All - Leep Calendar

Rejoice, shrimp lovers. Fried Shrimp Day is here! Did you know that all shrimp are born male? As they develop, some become female. Shrimp is America’s favorite seafood, and we have the Chinese first, then the native American tribe of the Muskogee to thank. The Chinese have been eating shrimp for thousands of years, and Marco Polo brought this delicacy to Europe. The combining of shrimp with grits and other grains, common to Southern dishes, comes from the Muskogee. It takes 2 pounds of fish to produce one pound of farmed shrimp. Prawns are commonly used in the US to designate large shrimp from small shrimp.

Africa

Dec

Fritters Day, Ntl.: December 2

06:20 AM | -

National Fritters Day celebrates fried food made with meat or fruits. There are several types of patties. British fritters are mushy batter fried and usually contain savory items. American patties tend to be sweets, though crabcakes are the most popular form of American fritter. Asian fritters, common to the southern region, are closer to the British version and can resemble a Middle Eastern favorite, the falafel. Fritters are typical street food in Asia. Image: Carrot & Chickpea Fritters From Flickr by HarshLight at https://flickr.com/photos/79172203@N00/39843246631 via Wikimedia Commons

Africa

Dec

Fruitcake Day, Ntl.: December 27

06:20 AM | -

Rejoice, fruitcake lovers. National Fruitcake Day is your day! Besides being delicious and not as unhealthy as a typical cake, fruitcakes have been around for a long time. In some ancient cultures, it was a custom to bury one's loved ones with fruitcake, but to best celebrate this event, treat yourself to some delicious fruitcake!

Africa

Dec

Futures Day, World: December 2

06:20 AM | -

UNESCO's World Futures Day is a global initiative dedicated to exploring, discussing, and envisioning diverse and sustainable futures. Its focus encourages forward-thinking, innovative approaches to addressing today's and tomorrow's challenges, emphasizing the importance of foresight in global policymaking. The origin of World Futures Day stems from UNESCO's commitment to fostering a culture of anticipatory governance and strategic foresight. Recognizing that the rapid pace of technological, environmental, and social changes presents complex challenges, UNESCO established this day to promote a proactive approach to shaping future scenarios. The purpose of World Futures Day is multifaceted. Primarily, it aims to engage policymakers, academics, futurists, and the public in a dialogue about the future, considering various perspectives and disciplines. It's a day for sharing insights, research, and innovative ideas that can guide humanity toward sustainable, inclusive futures. This observance also serves as an educational platform, highlighting the importance of future literacy – the ability to understand and influence the future. UNESCO emphasizes the need for education systems to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to actively navigate and shape the future. World Futures Day includes conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and collaborative projects. These events allow participants to explore emerging trends, potential risks, and opportunities and devise strategies for building resilient, adaptable societies. A significant aspect of World Futures Day is its focus on inclusivity and diversity in envisioning the future. UNESCO encourages the inclusion of voices from various cultural, geographical, and socioeconomic backgrounds, ensuring that future scenarios reflect the aspirations and concerns of all segments of society.

Africa

Dec

Galveston Dickens on the Strand (US-TX): December 5-7 (est)

06:20 AM | -

With a nod to the ghost of Dickens' past and an eye toward the future, the world-famous Victorian holiday festival returns to Galveston Island. The annual holiday street festival, based on 19th-century Victorian London, features parades, non-stop entertainment on six stages, strolling carolers, roving musicians, bagpipers, jugglers, and a host of other entertainers. Costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with holiday food and drink, Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations, and gift items.

Africa

Dec

Gazpacho Day, Ntl.: December 6

06:20 AM | -

National Gazpacho Day honors the Gazpacho soup, its origin, and its cultural significance. Gazpacho, served cold and made from vegetables, originated in southern Spain.

Africa

Dec

Gingerbread Decorating Day: December 13

06:20 AM | -

Gingerbread is a famous holiday bread/cookie and construction resource. Gingerbread has existed since 2400BC, with the first known recipe from the Greeks. The Chinese further developed the cookie, but it was the court of Queen Elizabeth the I of England where decorating gingerbread came into vogue. Creating a house of gingerbread originated in Germany around the same time, primarily due to the popularity of the story Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm. Since that story, gingerbread houses have been a popular holiday activity. The largest gingerbread house ever constructed is 40,000 cubic feet. It was erected at the Traditions Golf Club in Brian, Texas, and required a building permit! Texas does like big. National Gingerbread Decorating Day is an annual event promoted by Wilton Industries to encourage people to spend the day in family time and decorate some gingerbread. Annually on the second Saturday in December.

Africa

Dec

Gita Jayanti (H): December 1

06:20 AM | -

Gita Jayanti is the birthday of Bhagavad Gita (700-verse Hindu scripture), the sacred text of the Hindus celebrated on the Shukla Ekadashi, the 11th day of the waxing moon in the month of Margashirsha. It corresponds to the November-December month in the Gregorian calendar. It is believed the Bhagavad Gita was revealed to Arjuna by Sri Krishna himself on the battlefield of Kurukshetra (in present-day Haryana, India). All devotees of Lord Krishna celebrate Gita Jayanti. PLEASE NOTE: We use the Indian civil calendar, the official holiday calendar in India. The Hindu faith has many calendars, each specific to different regions and tribes, with dates and celebrations marked by differing positions of the sun, moon, and stars. Names of months and holidays and the corresponding dates in the Gregorian Calendar may vary widely from one calendar to the next. Determine the proper calendar before attending local events.

Africa

Dec

Give the Gift of Sight Month: December

06:20 AM | -

As the holidays approach, Give the Gift of Sight Month reminds everyone to check their eyes before the end of the year when Healthcare Spending Accounts reset. Additional actions you can take to protect your eyes include: Wear Sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays; wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation and lower your risk of cataracts and other eye damage. Limit Screen Time on digital devices can lead to eye strain. Take a break every 20 minutes and look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Adjust your screen's brightness, text size, and contrast to make it eye-friendly. Regular Check-ups, including eye exams, can detect issues early when they're most treatable. Optometrists recommend adults have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years or more frequently if they have certain risk factors. When coupled with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking, each of these steps can contribute significantly to maintaining your eye health.

Africa

Dec

Giving Tuesday: December 2

06:20 AM | -

This United Nations Foundation-backed event began in 2012 to promote charitable giving during the holiday season. Annually the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Africa

Dec

Goodwill, Day of (ZA)(1994): December 26

06:20 AM | -

Goodwill Day in South Africa is known as Boxing Day in the rest of the Commonwealth Countries. In 1994, with the end of apartheid, the government chose to rename the day to sever its ties with its colonial past. Goodwill Day is an official holiday in South Africa.

Africa

Dec

Green Monday (E-commerce): December 8

06:20 AM | -

Most folks have heard about Black Friday. How familiar are you with Green Monday? Green Monday is the heaviest online shopping day of the year and always falls in Mid-December. It's an invisible line, basically the last day to shop for Christmas online and still be assured your packages will arrive on time before Christmas without having to pay for express shipping. The term "Green Monday" was coined in 2007 by eBay.

Africa

Dec

Halcyon Days: December 14-28

06:20 AM | -

Halcyon Days is an ancient tradition honoring the mythical bird of peace and tranquility, the halcyon. It always occurs during the seven days leading up to the winter solstice and the seven days following it.

Africa

Dec

Handwashing Awareness Week: December 7-13

06:20 AM | -

"Handwashing is the new vaccine!" is one of the slogans we see during December's National Handwashing Awareness Week. Help spread the word and raise awareness on this simple way to combat the spread of disease.

Africa

Dec

Hanukkah (J) (166 BC): December 20-28

06:20 AM | -

Hanukkah is a Hebrew holiday that starts on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually falls during December. Hanukkah, the "Festival of Dedication" or "Festival of Lights," celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians in 166 BC. It also honors the re-dedication of the holy temple in Jerusalem by the Hebrews after the Syrians defiled it. The primary custom during Hanukkah is to light a candle on each night of the festival in a menorah. The candles represent the miracle of the lamp oil, which lasted eight days, far longer than it should have during the battle. Gifts are exchanged each night of Hanukkah. PLEASE NOTE: All Hebrew calendar months and celebrations begin and end at sundown. LEEP Calendar marks Jewish months and events on their first full day. Observant people of the faith will observe the beginning at sunset the day prior.

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