July 9 – Freedom of Religion, 17th Century Style

Posted on July 9, 2019

The framers of the U.S. Constitution definitely did not invent freedom of religion!

Even in ancient times, many societies allowed, not just freedom of belief (people can believe whatever they wish about god, the universe, and humanity), but also freedom of religious practice, also known as freedom of worship. For example, Cyrus the Great established freedom of worship throughout the Achaemenid Empire, around 550 B.C.E.

One reason this kind of freedom was often adopted was to make a community open to traders and merchants, who wanted to be able to maintain their customs and holy days as they journeyed and bought and sold.

On the other hand, there have also been some societies that have not allowed free expression of certain religious beliefs, nor freedom to do certain religious rites and customs. This can occur when leaders fear that they will lose control if they allow religious freedom.

Sometimes a nation says that its people enjoy freedom to worship any way they want - but actually that nation uses taxation, policies, and laws to punish people who practice a minority religion. That's not freedom; that's lip service!

Of course, even worse is open religious persecution - when a government imprisons, exiles, or executes people who practice certain religions or no religion!

Many nations that have official state religions or established state churches still allow complete religious freedom. For example, Denmark has a state religion - the Church of Denmark, a form of Lutheranism - but also guarantees freedom of religion.

The reason I'm talking about religious freedom today is that July 9 is the anniversary of an event that occurred in 1609: Catholic Pope Rudolf II signed the "Letter of Majesty," thus granting the citizens of Bohemia tolerance no matter what their religious beliefs and practices.

You may not know where Bohemia is located. It is now joined with other historical regions to create the modern nation of Czechia, aka the Czech Republic. 

Bohemia has its fair share of loveliness:

Also on this date:

Independence Day in South Sudan 

Constitution Day in Palau

Anniversary of the building of the Charles Bridge

Inventor Elias Howe's birthday

Independence Day in Argentina

Anniversary of the settling of Romanov rumors through DNA testing

Mathematician Nicolaas Govert de Bruijn's birthday

Yadnya Kasada Ceremony in Indonesia

São Paulo State Day in Brazil

Birthday of artist Saturnino Herrán

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• July birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in July

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July 6 – Jan Hus Day in the Czech Republic

Posted on July 6, 2015

Today is a public holiday in the Czech Republic. It honors Jan Hus, a priest who also taught and a philosopher who also tried to reform (make better) society and religion.

Born in 1369, Hus lived before some of the other Roman Catholic Church reformers who ended up creating the Protestant movement in the 1500s. (Martin Luther was one of the more famous Protestant reformers.) He is considered one of the first Church reformers. He was not necessarily all that successful in his own lifetime at winning the reforms he sought, since he was burned at the stake for “heresy” (religious teachings that are considered incorrect by the powers that be).

Hus's martyrdom occurred on this date in 1415.

But the Czech people celebrate him, because his reforms made a huge impact after his death. Hus's followers were so upset at his cruel execution, they rebelled against their Roman Catholic rulers. There were a series of wars that have become known as the Hussite Wars, and by the 1500s as many as 90% of the people living on Czech lands were non-Catholic, and many of them were followers of Hus's teachings.

Hus also influenced Martin Luther and perhaps other later reformers as well.

Did you know...?

• The Czech Republic is made up of three historical regions: Bohemia,
  Moravia, and Czech Silesia.
  

• After World War I, and up until 1993, the Czech Republic had been bundled together with Slovakia to create Czechoslovakia.

• The capital city, Prague, is supposed to be one of the most wonderful cities in the world. Some people say THE most beautiful city in the entire world. What do you think?

• I read that Prague Castle is the largest castle in the world in terms of area. It's about 1,000 years old. When you go to visit, the highlights include a cathedral, a basilica, a tower, a palace, a royal garden with a “Singing Fountain,” and “Golden Lane,” which is lined with medieval workshops. That sounds like a lot of stuff in just one castle!

• Some of the world's oldest and most magnificent libraries are found in Prague.

• There are thousands of human skeletons on bizarre display at the famous “Bone Church” in the Czech Republic.

• The “Bohemian Paradise” is special because of the rock formations that stand up out of the ground like sculptures.

• There are plenty more cool castles in the nation, but I thought this Hluboka Castle was really pretty:

Also on this date:

Earth at Aphelion

Independence Day in Comoros   

Republic Day in Malawi

Anniversary of Althea Gibson's win at Wimbledon

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Check out my Pinterest boards for:

• July holidays
• July birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in July

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• August holidays
• August birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in August

September 28, 2011 - Rosh Hashanah

Today is the Jewish New Year and the first of the High Holy Days—ten days leading up to and including Yom Kippur, which is the Day of Atonement. (“Atonement” means making amends for wrongs done in the past.)

Like other holidays, Rosh Hashanah starts at sundown and continues until sundown tomorrow.

This is a happy holiday, marked by the blowing of a horn called shofar and eating sweet foods such as honey and apples, to bring a sweet new year. However, there is a solemn side, too, since the High Holy Days are a time of repentance, feeling sorry for any wrongdoing from the previous year. This time of year is marked by fasting, prayer, and services at the synagogue.

Also on this date:

Day of Czech Statehood – Czech Republic

Prague is the beautiful capital of the Czech Republic.

The Czech state, which is in the middle of Europe, used to be called Bohemia. At times it was a part of the Great Moravian Empire, the Austro-Hungarian empire, and Czechoslovakia. After World War II, it was a communist-ruled state, but on January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia was peacefully dissolved into the two current nations: the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.

So, why celebrate statehood on September 28?

Well, in the Czech Republic, this is Saint Wenceslas Day. A long time ago, on this day in 935, Wenceslas, the Duke of Bohemia and “Good King Wenceslas” of Christmas carol fame, was murdered by his brother. Wenceslas became the “patron saint” of the Czechs.

What does “bohemian” mean?

A person might be called a bohemian if he or she lives an unconventional life, perhaps moving about frequently, with few ties to family, job, or community, and usually involved with the arts. The term began in the 1800s, in France, to describe “gypsies” and other Romani people who came to France through Bohemia.

Sometimes vagabonds, wanderers, and adventurers are called bohemians. Artists, actors, musicians, and writers who have little money and who have anti-establishment viewpoints are often referred to as bohemians. A certain gypsy style of fashion is sometimes referred to as bohemian....

But I personally have never heard someone referred to as Bohemian because he or she came from the Czech Republic!