Posted on March 25, 2019
This is not an official public holiday in Belarus.
Far from it!
For a decade or more, the people who tried to celebrate Freedom Day on March 25 were actually arrested! 
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| The protest above has signs in English because it was held in New York City! The "Stop Luka" sign refers to Alexander Lukashenko, who is supposed to be the democratically-elected "president" of the nation but who is really, apparently, an authoritarian leader whose elections are total fraud jobs. |
During the 2017 Freedom Day protest, more than 700 people were arrested, and last year at least 45 people were arrested before a planned march even occurred. The 2018 arrests were of leaders of the "opposition," the folks who are agitating for more freedom in Belarus.
The European Union - which Belarus does not belong to, by the way - has given warnings to and even enacted sanctions against Belarus, pointing out that it is a human rights violation to arrest people for peacefully protesting their government.
(Belarus is one of the few European nations that has not even asked to be an E.U. member!)
(Belarus is one of the few European nations that has not even asked to be an E.U. member!)
So...what is this holiday?
On this date in 1918, the Belarusian People's Republic declared independence. The would-be nation only lasted a year - and that year fell between the Belarusian region being occupied by the German Empire during World War I and being war-torn as Poland's army and the Soviet / Bolshevik forces fought each other and ended by divvying up the entire area.
Not long after the Polish/Soviet War, Belarus became a part of the Soviet Union; it was only after the USSR broke up in 1991 that Belarus became an independent nation again.
Not long after the Polish/Soviet War, Belarus became a part of the Soviet Union; it was only after the USSR broke up in 1991 that Belarus became an independent nation again.
Where in the world is Belarus?
Belarus is known for its ancient, primeval forest - the last such forest in Europe, I read. Such uncommon creatures as European bison live there.
It's also known for having double Christmas and double Easter, because both Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism are worshipped in the country, so everyone takes off work during both religions' holidays. This year, Catholic Easter is celebrated on April 21, and Orthodox Easter on April 28.
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| Ukrainian-style Easter eggs (above) are part of Orthodox Easter. The colored and decorated eggs made by Catholics in Belarus are also beautiful, or course, but are generally less detailed and also, I gather, less popular with tourists. |
In Belarus, the Russian language is more often used for ordinary conversation than is Belarusian. But many people speak a sort of mixture of the two languages.
Belarus lacks mountains - except for the human-made mountains that have resulted from mining salt!
But Belarus has some lovely landscapes!
Belarus suffered a LOT during World War II, and there is a Memorial Complex dedicated to the heroes who fought Hitler's forces in Brest.
Anniversary of the Arengo in San Marino
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