National Clam on the Half Shell Day is a great day to grab the friends, some beer, and head down to the water for a good old fashion clambake. Get a bed of hot stones covered with seaweed and throw the clams you’ve dug up into the heap. Now stand back and enjoy! National Clam on the Half Shell Day is an unofficial holiday with no sponsor.

Africa

Mar

Crayola Crayon Day, Ntl. (1903): March 31

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Today is the anniversary marking the 1903 release of the first box of Crayons by Binney & Smith in upstate New York. In 1996 the 100 billionth Crayola crayon rolled off the production line in Easton, Pennsylvania. Most people today cannot imagine life without a childhood filled with crayons. To this day, these wax markers remain one of childhood's most beloved and used toys.

Africa

Mar

Creativation (US-OH): March 31 - April 2 (est)

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Creativation is the largest and longest-running creative industries event featuring hands-on education, innovative product launches, trendspotting, influencer appearances, order writing, and networking opportunities for thousands of creative businesses worldwide. PLEASE NOTE: Treat all televised and venue-specific events (sporting, concerts, trade shows, etc.) as estimated. Several factors can cause an event to move dates at the last minute, including weather, strikes, natural disasters, political upheaval, conflicting programming, pandemics, and current events. Because of this, always verify the event with the promotor before committing resources. LEEP often estimates dates based on the previous year's schedules, as the final dates are only a few months, weeks, or days before the event. If the date is known to be estimated, you will see an (est) following the date in the title.

Africa

Mar

Easter (C): March 31

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EASTER, THE HOLIEST DAY IN CHRISTIANITY

Easter is the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. It is considered the holiest day of the Christian calendar and marks the fulfillment of the biblical promise to Abraham—that from his line, the Messiah would come, and through Him, all nations (people) of the world would be blessed.

The Bible tells of Jesus’ friends discovering that He had risen from the dead at dawn on the third day after His crucifixion (known as Good Friday). Christians traditionally celebrate this renewal of life and the forgiveness of sin with colored Easter eggs. Legends say these eggs are brought and hidden by a rabbit. Rabbits are the ancient symbol of spring and renewal. However, the Easter eggs and the Easter bunny are not a part of the Bible. Each is symbolism. Eggs and bunnies remind people of new life granted to them through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The early Christian church celebrated Easter at different times. In 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea decided that the holiday would be the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring, meaning non-Orthodox Easter would always be sometime between March 22 and April 25. Orthodox Christians follow a different calendar, celebrating Easter a week or two later in the year. Easter marks the end of Passiontide.

PASSIONTIDE

Passiontide, observed over a fortnight, is the holiest period in the Christian liturgical year that focuses on Jesus Christ's passion (suffering and death). It begins on the fifth Sunday of Lent, Passion Sunday, and concludes on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. This period encompasses the final two weeks of Lent, including Holy Week, the last week of Passiontide, and one of the most sacred times of the Christian calendar.

During Passiontide, the mood of the liturgical celebrations becomes more somber and reflective, emphasizing the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. This shift is reflected in various ways across different Christian traditions:

Veiling of Images: In many churches, it is customary to veil crosses, statues, and other religious images in purple fabric from Passion Sunday until the end of the Good Friday service. This practice symbolizes the deep mourning over Jesus' passion and serves as a visual reminder of the solemnity of the season.

Liturgical Changes: The liturgy during Passiontide may include additional prayers, readings, and hymns that focus on suffering, sacrifice, and redemption. The use of specific liturgical colors, especially purple, highlights the penitential nature of the season.

Holy Week Observances: Holy Week, the final week of Passiontide, includes several vital days that commemorate the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and death:

Palm Sunday: Celebrates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Maundy Thursday: Commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples.

Good Friday: Marking Jesus' crucifixion and death.

Holy Saturday: A day of quiet reflection and waiting for Easter.

Special Services and Practices: Churches may hold special services, such as Stations of the Cross, processions, and extended periods of prayer and fasting. These practices deepen the faithful's participation in the mystery of Jesus' passion.

Passiontide is a time for Christians to reflect deeply on the cost of their salvation and the depth of Jesus' love and to prepare their hearts for the joy of His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

THE ABRAHAMIC FAITHS AND EASTER

Easter is the first demarcation point between Islam and Christianity.

Muslims believe in Jesus Christ as a great prophet and a messenger of God, and Many of His sermons and teachings are included in the Qu'ran. Like Christians, they believe He will return someday in judgment. The Virgin Mary, likewise, is revered in Islam. Where Muslims begin to diverge from Christians is the resurrection, which Easter celebrates. Islam does not teach that Jesus arose from the dead. However, they do believe he ascended into heaven upon his crucifixion.

Judaism diverges from its cousins upon the birth of Jesus, a holiday known as Christmas. The Jewish faith believes Jesus Christ is neither a prophet nor the Messiah, which they believe is yet to come. He is barely acknowledged in the faith; rather, He is briefly mentioned in oral traditions as a troublesome rabbi who was executed for his heresies.

All three Abrahamic faiths, however, share versions of the first five books of the Old Testament and the values presented in what Christians refer to as The Ten Commandments. These commandments underlie what is known as Abrahamic Values, named after the patriarch of the Israelites.

CONCLUSION

In summary, Easter is a joyous holiday for Christians following horrific events. It marks the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy and the initiation of a new covenant with God through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It begins a new era where, unlike before when one was chosen by God, through Christ, all people may now choose to be with God to share in His bounty, love, and protection. Whether one believes it or not, Christ's birth and resurrection is the foundational historical event that informs what historians call the Common Era.

Africa

Mar

Eiffel Tower Day (FR)(1889): March 31

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Today is the anniversary of the opening of the Eiffel Tower on March 31, 1889, in Paris. The ceremony was presided over by tower architect Gustave Eiffel and attended by French Prime Minister Pierre Tirard, a handful of dignitaries, and 200 construction workers.

Africa

Mar

Flu Season Ends, Northern: March 31

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Hooray! The end of the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere is here! While seasonal flu outbreaks can occur in October, most flu activity peaks between December and February, and activity can last as late as May.

Africa

Mar

Hug a Medievalist Day, Intl.: March 31

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Hug a Medievalist Day celebrates the work of historians who study and teach us about the period referred to as the Medieval period or Middle Ages. The era spans 1,000 years, beginning with the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the 15th century.

Africa

Mar

She's Funny That Way Day (2003): March 31

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Men may be amusing, but women are downright hilarious. Today is set aside each year by teacher and author Brenda Meridith to highlight the whimsical humor of women. Take this chance to write down five things about your favorite female that make you laugh and share them with her. It marks the anniversary of the 2003 release of her novel 'She's Funny That Way.'

Africa

Mar

Terri's Day (2005): March 31

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On March 31, 2005, Terri Schindler Schiavo died in a Florida hospice after a court ordered the removal of a feeding tube and prohibited anyone from assisting her in eating. Terri had been beaten severely by her husband, receiving multiple internal injuries and brain damage. Yet, he remained her legal guardian and in control of her life throughout her hospitalization. He argued that she would not have wanted prolonged artificial life support with no chance for recovery in a vegetative state. Hospital photos show her interacting with people and not in a vegetative state. Her husband then went to court to get a ruling to remove her feeding tube and any oral assistance in eating (she could swallow food), thus starving her to death. That decision and the surrounding legal struggle proved unpopular with Terri's parents, friends, and religious institutions worldwide. That led to March 31 earning the name "Terri's Day," a day to advocate for human rights, patient rights, and the removal of abusers and those convicted of domestic violence from the role of legal guardian.

Africa

Mar

Transgender Day of Visibility, Intl.: March 31

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The United States created Transgender Day of Visibility in 2021 via a Presidential proclamation as an annual observance honoring the achievements and resiliency of transgender individuals and communities, including their struggles, activism, and courage. A person identifies as transgender when he or she feels and believes the sex they were born with is not their authentic gender. For example, a male will identify and prefer to live as female and visversa. Changing one's biological sex, or as the community prefers, gender, can involve hormone drug therapy and surgery, but not always. Sometimes it is as basic as changing names, pronouns and wearing different clothes. A transgender woman is born male but identifies as female. A transgender man is born female but identifies as male. Transgender is not the same as being gay, lesbian or bisexual. These terms describe sexual orientation and a person's preference in romantic and sexual relationships. Transgender refers to the gender (biological sexual) identity, how individuals see themselves regardless of their biology or sexual orientation. Transgender people identify as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or a combination. Roughly 0.03 percent of the global population identifies as transgender.

Africa

Mar

Grass Is Always Browner on the Other Side of the Fence Day: March 30

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The Grass Is Always Browner on the Other Side of the Fence Day (well, that's a long name!) signifies the virtue of optimism and that while the grass may sometimes appear greener on the other side, it's often browner too. And even when it IS greener, you still have to mow it! So on this day, stop and reflect on the many blessings you have on your side of the fence!

Africa

Mar

I am in Control Day (1981): March 30

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National "I Am in Control Day" marks the anniversary of the attempted assassination of US President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981. As is US custom, power was ceded to Secretary of State Alexander Haig until Vice President George Bush could arrive. Upon the transfer of power, Haig declared: "As of now, I am in control here in the White House." He meant that he was in charge until the arrival of vice president George Bush, who was en route then. Alexander Haig took responsibility when he needed to. This day is a reminder for all to do the same.

Africa

Mar

Laundry Folding Day, Intl.: March 30

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It's time to turn that closet and do a little spring cleaning. Referring to March 30 as Laundry Folding Day does just that.

Africa

Mar

Palestinian Land Day, Intl. (1976): March 30

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International Palestinian Land Day protests the seizure and annexation of Palestinian land to create the state of Israel in 1947, 1948, 1967, and 1981 up through today. This awareness event began in 1976. Palestinian Land Day calls for Palestinian refugees' return to the land taken from them by force. Every year on this day, a "Global March to Jerusalem" is organized, where non-violent activists arrive in Israel's neighboring Arab countries and march peacefully to Jerusalem. THE GREAT MARCH OF RETURN In 2018, Palestinian Land Day kicked off a six-week campaign of unarmed protests called The Great March of Return on the Gaza border to protest the then 11-year siege, 50 years of occupation, and the inability to return to their lands, confiscated by the state of Israel in 1947, 1948, 1967 and 1981. For the next six weeks, Israeli snipers using high-powered, long-range rifles would kill over 120 civilians, including children, medics, and journalists, while wounding another 13,000 from a position of safety on the Israeli side of the barrier. Medical and first responders were amazed at how many of these "unintended" executions were head or heart shots— nearly all—leading one to believe the IDF is, without a doubt, the most unlucky army in the world. That goes against their mantra of being the best trained, most accurate, and above all, "the most moral army in the world." Yeah, right. One Israeli soldier received a minor injury during this time. It was an unarmed protest. The Israeli government praised its snipers' bravery and moral righteousness in killing Palestinians in their version of shooting fish in a barrel. When the world cried "BS!" Israel blamed Hamas for the deaths. The blame was a red herring, and multiple NGOs proved Hamas was not involved in the planning, nor was it involved in carrying out the protest. Rather, the march was a grassroots action organized by students and unemployed youth, which due to the siege of Gaza by Israel, numbers well over half a million people. Gaza's population remains trapped in an area the size of Manhattan, New York, and numbers over two million souls, 70 percent of whom are under thirty. The Great March of Return protest continued for over a year until COVID-19 forced its end. The most moral army in the world continued its killing spree and blame game until it, too, was benched by COVID. The occupation and siege of Gaza continue today.

Africa

Mar

Pencil Day (1858): March 30

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Pencil Day marks the anniversary of Hyman Lipman's patent on March 30, 1858, when an eraser was added to the graphite pencil. The first mass production of pencils began in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1662, although pencils were produced in small quantities for around a century before that. In America, the first wood pencils were crafted in 1812, and Lipman's was the first to include an eraser in 1858.

Africa