All - Leep Calendar

Varalakshmi Vrata celebrates the reincarnation of the goddess Lakshmi. Reincarnation is a central belief in Hinduism. Married women fast on this day, praying for their family's well-being and, specifically, their husbands. They believe worshiping Goddess Varalakshmi today is equal in power to worshiping Ashtalaksmi, the eight goddesses representing wealth, earth, wisdom, love, fame, peace, pleasure, and strength. 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

Aug

Zucchini onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day: August 8

06:20 AM | -

If you've ever had a garden, then you know by the end of summer, you have zucchini coming out of your ears. Sneak Zucchini onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day is your chance to get rid of some of that extra healthy squash. A couple started this idea in Pennsylvania. At the end of summer, they would give their neighbors zucchini baskets with a selection of veggies, preserves, and fresh produce from local growers. It's a fun tradition and a great way to get rid of all that extra zucchini and bring a smile to your neighbor's face.

Africa

Aug

Book Lovers Day, Intl.: August 9

06:20 AM | -

Book Lover's Day encourages people to pick up a book and read it for the day. Celebrating Book Lovers Day is simple. Buy that book you've always wanted to read. Rearrange your home library or host a party around the theme of your favorite literary escape.

Africa

Aug

Bowling Day, Ntl.: August 9

06:20 AM | -

National Bowling Day in the U.S. celebrates bowling, a game involving lanes, balls, and pins. Various forms of bowling have existed since ancient times. However, the country that invented bowling as we know it today is Germany. Whether you’re a bowling enthusiast, a fan, or haven’t ever bowled, there is one great way to mark this day. Go bowling!

Africa

Aug

Garage Sale Day, Ntl.: August 9

06:20 AM | -

National Garage Sale Day occurs on the second Saturday of August. Garage sales grew out of a port custom of ship captains, and they sold excess and unclaimed cargo on the docks at a discount in rummage sales. Around the turn of the last century, charities and churches began using the concept of selling second-hand goods in a centralized location to raise money. The US army got into the picture using a similar approach to unload surplus gear and supplies. Post-WWII, with the mass exodus from the cities to the suburbs, individual families began selling off what they couldn’t move from their garages, and an American institution was born. National Garage Sale Day is a grassroots effort in the United States. However, the largest garage sale in the world occurs over an entire weekend and takes place nationwide in Australia, and that event is called the Great Garage Sale Trail.

Africa

Aug

Indigenous People's Day, World (1982): August 9

06:20 AM | -

World Indigenous People’s Day is a United Nations-sponsored event recognizing the contributions of the indigenous people in protecting the environment. Indigenous people are those native to the land before colonization by outside forces. Declared by the General Assembly in December 1994, August 9 marks the anniversary of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Human Rights in 1982. There are over 370 million indigenous people in the world, located in 90 countries, representing 5,000 cultures and over 7,000 languages. The Aboriginal people of Australia, Native Americans of the United States, First Nations people of Canada, Palestinians in Israel, and the Occupied Territories are among the most prominent and best-known groups. Though just 5% of the global population, indigenous people represent 15% of the poorest people globally.

Africa

Aug

Middle Child's Day: August 9

06:20 AM | -

Elizabeth Walker created Middle Child’s Day in 1986 to highlight children often left out. The eldest gets attention because they are the first, and the youngest, quite precocious, gets away with much, leaving the middle child feeling like a footnote. Parents treat their middle children with attention, affection, and honor today, and it is all about the middle.

Africa

Aug

Moon—Full: August 9

06:20 AM | -

A full moon occurs when the moon is illuminated by the sun and on the opposite side of the earth. Its ecliptic longitude is 180 degrees. For centuries, people have applied names to full moons to track the seasons and as a point of reference. The names listed below come from Native American and Colonial American traditions passed down through generations. Here are the common names for full moons in each month in the Northern Hemisphere (the Southern Hemisphere doesn't do this tradition): January: Wolf Moon—Named after the howling of wolves during the cold winter nights. February: Snow Moon—Named for the typically heavy snowfall. March: Worm Moon—As the ground thaws, earthworms emerge, attracting birds. April: Seed Moon—Time to plant for the fall harvest. May: Flower Moon—Named for the abundance of flowers in May. June: Strawberry Moon— due to the short harvesting season for strawberries in the northeastern United States. July: Buck Moon—when new antlers grow on male deer (bucks). August: Sturgeon Moon—when sturgeon fish are abundant in North America's Great Lakes. September: Harvest Moon—time to harvest crops. October: Hunter's Moon—game is at its fattest, allowing hunters to stock up for the winter months. November: Beaver Moon—when beavers build their winter dams. December: Cold Moon—long, dark, and cold nights. Full moon names vary between cultures, regions, and traditions; several full moons have alternative names. The above are the most common. A blue moon occurs when two full moons are in a single month, and February is the only month in the year that occasionally does not have a full moon. A blood moon describes a total lunar eclipse.

Africa

Aug

Nagasaki Bombing (JP)(1945): August 9

06:20 AM | -

The United States of America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, one on Hiroshima and the other on Nagasaki. Today is the anniversary of the second. Tragically, Nagasaki was not the first choice of target for the US Air Force. The original target was shrouded in smoke and cloud cover that day, so Nagasaki was the backup. The irony expands when one realizes that Nagasaki had the largest Christian population in Japan at the time. From the Nagasaki Atom Bomb Museum: "An atomic bomb exploded over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, three days after the explosion of the first atomic bomb over Hiroshima. The bomb was assembled at Tinian Island on August 6. On August 8, Field Order No.17 issued from the 20th Air Force Headquarters on Guam called for its use the following day on either Kokura, the primary target, or Nagasaki, the secondary target. That same day, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. The B-29 bomber "Bockscar" reached the sky over Kokura on the morning of August 9 but abandoned the primary target because of smoke cover and changed course for Nagasaki, the secondary target, where it dropped the atomic bomb at 11:02 AM."

Africa

Aug

Narali Purnima (H): August 9

06:20 AM | -

Narali Poornima occurs on the full moon of the month of Shravan (Sawan). Naral is Hindi for "coconut." Offerings of coconuts are made to the sea gods as part of this ritual to mark the beginning of the fishing season to appease anger and assure a good catch. Singing and dancing and sweet coconut rice are served throughout the day. 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

Aug

National Day, (SG)(1965): August 9

06:20 AM | -

National Day in Singapore marks the anniversary of August 9, 1965, the day Singapore gained its independence from Malaysia. National Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Aug

Polka Day, Ntl.: August 9

06:20 AM | -

International Polka Day commemorates the polka dance. On this day, people who love polka dance to it. Originating in Eastern Europe, the polka was trendy during the pre-WWII period.

Africa

Aug

Raksha Bandhan (Siblings Day) (H): August 9

06:20 AM | -

Raksha Bandhan can also be called Siblings Day. It is a celebration of sibling love observed on the Purnima of Sawan in the Hindu calendar. Raksha Bandhan is an ancient observance ripe with myth and historical legends. One recounts how the Rajput queens practiced the custom of sending rakhi threads to neighboring rulers as a token of fraternity. This legend is illustrated today by sisters tying a sacred thread, rakhi, on her brother's wrist as a symbol of her love and prayers for her brother's well-being and his lifelong vow to protect her. 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

Aug

Rice Pudding Day, Ntl.: August 9

06:20 AM | -

Rice pudding is made from rice mixed with milk, water, cream, and spices. It is a traditional dish at Hindu weddings and originated in Asia, making its way to Europe during the 1300s. The earliest written mention of the rice pudding in European culture occurred during the Tudor era (1485-1603) when it was called white pot by Gervase Markham in 1675. This dish has as many renditions as cultures that embrace it. Rice pudding can be found globally in nearly every country (with its unique twist). National Rice Pudding Day is an unofficial event with no sponsor.

Africa

Aug

Royal Queensland Show Ekka (AU-WA): August 9-17 (est)

06:20 AM | -

Officially known as the Royal Queensland Show, this celebration is the most significant cultural exhibition in Brisbane, held at its exhibition grounds. Attendees enjoy competitions, educational displays, and live performances. The first Ekka show occurred in 1877, and the highlight was an exhibition made of timber that housed 1,700 small exhibits. Initially, the Ekka Show was an agricultural show featuring different farming technology.

Africa