All - Leep Calendar

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

Oct

Moon—New: October 2

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The New Moon occurs when the moon and the sun have the same elliptical longitude when the moon is at its closest point to the sun in its orbit. From earth, we usually cannot see it. The New Moon is considered the first phase.

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Oct

Moon—Third Quarter: October 24

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Today is the third quarter of the moon, meaning it is halfway between the full moon and the new moon.

Africa

Oct

Mother-in-law Day, Ntl.: October 27

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National Mother-in-Law Day is a tradition with no specific origin, occurring on the 4th Sunday of October. A mother-in-law is the mother of your spouse.

Africa

Oct

Motorsport Memorial Day: October 10

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Created in 2016, Motorsport Memorial Day honors the memory of all who have died in delivering the sport, whether drivers, mechanics, crew members, or fans. Annually on October 10.

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Oct

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) Day, World: October 2

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World MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) Day raises awareness about MRSA. MRSA is deadlier than HIV/AIDS, yet less known. World MRSA Day was created in 2009 by Jeanine Thomas, President and Founder of MRSA Survivors Network, its official organizer. Jeanine Thomas founded MRSA Survivors Network in 2003 and was the first advocacy group in the U.S. to raise the alarm about the MRSA epidemic and other healthcare-acquired infections. With the creation of World MRSA Day, the hope is to raise the awareness of MRSA around the globe and to activate survivors, communities, governments, healthcare officials, and personnel to join together to stop the spread of this preventable disease.

Africa

Oct

Mule Day, Ntl. (1785): October 26*

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Today marks the anniversary of the arrival of Spain's King Charles III's unusual gift to America's first President—three donkeys, one of which initiated the adoption of mules in America. Mules are hybrids, half donkey and half horse. Because its hooves are smaller and more upright, mules are suited to the rough terrain and conditions. Unlike horses, mules do not require grain and are less prone to injuries and overeating; mules tend to live longer. Though mules may be of either sex, they cannot reproduce. SPAIN'S ROYAL GIFT In the late 18th century, General George Washington wanted to improve farming methods and livestock at his Mount Vernon estate. Mules seemed like a solution. Washington's interest in mules led Spain, in 1785, to send him a gift of a jack (male donkey) and two jennets (female donkeys) from King Charles III of Spain. Washington named the jack Royal Gift and began breeding him with his mares (horses) to produce mules. He succeeded. Despite some initial challenges, including the reluctance of American farmers to adopt mules for their work and Royal Gift's initial lack of interest in breeding, the introduction of mules and mule breeding found fertile ground in America. AGRICULTURE REINVIGORATED The introduction of mules to American agriculture, facilitated by Washington's efforts, marked a turning point in farming practices. Mules became highly valued for their hardiness and became a common sight on American farms, contributing significantly to the efficiency and productivity of agricultural operations. Washington's foresight in recognizing the potential of mules for American agriculture and his efforts to breed and promote their use is a testament to his innovative spirit and dedication to improving the country's agricultural practices. The story of George Washington and the mules he was gifted reflects an early example of the global exchange of ideas and resources that has shaped agricultural practices throughout American history.

Africa

Oct

Mulligan Day: October 17

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Celebrated since 2001, Mulligan Day is simply about second chances. Give yourself or someone close to you a second chance they deserve. Annually on the 17th.

Africa

Oct

Museum Workers Day, Intl: October 17

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International Museum Workers Day, created in 2015, seeks to educate the public about various professions in the museum and heritage fields. These careers include artists, scholars, art historians, scientists, archaeologists, anthropologists, curators, filmmakers, performance artists, designers & many others whose expertise, years of experience, and dedication help create, discover, preserve, and disseminate our tangible and non-tangible cultural heritage. The project began with American museologist and filmmaker Homa Taj of MUSEUM VIEWS and was initially called "Hug A Museum Worker Day."

Africa

Oct

Museum Workers Day, Intl: October 22

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International Museum Workers Day, created in 2015, seeks to educate the public about various professions in the museum and heritage fields. Museum careers include artists, scholars, art historians, scientists, archaeologists, anthropologists, curators, filmmakers, performance artists, designers & many others whose expertise, years of experience, and dedication help create, discover, preserve, and disseminate our tangible and non-tangible cultural heritage. The project was initiated by American museologist and filmmaker Homa Taj of Museum Views under the name Hug A Museum Worker Day.

Africa

Oct

Mushroom Day, Ntl.: October 15

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National Mushroom Day in the United States celebrates that versatile fungus known as the mushroom. No matter how you cook them or what spices and sauces you add, mushrooms are almost always delicious.

Africa

Oct

Muslim American Heritage Month (US): October

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Muslim American Heritage Month celebrates and explores the impact and achievements of Muslim Americans in the United States. Canada also observes Muslim Heritage Month in October. Muslim Americans currently account for 1% of the US population (Pew Research 2016) and will continue to grow as a community over the next century. A SHORT HISTORY OF MUSLIM AMERICANS The first Muslim in America came in 1528 when the slave ship he was on was shipwrecked. Estevanico of Morroco washed ashore in today's Galveston, Texas. Native Americans welcomed him, and Estevanico lived his life free, becoming a healer and medicine man. The arrival of slavery in the United States in 1619 brought the first wave of Muslims to American shores, though not willingly. An estimated 30% of the slaves arriving from West Africa were originally Muslim and forced to convert to Christianity. Several Muslim Americans fought in the Revolutionary War, including Bampett Muhamad, Peter Salem, and Yusuf ben Ali. President Jefferson kept a copy of and consulted the Qur'an and other texts in drafting the US Constitution. He was the first acting president to participate in an iftar, breaking the fast during the holy month of Ramadan with the Ambassador of Tunisia in 1809. The first country in the world to recognize the United States as a nation was a Muslim majority country, the Sultanate of Morocco, in 1777. During the civil rights movement in the United States, segments of African Americans seeking to reclaim their heritage began converting to Islam. Approximately 30% of the current African American Islamic community in the US converted within the past seventy years. The decline and eventual fall of the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the first formal wave of Muslims to the United States who were not part of the slave trade. These men and women came predominantly from Syria, Palestine, Yemen, and Turkey. Due to their light skin tone, many changed their names before arriving and did not present as Muslim. They assimilated within white culture, practiced privately, and thus avoided many of the racist laws of the time. After WWII, turbulence in the Middle East and Persia, the establishment of Israel, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the rise in authoritarianism, especially after 1979, have increased the number of Muslims seeking a new life in the United States. The first mosque in the United States was created in 1921 outside of Detroit in the Highland Park neighborhood. The oldest standing mosque in the United States is the Al Sadiq Mosque in Chicago, Illinois, commissioned in 1922. Today, Muslim Americans are a vastly diverse group with 25% of African heritage, 26% Arab, 34% South Asian, and 15% other. Like Christianity, the faith has many different faces. Sunni, Shi'a, and to a lesser degree, Sufi are the primary divisions (think Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox). Within these groups are various interpretations and doctrinal customs, and what binds them together are the five pillars of Islam: Fasting during Ramadan (Sawm) Praying five times a day (Salah) Charity (Zakat) Pilgrimage (Hajj) Belief in one God, with Mohammed as his prophet (Shahada). ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY, AND JUDAISM: ABRAHAMIC COUSINS IN FAITH Islam teaches it is a continuation of Hebrew and Christian beliefs, and it follows many of the Hebrew customs of the Old Testament. Examples include: Halal (kosher) eating Structured prayer times and rituals Faith-based law (Jewish Halacha and Islamic Sharia) Conservative dress/head covering Christians and Muslims believe in Jesus Christ, with Islam seeing Him as a prophet rather than the Messiah. When His name is spoken in the faith, like the names of Abraham, Moses, and Mohammed, the words "Peace be upon him" (PBUH) follow. It is a sign of respect. The Virgin Mary is revered above all women in Islam; the virgin birth is acknowledged, as is the crucifixion, but not the resurrection. Both faiths believe Jesus will return. All three faiths recognize the first five books of the Old Testament, The Pentateuch to Christians (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), with some differences in interpretation. The Hebrew faith includes these in its book, the Torah, and Islam has them in its holy book, the Qur'an or Koran. Like Catholicism before the 1960s, when mass was conducted in Latin, Islam is primarily taught in its original language, Arabic. The word for God in Arabic is Allah, and the word for God in Latin is Deus, and both refer to the same God in the Torah and Old Testament. This month is an opportunity to get to know your Muslim neighbors and support them as part of the American dream. Islam entered the American experience before the Mayflower (1620), and it will continue to grow with the nation. By 2050 sociologists expect Islam to surpass Christianity as the most widely worshipped faith in the world. Curious about the Muslim experience in the US? The first four chapters of Peter Oborne's 2022 book, "The Fate of Abraham," covers this and is highly recommended. The description is here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Fate-of-Abraham/Peter-Oborne/9781398501041.

Africa

Oct

Mystery Series Week: October 6-12

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Who is your favorite fictional detective? Most mystery series are based upon serial detectives; this is your opportunity to immerse yourself in your favorite literary works like Sam Spade and Sherlock Holmes or on television, like Columbo Inspector Clouseau or Law and Order. Mysteries have been a favorite genre of literature for hundreds of years. If it's been a while since you've curled up with a good mystery, take this month to enjoy. Don't have time to read or watch? Try one of the audio mysteries instead. However you celebrated, this is a week to enjoy a good mystery.

Africa

Oct

NAB (US-NY): October 9-10

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Organized by Conference Specialty, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show Conference is the television and entertainment industries' gold standard. The trade show and conference provide six days of learning and networking, and it is considered the premier conference for the industries served. This is one of two. The first, in the Spring, occurs in April.

Africa

Oct

Name Your Car Day: October 2

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People name boats, so why not cars? Quite a few people do, including this writer. My current car is Bonnie Blue Bell (2012 Chrysler 200 Convertible). Before Bonnie, I had Abby (a ’97 Sebring convertible), Snowy (1991 Mercury Capri convertible), Bonnet (1989 Ford Escort), Rosie II (1988 Ford Festiva—my first new car), The Great Green Pea Pod (’74 Dodge Dart), USS Guzzy (1971 Chevy Impala) and my first car? A 1969 FIAT 124 that my father named Rosie the Red FIAT when he bought her brand new. Yes, Dad started the tradition in our family, and we tend to hang on to our cars for a long time, too (allergy to car payments). So, if you’ve thought about naming your car and haven’t, today is your day. Have a go at it and give that car a name!

Africa