All - Leep Calendar

"That's it, young lady," My mother would often say, "Your name is mud!" Okay, so I wasn't always an angelic child, but I always wondered what mud had to do with misbehaving. In Old English, mud meant "a stupid twaddling fellow." Well, I have indeed resembled that comment in my life, except for the fellow part. Mudd Day, marked on December 20 each year, has nothing to do with being called mud and everything about legal issues and trying to clear your name. Dr. Samuel Mudd was born on December 20, 1833. In adulthood, he advocated for slavery and supported the Confederacy during the Civil War. He often expressed his dislike and hatred for then-President Lincoln and his policies. John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln on April 14, 1865, but in the course, broke his leg. Escaping the authorities searching for him, he ended up at Dr. Mudd's home, where the doctor treated his leg and let him go. It is believed Dr. Mudd did not know about the assassination then. However, after learning he helped the president's assassin, he waited 24 hours before reporting to the police. Mudd was convicted of aiding and conspiring with several others in the murder of President Lincoln. In 1869 President Andrew Johnson pardoned and released Mudd and two others from jail. Eventually, the doctor was able to get his family on even footing and re-establish his practice. He became active in politics and supported several initiatives in his hometown. He died of pneumonia in 1875 at the age of 49. After a century of lobbying by the family, Mudd's conviction was cleared on July 27, 1979.

Africa

Dec

Mummer's Day (C)(IE): December 26

06:20 AM | -

Mummer's Day, or the Feast of Saint Stephen, marks the Christian faith's first martyr (or protomartyr). In several Christian countries, his feast day is a public holiday. In Ireland, Saint Stephen's day is referred to as 'Lá Fhéile Stiofáin' or 'Lá a Dreoilín,' meaning the Day of the Wren or Wren's Day. Irish celebrants doan old clothes and straw hats, traveling door to door with fake wrens dancing, singing, and playing music in celebration. Depending upon the specific region of the country, these colorful well-wishers earn the name Wrenboys or Mummers. Saint Stephen's Day is popular for visiting family members and gathering in large groups.

Africa

Dec

Musical Instrument Gift Day (343 AD): December 6

06:20 AM | -

Musical Instrument Gift Day is celebrated in the United States each year. Coinciding with St. Nicholas Day, the patron saint of pawnbroking, Musical Instrument Gift Day brings together the nation's pawnbrokers, local businesses, and organizations to donate musical instruments to schools and children in need. Legend states Saint Nicholas died on December 6, 343 AD. Also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker and Nikolaos of Myra, or the Greek Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), he is believed to be the origin of the "Santa Claus" story due to the miracles he performed and his work with children. Saint Nikolaos is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, students, and pawnbrokers. Contact your local National Pawnbrokers Association chapter to see if you might participate or donate in your area.

Africa

Dec

Mutt Day, Ntl.: December 2*

06:20 AM | -

Created by Colleen Page, National Mutt Day is one of two days a year celebrating mixed-breed dogs. A mutt is any dog that is not considered a pedigree, purebred or recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club and its international affiliations. Eighty percent of dogs found in shelters are mutts. This day originated in 2005 and occurs twice a year as a reminder to adopt from your shelter and make sure to get your dog spayed or neutered.

Africa

Dec

Nanking Massacre Memorial Day (CN)(1937): December 13

06:20 AM | -

One of the most horrific events in Chinese History, the Nanking Massacre (Nanjing Massacre), began on December 13, 1937. Japanese troops invaded the city. For the next six weeks, using torture, executions, rape, and violence, imperial forces murdered the citizens of Nanking in the hundreds of thousands. Many were buried alive. Estimates range from 142,000 to up to 300,000 people perished. This day is remembered each year in China with reverence and solemnity, honoring the dead and assuring it never happens again. Image: Bodies of victims along Qinhuai River out of Nanjing's west gate during Nanjing Massacre, 1937/1938. Photographer Moriyasu Murase.

Africa

Dec

National Day (QA)(1878): December 18

06:20 AM | -

December 18, 1878, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Thani, who would defeat the Ottomans and erase them from his land, succeeded his father, Sheik Jassem, to the throne and founded the nation of Qatar. It would fall under the British empire after the Ottomans until it gained independence on September 3, 1971. National Day in Qatar is a national holiday.

Africa

Dec

National Day, (AE)(1971): December 2

06:20 AM | -

National Day in the United Arab Emirates marks the anniversary of December 2, 1971, when the seven Trucial States (tribes) joined together to become the UAE. National Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Dec

National Day, (BF)(1958): December 11

06:20 AM | -

National Day in Burkina Faso marks the anniversary of December 11, 1958, when the nation achieved independence from France within the French community. National Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Dec

National Day, (CF)(1958): December 1

06:20 AM | -

National Day in the Central African Republic marks the anniversary of December 1, 1958, the official day the nation declared itself a republic. National Day is a national holiday observed on the first Monday of December.

Africa

Dec

National Day, (LA)(1975) December 2

06:20 AM | -

National Day in Laos marks the anniversary of December 2, 1975, when Laos declared itself a republic. National Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Dec

National Day, (RO)(1918): December 1

06:20 AM | -

National Day in Romania marks the anniversary of December 1, 1918, when the people of Romania and Transylvania were reunited after WWI. National Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Dec

National Guard Day (US)(1636): December 13

06:20 AM | -

The National Guard is the oldest institution in the United States. It was the first militia regiment in North America, created on December 13, 1636, by the Massachusetts Bay Colony's General Court. It was organized into three permanent units to defend the colony better. Today, the descendants of these first regiments—the 181st Infantry, the 182nd Infantry, the 101st Field Artillery, and the 101st Engineer Battalion of the Massachusetts Army National Guard—share the distinction of being the oldest units in the U.S. military. Most Americans know the National Guard through service or its deployment to assist with natural and manmade disasters. These include fighting fires, rescue, and infrastructure repair after tornados, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Assisting with civil unrest and providing extra manpower during health emergencies, including COVID-19, are other ways the National Guard helps keep Americans safe. Happy Birthday, National Guard. Header Image: NOME, Alaska - Members of the 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, unload pallets of gifts from an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft on December 2, 2021, at Nome, Alaska, before loading them onto a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for delivery to Buckland as part of Operation Santa Claus 2021. This year marks the 66th year of the program—photo by Dana Rosso.

Africa

Dec

National Underdog Day (US/UK): December 19

06:20 AM | -

National Underdog Day in the United States and the United Kingdom was created in 1976 by the late Peter Moeller, self-described as the Chief Underdog. The term "underdog" originates in shipbuilding, and "dog" is a slang term for the wooden planks put in pits for sawing. The person standing in the hold would be the "underdog." The person standing above was the "overdog." Both sawmen did similar work, but the underdog would end up covered in the sawdust, and the overdog would not. Today the term is used as a David versus Goliath metaphor, with the underdog at a disadvantage in size, money, or power—which is why people love cheering for underdogs. Fun fact, December 16 is also the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party in 1773, a political protest in defiance of that year's Tea Act tax by the underdog American Colonialists against the world's most powerful empire, Britain. It is one of the critical events leading up to the American Revolution and a classic David versus Goliath triumph.

Africa

Dec

Navidades, (PR)(C): December 15-January 6

06:20 AM | -

Navidades is the official Christmas season in Puerto Rico. It begins ten days before Christmas and extends until Epiphany (January 6). Celebrations are vast, colorful, and spiced with the unique fusion of Caribbean and Latino culture, music, food, and relatively warm tropical weather.

Africa

Dec

Neutrality Day, (TM)(1995): December 12

06:20 AM | -

Neutrality Day in Turkmenistan marks the anniversary of December 12, 1995, the official day the nation was recognized as a neutral state in South Asia, much like Switzerland in Europe by the United Nations. Neutrality Day is a national holiday.

Africa