All - Leep Calendar

Adults, are you aware that the size of your feet changes as you age? The most common changes occur in the arch, which provides balance and width. You may have had a narrow foot in your 20s and 30s. As you enter your 40s, you realize your shoes are starting to get tight. Don't panic—that's normal. Podiatrists suggest that even as an adult, your feet are measured twice a year to ensure your shoes fit properly. Real problems arise when your shoes contribute to the pain in your hips, back, neck, headaches, and feet. Women are particularly vulnerable to bunions due to wearing high-heeled shoes with narrow toes. National Foot Health Awareness Month occurs each year in April.

Africa

Apr

Frog Month, Ntl.: April

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April is National Frog Month. We're still determining how it started or where it came from, but several organizations have adopted it. The National Wildlife Federation is leading, and other organizations include Busch Gardens, which uses this month to showcase its 90 different varieties of frogs. According to Busch Gardens: "Instead of drinking water, frogs soak it into their body through their skin. Frogs breathe through their nostrils but absorb about half the air they need through their skin. Frogs use their eyes to help them swallow food." The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) also has a program you can participate in, FrogWatch USA. FrogWatch USA is AZA's flagship citizen science program that invites individuals and families to learn about the wetlands in their communities and help conserve amphibians by reporting the calls of local frogs and toads. For over ten years, volunteers entered their FrogWatch USA information and ongoing analyses of these vast amounts of data, which in turn has been used to help develop practical strategies for the conservation of these critical species. Frog Watch USA is a fabulous opportunity for parents and teachers to introduce children to science and research, saving frogs simultaneously.

Africa

Apr

Fun at Work Day, Intl.: April 1

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In 1996 Playfair created International Fun at Work Day to increase awareness of the importance of bringing a playful attitude to work. Studies have shown that a playful workplace can inspire creativity, build team spirit, and create an atmosphere where people want to come to work each day. It produces increased productivity, and everyone wins. Take time on April first to engage your coworkers and have a little fun. Go for lunch, meet on the grass under a tree, or bring a silly string in to get things started. No matter what you do, the mantra today is to have fun!

Africa

Apr

Grange Month: April

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National Grange Month celebrates the community organization of agricultural husbandry called The Grange. The Grange is a family, community organization with roots in agriculture. Founded in 1867, The Grange is a national organization with a local focus. Members learn and grow to their full potential as citizens and leaders. The Grange has been instrumental in bringing about avenues for rural access, from rural mail delivery to electricity, supporting social reform, including women’s suffrage, and assisting groups such as the deaf and hard of hearing through financial contributions and awareness campaigns.

Africa

Apr

Grilled Cheese Month, Ntl.: April

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National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month celebrates one of our favorite sandwiches. What kind of bread you use or cheese is up to you. People often pair grilled cheese with bacon, ham, and other lunch meats. Today's version of grilled cheese originated with the invention of the bread slicer in the early 20th century by James L Kraft, who subsequently invented the first processed cheese. Logically, the two inventions came together.

Africa

Apr

Guitar Month, Intl.: April

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International Guitar Month (IGM), held annually since April 1987, celebrates guitars and guitar products. GAMA and NAMM sponsor IGM to help retailers create interest, attract new customers, and develop loyalty.

Africa

Apr

Heartworm Awareness Month, Ntl.: April

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National Heartworm Awareness Month focuses on educating pet owners about the dangers and preventative measures they can take to ensure their pets do not become victims of heartworm. Since the first diagnosis of canine heartworm disease over one hundred years ago, heartworm infection has become a significant health problem affecting pets today. Heartworm infection is caused by worms (Dirofilaria immitis) that may grow into 14-inch-long adults. These adult worms live in the right side of the heart and the lungs' arteries. Heartworm infection can cause severe damage to these arteries, eventually leading to heart failure and, in extreme cases, damage to other organs, such as the liver and kidneys. Dogs of any age and breed are susceptible to contracting heartworm disease. While cats appear more resistant to heartworm infection than dogs, with fewer worms surviving into adulthood, they are still susceptible to infection. They can also suffer from the effects of heartworm disease. Cats do not contribute significantly to spreading the infection. Although the risk of heartworm infection varies from state to state, heartworm disease occurs in all of the contiguous 48 states and Hawaii. It is most concentrated in the southern United States.

Africa

Apr

Holy Humor Month (C): April

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God has a sense of humor (if you ever doubt this, tell Him your plans). Holy Humor Month reminds Christians to enjoy the healing power of laughter and the joys of celebration. Church prayer groups throughout the country participate in this event.

Africa

Apr

Humor Month, Intl.: April

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International Humor Month was founded in 1976 by comedian and best-selling author Larry Wilde, Director of The Carmel Institute of Humor, to heighten public awareness of the therapeutic value of laughter in improving health, boosting morale, increasing communication skills, and enriching the quality of life. Today International Humor Month is celebrated in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. "Since April is often bleak and grim and taxes are due on the 15th, it can be one of the most stressful times of the year," says Wilde, author of 53 books on humor. "Besides," adds Wilde, "it's the only month that begins with All Fool's Day, a day which has sanctioned frivolity and pranks ever since the 1500s." The idea of laughing and the use of humor as a tool to lift ailing spirits is growing. Scientific research now indicates that the curative power of laughter and its ability to relieve debilitating stress and burnout may be among our great medical discoveries. Ways to celebrate National Humor Month include telling a joke a day and watching a comedy show or movie each night to unwind and playing practical jokes on your family, coworkers, and friends.

Africa

Apr

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month: April

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In 1997, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) designated IBS Awareness Month to focus on IBS diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life issues. IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is a long-term disorder where abdominal discomfort or pain is associated with various symptoms. Typically, these include intermittent abdominal pain accompanied by diarrhea, constipation, or alternating episodes of both. Other symptoms may also be present. Although there is currently no cure for IBS, there are ways to improve symptoms and feel better. Whether mild, moderate, or severe, all IBS treatment should begin with education about the nature of the disorder.

Africa

Apr

Islamic Republic Day (IR)(1979): April 1

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Islamic Republic Day in Iran marks the anniversary of the acceptance of Iran's new constitution on April 1, 1979.

Africa

Apr

Jazz Appreciation Month: April

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Jazz is a unique form of music that came about in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Jazz Appreciation Month originated with the Smithsonian Institute in 2002. Each year, April sees concerts and other activities celebrating jazz in the United States. In schools, music educators incorporate jazz into their classrooms; many focus on the greats of jazz history, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and John Coltrane. Jazz Appreciation Month is when parents and teachers can significantly expand the types of music their children listen to. Rock and Roll and Hip Hop both have roots in jazz.

Africa

Apr

Keep America Beautiful Month: April

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If you were alive in the 1970s, you’d remember the Crying Indian commercial (below), considered one of the most incredible public service announcements ever for Keep America Beautiful. Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup is the nation’s most extensive annual community improvement program that harnesses the power of over 4.5 million volunteers to build vibrant communities. Over 1,200 affiliates and participating organizations engage volunteers each year to take action in their communities through programs that deliver positive and lasting impact through events focused on waste reduction, recycling, beautification, and community greening. Keep America Beautiful celebrates their work each April during Keep America Beautiful month. Their core issues of preventing litter, reducing waste, and beautifying communities go hand in hand with the work of GFWC. Update: Various culture activist groups decided the Crying Indian commercial represents cultural appropriation and pressured for its removal. In March 2023, the commercial was officially retired.

Africa

Apr

Kite Month, Ntl.: April

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Dedicated to promoting and supporting kiting, National Kite Month is a not-for-profit venture co-founded by the American Kitefliers Association and the Kite Trade Association International. Kite events worldwide help introduce people to kite flying fun, the rich history of kites, the stunning artistry of kitemakers, and using kites as educational tools.

Africa

Apr

Knuckles Down Month, Ntl: April

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Knuckles Down is a term associated with the game of marbles. In times past, marbles were a popular game, and people took great pride in collecting and competing. Knuckles Down Month is about reinvigorating the sport and its passions once again. Marbles are small spherical toys made of glass, stone, clay, or other materials that trace back to antiquity. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans fashioned the earliest marbles from marble, alabaster, or other stone for games and as decor. During the Middle Ages, less expensive marbles were made of clay, fired in kilns, and decorated with colorful glazes. By the 1800s, glass marbles were introduced and mass-produced, and they quickly became popular with children and adults for games and competitions. Machine-made marbles were introduced in the 20th century using a "marbleizing," process that combined molten glass with various colors into glass spheres. These are the marbles of today.

Africa