March 25

In 1576, theatre impresario Jerome Savage secured a sub-lease to build a playhouse south of the Thames in Newington, Surrey. This venue, later known as the Newington Butts Theatre, became one of the earliest permanent theatres in the London area. Its location outside the city limits allowed performances to continue without the strict regulations imposed within London. The theatre hosted a variety of plays and attracted audiences eager for new forms of entertainment. Although it eventually fell out of use, its establishment reflects the burgeoning popularity of public theatre during the Elizabethan era.

In 1725, Johann Sebastian Bach’s chorale cantata 'Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1' was first performed on the Feast of the Annunciation, which coincided with Palm Sunday. The composition highlights Bach's innovative fusion of a familiar hymn tune with elaborate orchestral and vocal parts. Written for Leipzig’s liturgical services, it reflects the theological themes of light and renewal in the church calendar. The premiere took place at St. Thomas Church, where Bach served as music director. Over time, this cantata has become celebrated as a masterpiece of the Baroque era.

In March 1811, 19-year-old Percy Bysshe Shelley was expelled from the University of Oxford. He and his friend Thomas Jefferson Hogg anonymously published The Necessity of Atheism, challenging religious orthodoxy. The pamphlet denied the existence of a deity and called for freedom of thought and belief. University authorities deemed the work blasphemous and removed both students for refusing to recant. Shelley left Oxford with a deepened commitment to radical politics and literature. This event marked a turning point that propelled him into the circles of literary reformers and free thinkers.

Situated in front of the Hellenic Parliament at Syntagma Square, the monument commemorates those who fell in World War I and the Balkan Wars. Designed by sculptor Fokion Rok, the tomb features a recumbent warrior carved from Pentelic marble. The first ceremonial guard change by the Evzones presidential guard took place during the dedication. Over the decades, it has become a focal point for national remembrance ceremonies, including Greek Independence Day. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier symbolizes the collective sacrifice of all who served, uniting Greeks in shared memory.

Ginsberg’s candid depiction of drug use, sexuality, and dissent challenged 1950s American norms. When Grove Press attempted to import copies, Customs officials deemed the work obscene and confiscated them. Publisher Michael Myerfeld initiated a landmark legal fight to overturn the ban. In a key ruling, Judge Clayton W. Horn declared 'Howl' to have 'redeeming social importance,' protecting its distribution. The case set a precedent for literary expression, bolstering the Beat Generation and later countercultural movements.