Tomorrow is Battle of Vertières Day, a public holiday in the Republic of Haiti on November 18th each year. This holiday commemorates a decisive victory over the French in the Battle of Vertières 1803.
France had established a colony on the island of Hispaniola in 1625 and created sugar and coffee plantations, which used a vast number of African slaves. The slaves lived under terrible conditions and they would eventually rebel in the late 18th century leading to the Haitian Revolution.
The Battle of Vertières was the last major battle of the Haitian Revolution, making Haiti the first-ever nation to successfully gain independence through a slave revolt. The battle was fought on November 18th 1803 between forces made up mainly of former slaves led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and Napoleon’s French expeditionary forces under the command of General Rochambeau.
Napoléon Bonaparte had come to power in 1799 and this was his first major defeat. France then withdrew its remaining 7,000 troops from the island and Napoleon abandoned any ambitions to a North American empire. The defeat of the French had ramifications far beyond Haiti and the Caribbean, with the war having gone so badly, Napoleon sold Louisiana (New France) to the United States for $15 million dollars, in the Louisiana Purchase.
Bada Bing!!
They told me I’d never be any good at poetry because I’m dyslexic, but so far I’ve made two jugs and a vase!
I’m not proud of the person I become when I see a bowl of stuffing.
Him: If we stayed alone in a dark room for an hour, what would you do? Her: I’d look for a light switch.
Balloons are so weird. Happy birthday. Here’s a plastic sack of my breath.
I wish Taylor Swift was in love with a climate scientist.
Overheard at grocery store: Paper or plastic, sir? Doesn’t matter. I’m bisacksual.
The earliest Carol singers can be found on the Bayeux tapestry. They were soldiers from Western France. They were known as the Brittany Spears.
The inventor of the doorbell did not own a dog.
It isn’t officially Thanksgiving dinner until someone says “I’m not doing this shit again next year”.
Jesus invited prostitutes to dine with him and he’s the light of the world. I do it and ‘I’m making Thanksgiving awkward’.
Apart from “life is short”, what other lines do you use before making bad decisions?
Did you know that a candle flame smells like burnt nose hair?
Today is the birthday, in 1942, of Bob Gaudio, The Royal Teens, (1958 US No.3 single ‘Short Shorts). The Four Seasons, who had the 1960s hits ‘Sherry’, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, ‘Walk Like a Man’, and the 1976 UK & US No.1 single ‘December 1963, (Oh What A Night’). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG1JnZ-eOHg
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 internationally |
In the Czech Republic, this national holiday may also be known as the ‘National Day of Freedom.
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.
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, the people of Colombia celebrate Independence of the City of Cartagena Day. The holiday commemorates November 11th 1811 when Cartagena became the first Colombian city to declare independence from the Spanish.
While celebrations focus on the city of Cartagena, this is a national holiday as the independence of Cartagena is seen as a key event in the struggle for freedom in Colombia and other parts of Latin America.
The Spanish first arrived in Colombia in 1499, founding the first permanent settlement in 1510. The city of Cartagena was founded on June 1st 1533, and named after Cartagena in Spain.
Due to its location, the city grew to be one of the most important cities in the Spanish Colonies with large political power and the location of the Viceroys.
From the late eighteenth century, resentment in the colonies had been growing as the Spanish insisted that the colonies could only trade with Spain, limiting their growth and also as the Spanish support for the Americans in the US war of independence increased taxation.
The desire for independence was ignited by an uprising in Bogota in 1810 and on November 11th 1811 Cartagena declared its independence from Spain. Before independence was gained in 1819, Cartagena was reclaimed by the Spanish and royalist forces, but its initial claim of independence remains is viewed as an important step towards the independence of Colombia.
Florida construction…
Today is the birthday, in 1953, of Andrew Ranken, drummer from Irish-British Celtic punk band The Pogues who scored the 1987 UK No.8 single ‘The Irish Rover’. Here are The Pogues with a kind of Christmas song… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8
The population of Africa is growing rapidly. By 2050 25% of the world’s population will be African. Africa is young – the median age of Africans is 19. One of the many nonprofits working with these young Africans is the Hout Bay Music Project in South Africa. Hout Bay is a suburb of Cape Town and the residents there created the Hout Bay Music Project to educate both youth of the area, particularly the disadvantaged youth of the informal settlement in the wonders of music.
Here is a presentation the students of the music project gave along with Dutch violinist and conductor Andre Rieu. It’s an amazing concert – be sure to listen to the end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsIuMLz1hkM&t=609s
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