The Juneteenth Day commemorates the end of slavery in the USA. On 19 June 1865, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in the state of Texas at the end of the US Civil War.
By June 1865, almost all of the enslaved population had been freed through the victory of the Union Army over the Confederate Army. When the13th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified (approved) in December 1865, the remaining slaves in Delaware and Kentucky attained their freedom.
Early Juneteenth Day celebrations were first observed in 1866 and involved primarily church sponsored community festivities featuring foods and singing. These began mainly in the south but soon spread throughout the entire nation as freed slaves moved about. During the Civil Rights engagements of the 1960s, the Juneteenth Day events were eclipsed by the nonviolent nature of the equality occasions.
Juneteenth Day was officially recognized as a national holiday in 2021 when then-President Joseph Biden signed the Juneteenth National Day Act into law. It was first officially observed nationally on 19 June 2021.
Happy Juneteenth Day!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Old Faithful!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, June 22, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “HIV Testing Day!”
In the USA, the Armistice Day/Remembrance Day (November 11) holiday is not officially observed as a day of tribute to the deceased. It is a salutation to all who served defending this country as Veteran’s Day. In honour of those killed fighting for this country, the Memorial Day holiday is observed. On Memorial Day, flags are to be flown at half-mast in honour, mourning and remembrance from the morning until mid-day then raised to full mast at noon.
The courage of the deceased is honoured and then the fun of the season commences. Throughout most of this country, this holiday is considered primarily as the unofficial beginning of the summer season. From now until the Labour Day holiday (the first Monday in September), the majority of the population is focused on the joys of fun-in-the-sun!
The first national observance of what was then known as “Decoration Day” occurred May 30, 1868, in response to a proclamation from then Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, John Logan. He ordered the tribute as a commemoration of all the deceased in the USA Civil War (1861-1865). The occasion was annually observed.
Following the Great War (World War I: 1914-1918) and then World War II (1939-1945), the commemoration evolved into the observance of Decoration Day/Memorial Day officially on the last Monday in May by an action of the US legislature in 1968. Then in 1971, the US Congress standardized the name to Memorial Day.
Have a happy and safe Memorial Day!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Saturday, May 30, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “A Penny For My Thoughts!”
On my job at my university, the Spring semester, 2026, is now officially over. All my tasks are complete. My Summer holiday is now underway! Curious as to my perspective? I am one delightfully ecstatic bare practitioner! Actually, my level of happiness is now equal to my level of nakedness – and neither one of those aspects of joy and satisfaction are willing to concede supremacy to the other!
Thankfully, the work routine is over for the next two months! Otherwise, I’d probably be arrested for publicly parading about in just my skin! I have no desire to conceal or cover any aspect of my body in the immediate future!
After all, summer is for skinny-dipping (swimming bare) and for nakedness! Do I need to add here that it is my very favourite time of the year?
Alex, my identical twin brother and I are home in Greece with our mother this week. She is fine and in good health and very happy to have her identical angels with her this time! Needless to say, we’re both very excited to be with her! Although the week will pass too quickly, it is a visit that we’ll remember! For me, at least, there is no job awaiting my return! LOL!
My spouse, Aaron, has extra duties at his job while I am overseas. Otherwise, he would have time to compose a posting for here.
Please Note:
As I’m visiting my mother, there will be no posting entry here on Friday, 22 May! I’m enjoying my time off from responsibility! The next post entry is noted below!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Old Faithful!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, May 25, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “USA: Memorial Day!”
Sunday, 10 May 2026 is Mother’s Day in Canada and the USA!
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, grandmothers, aunts, cousins and to all women authority figures who gave advice, guidance, love and tolerance to young persons in their care!
Thank you for all that you’ve done!
Naked hugs!
Aaron Michael Peterson-Poladopoulos and Roger Peterson-Poladopoulos
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, May 11, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “World Naked Bike Ride!”
The traditional May Day occurs on the first day of May. However, many observances of this occasion happen on any day of the month, depending on the host/source. In the Northern Hemisphere, May Day is usually celebrated to remind ourselves that the Spring season has definitely arrived and by this time is blooming. A truly awesome time to be natural in nature and the sunlight!
The origins of the May Day festivities vary from cultural, national, regional and religious sources. Throughout the hemisphere, the progress of the Spring season is visible and physical with the rising outdoor temperatures commemorating the end of the barren environs suffered through the winter and the bright and colourful atmosphere that reminds us all that is finally here!
The Roman Catholic Church fostered the dedication of the month of May in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This tradition has many believing the renewal of faith with the natural rebirth of foliage during the arrival of Springtime!
An urban “Spring bouquet” of buttocks!
*WORLD NAKED GARDENING DAY!
Houseplant garden!
*World Naked Gardening Day, Saturday, 2 May 2026!
Observed throughout most of the world the first Saturday during the month of May, annually. This year, the date is 2 May 2026 and is the twenty-second anniversary for the observance!
Sun-Bathed Nakedness
by Walt Whitman
“Never before did I get so close to Nature; never before did she come so close to me…Nature was naked, and I was also…Sweet, sane still Nakedness in Nature! – ah if poor, sick, prurient humanity in cities might really know you once more! Is not nakedness indecent? No, not inherently. It is your thought, your sophistication, your fear, your respectability that is indecent. There come moods when these clothes of ours are not only too irksome to wear, but are themselves indecent.”
The very first observation of World Naked Gardening Day occurred on Saturday, 10 September 2005. The second followed, again on a Saturday, 9 September 2006. After the second event, it was decided to change the celebration to the month of May, annually, as that was determined to be the ideal time for gardening and growth. Canada and New Zealand have both adopted different dates for their events due to climate diversity.
For additional information, visit the website for the occasion:
My spouse, Aaron, and I host a brunch for this activity at our condominium in Arlington, Virginia, USA. We enclose privacy on our balcony by hanging sheets and invite friends over (a small gathering) to bring a potted plant that needs to be replanted due to growth. We then proceed with the repotting outside and socializing inside. Of course, we’re all bare practitioners so our clothing does not hinder our performance of our task-of-the-day!
While we’re performing our gardening duties, Aaron is busy in the kitchen preparing a delicious meal to replenish our energy level! His culinary skills surpass our gardening skills combined!
Our food and fun efforts to preserve our nakedness heritage and nature!
Naked hugs! Happy World Naked Gardening Day!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Old Faithful!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, May 4, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “The Glory of Spring!”
Great and Holy Easter celebrates and commemorates the triumph of good over evil and of love over hate. The Resurrection is the promise of eternal life!
Background:
The Eastern Churches (Armenian, Chaldean, Coptic, Orthodox, etc.) follow the older calendar effective during the time of Jesus. The Western Churches follow a revised calendar thus the two different dates for most holy days.
Great Friday, 10 April, 2026:
The epitaphios procession through the churches.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church today is known as Great Friday, the Day of Sorrow. In the liturgical year, it commemorates the last day of Jesus alive here on earth and the sorrows he endured: the beating at the pillars of the Jerusalem Temple, the crowning of thorns, and having to carry his cross and then his crucifixion. When he expired, his body was placed in a tomb that belonged to St. Joseph of Arimathea.
Annually on this day, believers remember the agonies and pains that Jesus experienced. The shroud of the icon of the Crucifixion is placed in a tomb that is carried through the church in the epitaphios (tomb). As it is carried, the faithful chant the Lamentations hymns that recount the events of Great Friday. In the churches inside Greece, the epitaphios is bourne by active members of the military: army. navy or air corps.
After sunset on Friday evening, there is a candlelight service in churches where the icons have been covered in mourning. The Divine Liturgy is not sung again until midnight on Easter morning. The prayers offered reinforce the sadness and suffering of the occasion.
The Great Lent:
Anticipating the Glorious Resurrection, the six weeks before the arrival of the Holy Feast are spent in a period known as the Great Lent – a time of extreme fasting and sincere prayer. Growing up, my parents would direct the discussion topics to the importance of faith, prayer and service to all in our lives, our obligation to our church (Greek Orthodox) and to our family.
The fasting aspect of Great Lent involves abstinence from all meat, seafood, dairy products and eggs. The focus is on receiving nutrition naturally from nature’s resources. The fast is in effect during the entire season of the Great Lent.
The Great and Holy Easter!
The only offering of the Divine Liturgy (the principal prayer service in Holy Orthodox Churches) is always at Midnight on the Feast of Pascha (Easter). This allows for an entire day of celebration and feasting. The service begins outside the church (weather permitting) when the candles of the Resurrection are lit, and the priest leads the entire congregation to circle the church three times. While processing, the people sing the Resurrection hymns (Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!).
After the third encirclement, the procession then moves inside the church as the deacons uncover the holy icons, and believers light candles and offer prayers. The Resurrection hymns continue as the clergy, deacons, and servers line up for the offering of the Divine Liturgy.
The traditional Easter greetings!
Among all the popular treats for the Easter feasting, the most recognized is the egg which also represents the rebirth of the spring season. The hard-boiled egg is dyed red to recall the blood lost by Jesus during the crucifixion. The Lenten Fasting removed the availability of eggs from people’s diets but gave them notoriety as an Easter treat!
In the early hours of Easter morning, following the conclusion of the Resurrection Liturgy, the faithful exit the ecclesiastical sanctuary of the churches and encounter baskets and trays of traditional dyed Easter eggs ready to be consumed. The festive spirit of the holy day continues with all participating in the classical custom of greetings.
Holding the egg in the palm of the hand, one salutes another with the phrase, “Christos anesti!” (Christ is risen!). The other responds: “Alithos anesti!” (Indeed He is risen!). The two then collide their open-palmed eggs together with the victor emerging as the one with their egg-shell uncracked or intact. Multiple eggs are devoured in this manner and the Great fast of Lent is officially over!
Families – and sometimes multiple households – after the greetings and egg-breaking hurry home for an early morning Easter meal!
Tsoureki: Greek Sweet Easter Bread!
Tsoureki:
The widely and wildly delicious Easter delicacy that is a favourite of all – both the religious Greeks and those who are indifferent to faith. My spouse, Aaron, is the chef of our household and has my paternal yaya’s (grandmother’s) recipe for this special bread. He is the culinary commander and even though he never met any of my grandparents, he has spiritually inherited yaya’s ability, skill and talent in tsoureki baking. My siblings extol his exceptional perfection of her triumph! Aaron has even framed her handwritten recipe (in Greek) and it hangs in a place of honour in our kitchen!
Yaya’s tsoureki recipe generally takes approximately 18 – 19 hours to mix, prepare and to rise and over an hour to bake. After years of experience, Aaron has not been able to alter the process.
The tsoureki (in my family custom) is served with the main feasting that occurs in the late afternoon on Easter Sunday. One loaf usually serves about twenty-four (24) people and multiple loaves are served.
Kala pascha! Happy Easter!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Old Faithful!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, April 13, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Budding Season!”
Francois:
Francois is excited to have some of Aaron’s tsoureki again!
Whenever possible, offering or presenting more than what is expected or required does occasionally please and surprise the recipient. As this is the final week of the first month of a new year, 2026, now seems to be an appropriate time to put this theory into practice! Therefore, ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! is offering two different post entries (unrelated) here in one combined post entry. The more we share, the merrier we can all be!
Return To ReNude!
Over the recent winter holidays, while with my spouse, Aaron, and his family in Toronto, Canada, we deliberated and made the decision to resurrect one of the original monthly series initially published here: A Penny For My Thoughts. We had discontinued it after several years for no other reason than the fact that we were scarce on subjects to offer.
We are keeping the title and revising the format. It will now feature a quote with a brief description/explanation of the intent. We plan to remain simple as to avoid any mistake or misunderstanding.
The original posting was on the day before the other monthly series, Bottom’s-Up!, was published. We plan to continue with that same schedule.
The series will return here this upcoming Friday, 30 January 2026!
Naked hugs!
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What Did We Miss?
Did we forget something?
The winter holiday visit with my spouse’s family in Toronto, Canada, was both busy and hectic. The time of the year (major holiday and holy day) and the mealtime gatherings made for a very social experience that left little “free-time” than normally available. Also, two of Aaron’s nephews (sons of different sisters) had two different puppies…and they needed their time with “Uncle Roger!”
Of course, I needed “my time” with my energetic and furry canine “nephews!”
Upon return, it seemed like only one afternoon of unplanned freedom before back to work at university and the start of Spring semester, 2026! A new schedule, new students and a new routine kept me in long office hours for all of two weeks. Two new colleagues at the job ensured an even longer than usual work day!
Since returning to the classroom, my mother had a medical emergency that forced to deal with the reality of a fateful return to Greece. Fortunately, it was a minor issue that my oldest brother over-reacted!
I’ve seriously neglected the blogs and sites that I follow! I humbly apologize and plan to use my time this weekend to return to my favourites and hopefully become current.
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys WithoutBoxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, January 30, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “A Penny For My Thoughts!”
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the first African American…
to be honoured with a memorial along the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
to be recognized nationally as a hero by the majority of Americans
to bravely stand for true freedom for all
to challenge discrimination, oppression, prejudice and racism through justice and liberty for all!
Then-President Barack Obama dedicating the Dr. King Memorial\
The Reverend Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall was dedicated by then-President Barack Hussein Obama, the first African American elected president, on 22 August, 2011.
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More than a century after the USA Civil War ended the legality of slavery, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., championed the struggle for equality, freedom, justice and liberty for all Americans in general and for Black Americans in particular. His courage and determination inspired the country and political leaders to reject hatred, marginalization, oppression, prejudice and the suppression of human rights.
As we commemorate and honour the courage and diligence of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we offer tribute to all the millions of persons who suffered enslavement, injustice, murder and torture based solely on their origin and their race. Their innocence and sacrifice must never be forgotten!
Background:
Dr. King was born on 15 January 1929. At birth, he was originally named Michael J. King, Jr., the son of his father, Reverend Michael J. King, Sr. and his wife, Alberta Williams King. His father was an ordained clergyman.
After attending a religious conference in Germany in 1934, his father legally changed their names to Martin Luther King as an honor to the anti-Roman Catholic dissident who initiated the protestant movement against the Roman Catholic Church.
After college and seminary, he married Coretta Scott. Together, they produced four children: Yolanda, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice. Reverend Dr. King, Jr., founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957 and directed the campaign for civil rights and equality until his assassination in 1968.
He organized the National March on Washington for Freedom and Jobs that occurred on Sunday, 28 August 1963. At this event, he delivered the keynote address, his world famous I Have A Dream speech. More than 120,000 people attended this gathering. At that time, it was the largest political rally ever held on the National Mall.
He was assassinated on 4 April 1968 and buried following a state funeral on 7 April 1968.
Honours:
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by His Majesty, the late King Gustaf VI Adolph of Sweden on 14 October 1964.
Civil Rights advocate
Non-violent protest activist
Ordained clergyman
Husband/father
Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumous award 1977 by the late President Jimmy Carter
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Founder 1957
Thank you, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, January 23, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Annual Examination!”
It is almost time for our New, Nude Year to begin! Hello and welcome to 2026! Both the night and the year are still young! Beaux Banks, SGL film industry actor, uses his buttocks to send off 2025 and to say hello to 2026!
The weather outside is unpredictable, so we stay inside where it is cozy and warm and share our bottoms-up! with everyone!
Nakation (naked + vacation = nakation)!
The time of year to enjoy an escape from our routine!
A poolside bottoms-up! salute to all our bare practitioner community and culture residing in the Southern Hemisphere who are now welcoming their season of outdoor clothes freedom!
A furry final bottoms-up! farewell for all of 2025!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, January 1, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Welcome 2026!”
If you are a cohort, a fellow bare practitioner, if you have to wear clothes for church, family or other reasons, keep this thought, this truth: beneath all of our garments, we are all sharing in our nakedness!
If you are observing western Christmas, have a happy and safe holy day!
If you are observing Holy Christmas, (Armenian and Orthodox Churches), early wishes for a happy and safe holy day!
If your holiday is secular (non-religious) have a happy and safe holiday!
Naked hugs for all of your seasonal celebrations and for all of 2026!
Tinsel time!
Aaron Michael Peterson-Poladopoulos and Roger Peterson-Poladopoulos
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! December, 2025!”
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 