, of Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer who gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music. He set new standards for both comic and serious opera before retiring from large-scale composition while still in his thirties, at the height of his popularity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3T8-aeOrbg
Today is Farmers Day in Ghana, a public holiday. The holiday is intended to recognize the significance of agriculture and fishing in Ghana’s economic growth. Open gatherings are organized in the 16 regions across Ghana to award prizes to deserving farmers and fishers as far as best practices and outputs are concerned.
Since it was introduced by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 1988, the first Friday in December has been set aside to honor farmers and fishermen for their efforts in feeding the nation and recognize the vital contributions of a strong agricultural sector to the prosperity of the Ghanaian economy.
This holiday reflects the importance of agriculture in Ghana. According to the CIA World Factbook, Agriculture accounts for about 20% of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders.
It’s true – I saw it on the news.. or was that the Hallmark Channel…
Today is Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day in Czechia and Slovakia. This public holiday is always celebrated on November 17th in both countries.
The Twentieth century was a tumultuous time for both these countries. Indeed, until 1993 they were both part of the same country – Czechoslovakia.
During that time, they had to endure occupation by the Nazis during World War II and following that, the country was under communist rule until 1989. During both regimes, it was students who lead nationwide protests and this day essentially celebrates the political role of students. November 17th is sometimes referred to as World Students Day.
The date of November 17th commemorates the 1939 Nazi storming of the University of Prague following demonstrations against the occupation of Czechoslovakia. It led to the execution of nine student leaders and over 1200 students were sent to concentration camps.
How long until Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day?
Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day is tomorrow
Dates of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day in Czech Republic
2025Mon, Nov 17National Holiday2024Sun, Nov 17National Holiday2023Fri, Nov 17National Holiday2022Thu, Nov 17National Holiday2021Wed, Nov 17National Holiday
Summary
Commemorating the student demonstration against Nazi occupation in 1939, and especially the demonstration in 1989 in Prague considered to mark the beginning of the Velvet Revolution
Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day in other countries
Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day in Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, this national holiday may also be known as the ‘National Day of Freedom.
When is Day of Freedom and Democracy?
This public holiday is always celebrated on November 17th in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In the Czech Republic, the full title of this holiday is Day of Freedom and Democracy and International Student Day. The name of the holiday was the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day until 2019.
History of Day of Freedom and Democracy and International Student Day
The Twentieth century was a tumultuous time for both these countries. Indeed, until 1993 they were both part of the same country – Czechoslovakia.
During that time, they had to endure occupation by the Nazis during World War II and following that, the country was under communist rule until 1989.
During both regimes, it was students who lead nationwide protests and this day essentially celebrates the political role of students. November 17th is sometimes referred to as World Students Day.
The date of November 17th commemorates the 1939 Nazi storming of the University of Prague following demonstrations against the occupation of Czechoslovakia. It led to the execution of nine student leaders and over 1200 students were sent to concentration camps.
In 1989 there was a memorial march to mark the 50th anniversary of the student revolt. The authorities tried to suppress the march which only led to an avalanche of popular protests in Czech and Slovak cities. Over the following days, the protests grew into non-violent strikes at first involving students and later all citizens of Czechoslovakia.
This became known as the Velvet Revolution and marked the beginning of the end of the communist regime that had ruled the country for more than four decades. Vaclav Havel was elected president and Alexander Dubcek became federal Czechoslovak Speaker.
Fun with stickers!!!!!
Earlier this week was the birthday, in 1792, of Gioachino Rossini, one of my favorite opera composers. Here is short duet he composed. I’m always impressed by how well opera singers manage to learn and remember all the words in foreign languages. Here is Duetto buffo di due gatti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5bJJviAX0c
Today is Sovereignty Day in Slovenia. It commemorates one of the key events in the process of attaining independence, namely withdrawal of the last Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) soldier from the territory of present-day Slovenia.
The Ten-Day War, a civil war, started in the former Yugoslavia on 27 June 1991 between the Yugoslav army and the Slovenian Territorial Defence, ending on 7 July with Slovenia’s decisive victory and Slovenia becoming independent. In the Brioni Agreement signed by both parties, Slovenia agreed to postpone its independence by three months and the Yugoslav military was allowed to leave Slovenian territory in stages, with a deadline of the end of October. The last Yugoslav army soldier left around midnight of 25 October 1991, the day now declared as “Sovereignty Day”.
Corn Syrup…
Cat shaming…
Not well thought out…
Today is the birthday, in 1838, of George Bizet, French composer of the Romantic Era. Best known for his operas, he had little success until his final work, Carmen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ_HHRJf0xg
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