Freethinkers Day is a holiday observed on January 29th, designed to open people’s minds. It encourages everyone to think outside the box and to take a good, hard look at their beliefs.

This holiday should not be confused with Freethought Day, which falls on the anniversary of the effective end of the Salem Witch Trials on October 12th.

No, this holiday is placed on the birthday of one of the most prominent free thinkers in American history: Thomas Paine. So, let us all pull out our thinking caps and observe this day with our friends and family.

The History of Freethinkers Day

According to internet lore, Freethinkers Day is a holiday that was invented sometime during the 1990s. However, we have been unable to either confirm or deny that assertion. We do know that this holiday was placed on the birthday of Thomas Paine.

He was born on January 29th, 1737, and throughout his life, he promoted the philosophy of Enlightenment through his works. His publications would go on to influence both the French and American revolutions.

Some Important Facts About Thomas Paine

Below are some facts about Thomas Paine that we would like to share with everyone reading today. We hope everyone finds the following facts quite informative as they strive to observe Freethinkers Day. Now, let’s get to it.

• Some of the works written by Thomas Paine include “Rights of Man” (1791), “The American Crisis” (1776), and “The Age of Reason” (1794).
• Benjamin Franklin inspired Thomas Paine to move from London to Philadelphia.
• His anti-religious stance caused him to lose friends later in life.

Observing Freethinkers Day

On this day, people can use the holiday to learn more about Thomas Paine and some of his works. People can also learn more about the Enlightenment movement and what role it played in the formation of the U.S. People can also spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #FreethinkersDay on social media.