All - Leep Calendar

International Plastic Bag Free Day raises awareness of the ill effects of plastic bags on the environment. Today, people choose paper over plastic or purchase reusable grocery bags. There is also a concentrated effort to clean up parks and public spaces from all types of waste, including plastic bags. Zero Waste Europe and GAIA organize this global campaign upon an idea from the Fundació Prevenció de Residus I Consum.

Africa

Jul

Plastic Free July: July

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Join 170+ countries worldwide in observing Plastic Free July, an event created in Australia in 2011. Participants refuse to use single-use plastic items during the month. Examples include straws, forks, plastic bags, plastic bottles, and cups. Take the month to think about the plastic you use and don't reuse. Each item that doesn't end up in our oceans or landfills is a win!

Africa

Jul

Polysexual and Polyromantic Visibility Day: July 25

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If variety is the spice of life, then polysexuals want it all: gay, lesbian, straight, transgender, choose your identity. Sex is a buffet, and anything goes; polysexuals revel in the variety and sexual adventure. Polyromantics want the same thing, just with more foreplay. For the sexually adventurous who do not allow gender or sex to define their encounters and experiences, Polysexual & Polyromantic Visibility Day is your day.

Africa

Jul

Population Day, World (1987): July 11

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World Population Day is a United Nations observance that raises awareness of the world's population and its impact on living, the world, and the environment. Sponsored and approved by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) in 1989, July 11 was chosen as the date to focus on the issues in the overall plans for development and solutions to the rising world population. This date marks the anniversary of the "Day of the Five Billion," on July 11, 1987. Between 1987 and 2011, the world's population increased by 40%, reaching seven billion on Halloween 2011. In late 2022 or early 2023, the world's population will reach 8 billion, with the fastest growth happening in Africa and Asia. Due to the higher than average growth rates in these two regions, Islam is expected to surpass Christianity as the world's most populous religion in 2050. With explosive population growth, global culture in the next several centuries is expected to move from a European and Western focus to Eastern and Asian. How has the population grown? In 33AD, the year Jesus Christ died, the worldwide population was estimated between 150 and 330 million, roughly the population of the United States. It would take 1600 years for that number to double to 603 million. Near 1820, the world hit one billion people, approximately the population of India today. That number would double in 110 years, hitting 2.7 billion in 1930. Fifty-seven years later, it doubled again to five billion in 1987 and will double again in fewer than 73 years (2060) to 10 billion. Source: United Nations.

Africa

Jul

Portfolio Day, Ntl.: July 14

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Occurring four times a year and sponsored by the National Portfolio Day Association, National Portfolio Day increasingly manifests on social media under the hashtag #PortfolioDay. It is an opportunity for content creators to share their portfolios with others four times a year. This event is most active on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Africa

Jul

Postage Stamp Day (1847): July 1

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National US Postage Stamp Day marks the anniversary of selling the first US postage stamp. Before 1840, only the wealthy could afford to send letters further than their town. The postage stamps’ invention in England by Sir Rowland Hill on May 6, 1840, would change that. The postage stamp did for 19th-century families and friends what Facebook and Skype have done for 21st-century families and friends: it put people in touch economically, quickly, and efficiently. March 3, 1847, is the date the US Congress approved the first postage stamp. It went on sale July 1, 1847, with a five and ten-cent version. Adjusted for inflation, that cost is similar to paying for an overnight letter delivery today.

Africa

Jul

Postal Workers Day (1847): July 1

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Postal workers have one of the most physically demanding jobs, with each walking an average of 4-8 miles a day in all kinds of weather: snow, rain, heat, humidity, you name it. They are essential to our ability to do commerce, communicate with each other, and move messages from point A to point B. Created in 1997 by a postal worker in Washington State, each July 1 is a day to tip your hat and thank your local postal and package delivery people. Annually on the anniversary of the first US postage stamp sale in 1847.

Africa

Jul

Queen Sonja's Day (NO)(1937): July 4

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QUEEN SONJA'S DAY NORWAY'S CINDERELLA QUEEN Queen Sonja Day celebrates the Queen Consort of Norway's birthday on July 4, 1937. Her story is a real-life Cinderella story detailing a romance of epic proportions. Since becoming Norway's Queen, Sonja Haraldsen has emerged as a unifying and culturally influential figure. IN THE BEGINNING... Sonja is the daughter of Dagny Ulrichsen and Karl August Haraldsen, a clothing merchant. Raised in Oslo's Vinderen district, she completed vocational studies in dressmaking and tailoring, pursued social sciences and fashion at a Swiss finishing school, and later earned a degree in French, English, and art history from the University of Oslo. At a casual party hosted by a mutual friend in 1959, the 22-year-old Sonja met the future King Harald of Norway, also a mere 22 years old. At the time, she was a commoner, and he was the Crown Prince—the only son of King Olav V and heir to the Norwegian throne. Their unexpected meeting sparked a romance that unfolded secretly over the next nine years. LOVE OR THE MONARCHY How did the couple keep their love a secret for nine long years? Through a combination of discretion, trusted confidants, and strategic caution—an extraordinary feat given Harald's high profile as Norway's heir to the throne! Here are some of the ways they kept their love alive. —TRUSTED FRIENDS Most of their interactions occurred in private homes, often organized by mutual and trusted friends who kept their secrets. These meetings were informal, away from public events or official functions. Their closest circle understood the seriousness of their relationship and the risk to the Crown Prince. His friends zealously protected the couple's privacy. —OLD SCHOOL COMMUNICATION They exchanged letters rather than making phone calls, which curious minds could more easily intercept or overhear at the time. Their written correspondence helped preserve the intimacy of their relationship while avoiding public scrutiny. —LONG DISTANCE AND LAY LOW Harald completed his studies abroad at Oxford University and refrained from communications while attending military training, naturally giving him privacy. In Norway, he avoided public outings with Sonja entirely to prevent speculation. —DENY, DENY, DENY Neither party ever acknowledged the relationship publicly. In royal circles and the press, there was speculation about Harald's unmarried status as he entered his 30s. Yet, no one suspected the reason was a long-standing relationship with a commoner. —DAD IN THE DARK King Olav V did not know about the relationship until many years later, partly because Harald feared the King's disapproval. The secrecy extended to the royal household, ensuring staff would not leak any details. THE STICKING POINT Given Sonja was not of royal or noble birth, the couple kept their clandestine relationship hidden for nearly a decade. Her social status presented significant issues for the state. Norwegian traditions and expectations decreed that the Crown Prince could only marry a person of nobility. Harald, however, was deeply in love and determined to marry Sonja. Scandal swirled incessantly through the court, but protocol and tradition failed to deter the future King. A showdown ensued. Famously, the Crown Prince gave his father, King Olav V, an ultimatum: he would remain unmarried and forfeit the line of succession unless he could marry Sonja. Faced with the prospect of ending the royal lineage (and no grandchildren), King Olav relented, giving his blessing. The Crown announced the couple's engagement in March 1968. The couple's successful concealment of their romance endeared them to the Norwegian people once it was revealed. The people revered it as a testament to their love and the immense pressure they faced. It also humanized the future royal couple. On August 29, 1968, they married in Oslo Cathedral, marking a historic shift in royal traditions and ushering in a new era of modern monarchy in Norway. Upon her vows, Sonja's title switched to Crown Princess, allowing her to assume domestic and international royal duties. In 1971, the couple welcomed the birth of their first child, Princess Märtha Louise. Two years later, in 1973, Crown Prince Haakon arrived, securing the line of succession. When King Olav V passed away on January 17, 1991, she was crowned Norway's first Queen Consort in over 50 years at Nidaros Cathedral that June. Queen Sonja, a cultural patron and emotional touchstone, reshaped Norway's monarchy into a warm, accessible institution. Her marriage to Harald bridged tradition and modern values, affirming that love and public service are wholly consistent with royal duty. GOOD WORKS Known for her refined taste and artistic talent, Queen Sonja co-founded the Queen Sonja International Music (now Singing) Competition in 1988. An avid arts patron, she opened the Queen Joséphine Gallery in Oslo in 2013 and inaugurated the Art Stable Museum at the Royal Palace in 2017 on her 80th birthday. In addition to supporting culture and art, the Queen served as vice president of the Norwegian Red Cross from 1987 to 1990. She was particularly active in helping refugees and disabled children. Queen Sonja is modernizing the monarchy's image, exemplified by her humanitarian work and cultural initiatives. Norwegians enthusiastically celebrate her birthday on July 4 each year. Would you like to learn more? Their love story is now a series on Amazon Prime, "Harald and Sonja," released on February 14, 2025.

Africa

Jul

Rain Day, Ntl. (US-PA): July 29

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National Rain Day originated in 1873 and picked up steam in the 1930s through newspaper articles. It is a bit of summer fun at its height, somewhat like groundhog day. Will it rain or not? Will he see his shadow or not? The day centers on the town of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, and began with a bet, a hat being the prize. Since the late 1800s, the people of Waynesburg believed it always rains on July 29. Though not quite every year, the odds are in their favor. Since 1873, it has rained on July 29 in Waynesburg 80% of the time. If it rains, the hat stays with Waynesburg; if not, it goes to the other city. The Rain Day Festival, which has grown significantly in size and scope, began in 1979.

Africa

Jul

Rainier Cherry Day, Ntl.: July 11

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If you've never had a Rainier Cherry, you're in for a treat! These large orange, red and yellow cherries come from the Rainier Valley of Washington State and are very juicy, sweet, and tangy. It's a cross between the Bing cherry and Van cherry, developed at WSU in 1952 by Harry Fogle.

Africa

Jul

Rangers Day, World: July 31

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World Rangers Day honors the men and women serving their nation as rangers who have fallen or been injured in the line of duty as they protect natural and cultural resources. First observed in 2007, World Rangers Day is marked with memorial events and symposiums supporting parks, public spaces, and heritage sites and the role park rangers play in protecting wildlife, nature, and cultural heritage.

Africa

Jul

Raspberry Cake Day, Ntl.: July 31

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National Raspberry Cake Day honors raspberry cake. On this day, people bake their versions of raspberry cake, buy at their favorite cake shop and share a slice or two with family and friends. As this is an unofficial event with no sponsor, some calendars will place it on July 19, while others will place it on July 31. Whatever day you choose to mark, it is up to you.

Africa

Jul

Ratcatcher's Day (1376): July 22

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Ratcatcher's Day commemorates the disappearance of 130 children on July 22, 1376, in Hamelin, Germany, and has ties to the story of the Pied Piper through a poem. The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Rattenfänger von Hameln in German) was said to live during the 13th & 14th centuries; bubonic plague (The Black Death) haunted Europe, and its source was rats. As a ratcatcher in Hamelin, his services would have been in great demand. The word "pied" means multi-colored clothing, and this particular ratcatcher is said to have lured rats from their hiding places with music from his pipe, a simple wind instrument that looks like a flute. Of course, if people refused to pay him, he used the music from his magical flute to lure the town's children away. Lore stated that 130 children disappeared in 1284 AD. Or did they? In a poem by Robert Browning, the date of the children disappearing is July 22, 1376, 92 years later. Ratcatcher's Day marks the poem's date, and Pied Piper Day marks the Hamelin date of 1284. Both are on the calendar. The city of Hamelin is visited by thousands of people a day during the summer months, with the Pied Piper being the reason. In 2013 the city officially requested UNESCO recognize the city and its Pied Piper as intangible cultural heritage. The Pied Piper legend endures in one form or another in the writings of Johan Wolfgang von Goethe, the Brothers Grimm, Robert Browning, Terry Pratchett, and others. And if the painting in the header image looks familiar, and you've been to New York City's St. Regis Hotel, you are right. Parrish also painted Old King Cole.

Africa

Jul

Rauchbier Day (DE)(1635): July 23

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CELEBRATING SMOKY BEER: RAUCHBIER DAY Rauchbier Day, celebrated annually on July 23, honors the centuries-old tradition of brewing Germany's distinctive smoky beer. This date marks the anniversary of an important brewing innovation—Sir Nicholas Halse's patenting of the first smokeless malt kiln in England on July 23, 1635. While this invention revolutionized brewing, traditional Rauchbier maintained its smoky flavor by drying malt over open beechwood fires, a method that remains at the heart of this beer's character. The day is a tribute to this unique brewing method, which has become a signature of Bamberg, Germany, a town famous for its unparalleled beer culture. Rauchbier's distinctiveness, with its smoky flavor, sets it apart from other beers and piques the curiosity of beer enthusiasts. In 2017, Rauchbier was recognized in Slow Food's Ark of Taste, a prestigious recognition aimed at preserving and raising awareness of culinary traditions that are in danger of being lost in the modern world. This inclusion highlights the cultural significance of Rauchbier, ensuring its place in global gastronomic heritage. In keeping with this spirit, Bamberg's two most famous Rauchbier breweries, Schlenkerla and Spezial, have joined forces each year since 2021 to celebrate Smoke Beer Preservation Day on July 23. The day features brewery tours, beer tastings, and a Rauchbier-inspired menu showcasing the craftsmanship and history behind this unique brew. Rauchbier, or "smoke beer," is known for its distinct smoky aroma and flavor, derived from the malt-drying process. While Munich is considered the heart of German beer culture, especially during Oktoberfest, Bamberg, located 230 km to the north, is regarded as the true center of brewing. This UNESCO-listed medieval town is home to 10 family-owned breweries, with an impressive 174 more in the surrounding Upper Franconia region, producing around 2,500 beers. The area boasts the highest brewery density in the world, earning it the unofficial title of "Beer Capital of the World." Unlike Munich, where six major breweries dominate beer production, Bamberg offers a more intimate and diverse beer experience. Rauchbier is the city's signature brew, reflecting Bamberg's unwavering commitment to quality and tradition. Matthias Trum, owner and brewmaster of Schlenkerla, a historic tavern run by his family for six generations, embraces the beer's strong cultural roots. "According to an old proverb, you have to drink three Seidlas (half-liter) to get used to the taste," says Trum, referring to the distinctive smoky flavor of Rauchbier. Rauchbier Day is a vibrant celebration of both this unique beer style and the rich history of brewing in Bamberg. It's a sophisticated alternative to more prominent beer festivals, appealing to those who appreciate the artistry of brewing and the variety offered by family-owned breweries. Each year, enthusiasts gather to enjoy tastings, brewery tours, and events that spotlight the craftsmanship behind Rauchbier, paying homage to the legacy of Sir Nicholas Halse's smokeless kiln and the enduring tradition of smoked malt. The preservation efforts, led by local brewers and Slow Food, ensure that Rauchbier remains a vibrant part of Germany's beer culture.

Africa

Jul

Refreshment Day, Ntl.: July 23

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Created by former craft beer brewer Traveler Beer Company, National Refreshment Day is a day to sit back, relax and enjoy your favorite beverage, with alcohol or not. Today, retailers, restaurants, and bars throughout the United States acknowledge it with drink specials and other festivities.

Africa