All - Leep Calendar

What better way to spend the shortest day of the year than curled up in your favorite chair, reading a book from beginning to end? That is what Celebrate Short Fiction Day has been all about since it first appeared in 2012.

Africa

Dec

Short Film Day, Intl. (1895): December 28

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On December 28, 1865, two brothers from Paris, Auguste and Louis Lumière introduced 33 people to the future: film. They showcased to the crowd ten short films, each less than a minute, and changed the world as we know it. Today, movies are a multi-billion dollar entertainment and educational industry. What is the best way to mark this day? Watch a short film. We recommend 1956’s The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse. This Academy Award-winning film, at just 34 minutes, will charm the oldest and youngest members of your family! Header Image: Scene from the Red Balloon, 1956 Janus Films, available through the Criterion Collection.

Africa

Dec

Shorts Day: December 21

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Created in 1986, Shorts Day is a day to flaunt the first day of winter on the solstice by wearing shorts to honor the shortest day of the year. Just be sure to wear a coat if you go outside! Have fun.

Africa

Dec

Simbang Gabi, (PH)(C): December 16-24

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Simbang Gabi is the official Christmas prayer tradition in the Philippines. It begins nine days before Christmas and includes nine early dawn and nine evening masses (church services). It is the preparation leading up to Christmas and is celebrated by Filipinos worldwide.

Africa

Dec

Skywarn Recognition Day, Ntl.: December 6

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The first Saturday of December is National Skywarn Recognition Day. Developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League, the day honors and celebrates the essential contribution of volunteer SKYWARN radio operators to the National Weather Service.

Africa

Dec

Slavery Abolition, World Day of (1807): December 2

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World Day of Slavery Abolition marks the anniversary of the December 2, 1807, act prohibiting the importation of slaves becoming federal law in the United States. It abolished the international slave trade in the United States but did not end the practice. Currently, the United Nations seeks to resolve the issue of slavery with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as its roadmap for stamping out the root causes of slavery and freeing all enslaved people in the world.

Africa

Dec

Sock Day (1954): December 4

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National Sock Day, an initiative founded by the apparel brand Pair of Thieves, is observed annually on December 4. The day was established in 2016 to celebrate the "noble, hardworking sock" and coincides with the date of two significant events in the world of performing arts. On December 4, 1954, the final curtain fell on the first revival of the Broadway musical "On Your Toes," which debuted in 1936. National Sock Day transcends the mere appreciation of socks as a fashion or comfort item; it underscores a broader message of caring and community support. Pair of Thieves has embraced this spirit by focusing on charity work associated with the day. Socks, the most requested yet least donated item at shelters, hold significant importance in this context. Pair of Thieves has substantially contributed to supporting the unhoused community, having donated over 3 million socks. In a noteworthy act of philanthropy, the company teamed up with Los Angeles' KTLA 5 to donate 50,000 pairs of socks on National Sock Day, with half of these going to the Dream Center, a significant step in addressing the needs of those less fortunate. The day encourages not only the celebration of socks but also promotes acts of kindness and giving. Each year, Pair of Thieves pledges to donate a pair of socks for every use of the #nationalsockday hashtag, inspiring people to show off their favorite socks, acquire new ones, give sock gifts, and engage in charitable activities. This combination of celebration and philanthropy encapsulates the essence of National Sock Day, turning a seemingly mundane item into a symbol of warmth, care, and community support.

Africa

Dec

Soil Day, World: December 5

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World Soil Day connects people to the soil and raises awareness of its critical importance in our lives. This event first ran in 2013. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Conference, in June 2013, unanimously endorsed World Soil Day and requested official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, the 68th UN General Assembly declared December 5th as World Soil Day. The day came about through the efforts of many people, including the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) and the Kingdom of Thailand, through the Global Soil Partnership. In 2002, the IUSS made a resolution proposing December 5th as World Soil Day to celebrate the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to human wellbeing. A/RES/68/232 on World Soil Day and International Year of Soils formerly created this event.

Africa

Dec

Special Education Day, (1975) Ntl.: December 2

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National Special Education Day is a historic anniversary of the nation's first federal special education law, adopted on this day in 1975. It's a day that honors and celebrates students with disabilities, their teachers, parents, and schools, and the progress they and we are making. This event first ran in 2004.

Africa

Dec

Stock Exchange Holiday (NYSE Closed): December 25

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Stock Market holidays are days when the stock exchange is closed, and no trading occurs.

Africa

Dec

Stop Smoking, Take a New Year's Resolution to: December 17-February 8

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This is the year to become a quitter if you're a smoker finally. Each year PPSI sets aside six weeks to help you plan and finally kick this expensive and destructive habit during Take a New Year's Resolution to Stop Smoking weeks.

Africa

Dec

Stretching Day: December 11

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Stretching Day promotes the pre-workout and stress-relieving activity of stretching for physical and mental fitness. Formal stretching has deep and varied roots, intertwining with the evolution of physical fitness, sports, and therapeutic practices across different cultures and eras. While stretching is as old as humanity, the formal incorporation of stretching into exercise regimens has a more recent history, particularly in modern fitness and sports training. The formal recommendation of stretching as an integral part of exercise routines gained prominence in the early 20th century. The work of pioneers in physical education and therapy largely influenced this. One notable figure in this context is Pehr Henrik Ling, a Swedish physical therapist and educator who, in the early 19th century, developed the Swedish system of gymnastics. Ling's system, which combined massage, manipulation, and exercise, is often cited as one of the early structured approaches that included stretching. However, in the mid-20th century, stretching became widely popular and recommended as a critical component of physical fitness. This shift was partly due to the growing interest in sports medicine and the recognition of the importance of flexibility and range of motion in athletic performance and injury prevention. The 1960s and 1970s saw a significant increase in research and literature on the benefits of stretching. Dr. James Anderson, a prominent figure in sports medicine, was among those who advocated for the inclusion of stretching in exercise routines. His research and teachings helped to cement the idea that stretching could enhance athletic performance, reduce the risk of injury, and aid in recovery. In the following decades, stretching became a standard part of physical education, athletic training, and general fitness programs. Various stretching techniques were developed and popularized, including static stretching, dynamic stretching, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). Each technique had its proponents and was recommended for different purposes and at other times relative to exercise. In recent years, the approach to stretching has become more nuanced, with research suggesting that the timing and type of stretching can have varying impacts on performance and injury prevention. For example, dynamic stretching is often recommended before exercise to prepare the muscles; static stretching occurs during post-exercise cooldowns. The history of stretching for exercise reflects evolving understandings of human physiology and the continuous pursuit of optimizing physical health and performance. From ancient practices to modern-day sports science, stretching has remained a constant and vital element of physical fitness.

Africa

Dec

Student's Day, (IR)(1953): December 7

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Student's Day in Iran honors three student protesters martyred on December 7, 1953, for freedom of speech and the right to assemble. December 7, 1953, Tehran University students gathered to protest the upcoming December 9 arrival of American Vice President Richard Nixon. The peaceful protests were met with a 'Shoot to Kill' order from the Shah's security forces. Three student protesters, Mostafa Bozorgnia, Ahmad Ghandchi, and Mehdi Shariat-Razavi, were killed. Though the public remembers the martyrs each year after that, the Shah's security services would ruthlessly pursue and dissuade anyone from recognizing their sacrifice during his rule. Immediately following the 1979 revolution and the overthrow of the Shah, Student's Day became a symbol of the nation's displeasure with American foreign policy. Over the next few decades, under the strict rule of the Ayatollahs, Student's Day was used by the people to voice opinions about their current rulers, in addition to foreign nations, which did not sit well with the religious and political leaders. As in the Shah's day, the Islamic leaders actively repressed dissent and free speech, bringing the Iranians back full circle to 1953 without the bullets. By 2009, rules were relaxed, and celebrations of Student's Day could be observed, provided celebrants were not critical of the Iranian government or its religious leaders. WHY IS THERE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN IRAN AND THE WEST? Most animosities between the west and Iran began in August 1953, four months before the students were killed. In January 1953, Iran was a nascent yet thriving democracy and the region's most progressive and wealthy nation. Its natural resources, highly educated society, and forward-thinking prime minister Mohammad Mosaddeq, projected a bright future for the west Asian country. Mosaddeq was a man of the people. He believed his nation's natural resources and the wealth it generated should belong to and benefit all Iranians rather than foreign governments or wealthy individuals, thereby creating a problem for two other countries, the United States and Great Britain. Both nations had invested heavily in oil exploration within the region since the 1920s. Nationalized oil would prevent British and, to a lesser extent, American companies from fully profiting and impacting their nations' influence in the region. But oil isn't Iran's only natural resource. Iran has a variety of ecosystems, minerals, water, and sources of wealth, giving it a well-rounded economic footing in multiple markets not shared by its Gulf neighbors. Prime minister Mosaddeq's ideas would make the Persian nation less amenable to foreign stewardship and coaxing while protecting it from the internal corruption of its monarchal past. Mosaddeq wanted to return the country to its geopolitical and cultural importance while elevating the quality of life of his people. Not everyone was happy, particularly nations hoping to control the resources and the new government, as well as former loyalists of the monarchy within Iran. On August 19, 1953, agents of the CIA, MI-6, and various dissenting factions within the Iranian population, orchestrated a coup, overthrew the prime minister, and reinstalled the exiled Shah (king) in power. Mohammad Mosaddeq went into hiding, and martial law was declared. The secret police began arresting, imprisoning, and tracking dissenters. The Shah, a brutal ostentatious dictator, ruled without mercy and deferred to western powers who helped him stay in control—until his people overthrew him in 1979. The Hostage Crisis, culminating with the storming and occupation of the US embassy in Tehran for 444 days, is one of the most well-known events of that year. The United States is the primary reason the Iranians lost their democracy and suffered for 25 years under the Shah. It's why the students protested in 1953, and it's why students occupied the US embassy. Concurrently in 1979, animosity between Persian Iran and its Arab neighbors escalated. It is also the year much of the Islamic world pivoted toward austere conservativism. However, the why on that pivot is a story for another day. Over the next decade, animosity developed between Iran and the Gulf states. Iraq invaded Iran, and that war continued for nearly a decade. Americans deeply embarrassed by the hostage crisis remained steadfastly parochial, and the third spoke in the wheel, Israel, decried Iran as a threat. Contrary to perceived wisdom, the threat Israel sees is not due to Iran's nuclear capabilities, which Israel has had since 1963 and Iran has never had. It's not due to religion (Iran has a robust Jewish population). The reason is far simpler. Strategically positioned between Asia and Europe, Iran is a nation of 84 million people (versus Israel's nine million, Saudi Arabia's 36 million, and the United Arab Emirates' ten million) with vast natural resources (including ample fresh water) and well-educated citizens. Absent sanctions and permitted self-determination, Iran has the potential to outperform Israel and the Gulf states militarily, economically, and, therefore, influentially. When you peel away the excuses, the core reasons for fear are power, influence, and money—like always. Nothing more. So decades later, the dance of Iran's containment continues with sanctions, vilification, and accusations. However, the events of fall 2022 in Iran, with the protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody, surpassed the outcry of Iranian students in 1953 and gained world admiration. The people of Iran appear ready for change, making the question, will the world allow them that chance? We shall see. Review the events of the 1953 coup via the US National Security Archives: https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB435

Africa

Dec

Summer Begins (Southern Hemisphere): December 21

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December 21 in the southern hemisphere is the day summer officially begins.

Africa

Dec

Taboo Day/Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts: December 12

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Taboo Day, or the Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts, sheds light on dark thoughts that all of us have and reminds us that they are something inherently human and all of us have them. It is also a day to discuss challenging issues, whether racism, sexuality, or a loved one's addiction or illness. Today provides you the opportunity if you've been looking for an excuse to address something.

Africa