All - Leep Calendar

Sword swallowers worldwide celebrate World Sword Swallower's Day by swallowing swords! Sponsored by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI), President Dan Meyer noted the purpose of the day is to raise awareness of sword swallowers worldwide. Founded by SSAI and co-sponsored by Ripley Entertainment, World Sword Swallower's Day is observed in conjunction with February as National Swallowing Disorders Month.

Africa

Mar

America Saves Week: March 8-12

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America Saves Week (also called Military Saves Week when targeted at active service members) is coordinated by America Saves and the America Savings Education Council. The week is an annual opportunity for organizations to promote proactive fiscal savings behavior and a chance for individuals to assess their saving status. The event first ran in 2007.

Africa

Feb

Cupcake Day, Ntl. (CA): February 26

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National Cupcake Day in Canada is one of our favorite events in the LEEP Calendar due to the idea's tremendous success in other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and England. How can you miss leveraging cupcakes, puppies, and kittens? The Canadian version began in 2013 and was started by The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ontario SPCA), with Petsecure pet health insurance underwriting. Cupcakes are donated and sold to raise funds to prevent animal cruelty and help furry friends find good homes. The first year raised over $400,000 in funds. Promotions in Canada include cupcake consumers donating to local animal groups or through participating bakeries. Church groups, social groups, and clubs throw cupcake parties to raise funds or feature cupcake decorating competitions. Photos posted on National Cupcake Day's Facebook page features winner, including best animal, most creative, kids' cupcake, and Valentine's day cupcake. It's a sweet, fun way to get creative and raise animal funds. This event occurs on the last Monday of February.

Africa

Feb

Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Ntl. (UK/US): February 26- March 3 (est)

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Eating disorders affect people worldwide. Many factors, including lifestyle, vanity, and social and economic standing, contribute to an eating disorder. The NEDA (US) and BEAT (UK) have set aside this week to focus on this issue, which affects millions of men and women. Steps for avoiding eating disorders include: • Living a healthy life that can inspire others. • Focusing on health and well-being. • Knowing the risk factors for problems with food and weight.

Africa

Sep

Fairtrade Fortnight (UK): September 9-22

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Fairtrade Fortnight is when campaigners, businesses, schools, and places of worship show their support for the farmers and workers who grow the United Kingdom's food in developing countries. From breakfasts to banquets and bake-offs to business awards, communities across the UK use their creativity, connections, and local knowledge to open more doors to Fairtrade.

Africa

Feb

For Pete's Sake Day: February 26

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"For Pete's Sake" Day is possibly tied to a previous event, 'For the Love of Mike' Day. In the 1880s, rather than profaning God's name in moments of incredulity or exasperation, people would say either "For Pete's Sake!" or "For the Love of Mike!". It was one way to avoid blemishing the Fourth Commandment, "Thou shall not take thy Lord's name in vain." The origin is debated. Peter was an apostle chosen by Jesus. A common curse in Christian circles at the time was "for pity's sake." It is possible the saying "For Pete's Sake" is a combination of the two. Created by Wellcat.

Africa

Feb

Hearing Awareness Week, Ntl. (AU): February 26 - March 3

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Hearing Awareness Week in Australia is the week leading to World Hearing Day. During this week, various healthcare providers offer free hearing check-ups nationwide.

Africa

Feb

Levi Strauss Day (1829): February 26

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On February 26, 1829, Levi Strauss was born in Buttenheim, Germany (then Bavaria). Around 1835 the family left Germany for the United States to avoid religious discrimination and eventually settled in San Francisco. As merchants catering to the California Gold Rush miners, it was here that Strauss achieved success. The breakthrough came in 1872 while working with a tailor in Nevada named Davis. Strauss and Davis fashioned heavy canvas into pants and dyed the fabric with indigo ink to hide any stains that may accumulate. The addition of metal rivets to secure pockets and the fly made the pants extraordinary and prevented ripping. A patent was issued, and the blue jean was born. Strauss died at the age of 73 on September 26, 1902.

Africa

Feb

Liberation Day (KW)(1991): February 26

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Marking the anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait from Iraq by coalition forces on February 26, 1991, Liberation Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Feb

Pistachio Day, World: February 26

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World Pistachio Day celebrates one of the world’s oldest nuts, the pistachio. Pistachios originated in the Middle East and are mentioned in the Old Testament (Genesis 43:11). In Persia (Iran), pistachio trade and ownership of pistachio groves meant riches and high status. Legend has it that pistachios were a favorite of the Queen of Sheba, who demanded all her land’s production for herself and her court. Through the conquests of Alexander the Great (334-323 BC), the nut reached Greece. Later, under the rule of the Roman Emperor Tiberius (First century AD), the nut was introduced into Italy and Spain. During the 1880s, imported pistachios were prevalent in the US, especially with Middle Eastern immigrants. The pistachio received further distribution through vending machines installed in underground train stations, bars, restaurants, and other familiar locations. “A dozen for a nickel” soon developed into a familiar slogan. The first commercial crop of pistachios produced in the United States was harvested in 1976. California comprises 98.5% of the total US production, representing more than $1.16 billion to the California economy and more than $15 million to the states of Arizona and New Mexico.

Africa

Feb

Read a Fairy Tale Day: February 26

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Read a Fairy Tale Day seeks to remind us of the delightfully happy endings found in fairy tales. You know, those stories where everything works out? The goblins and witches are banished, the boy always gets the girl, and everyone lives happily ever after. Fairy tales have been around since 1300 BC, that is, tales of mythical creatures in ideal situations. However, the type of story we generally associate with the fairytale originated in Europe and the Middle East. At first, these were oral stories passed down from generation to generation, and they proliferated during the Renaissance period with the advent of the printing press. Why this day was chosen instead of February 24 is still being determined. February 24, 1786, Wilhelm Carl Grimm was born, part of The Brothers Grimm, with his brother Jacob. Together they became synonymous with fairy tales. Which is the best-selling fairy tale of all time? Before Disney, that would be "One Thousand and One Nights," which is a compilation of stories gathered over several centuries, including "Scheherazade," "Aladdin's Wonderful Lamp," "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," and "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor." "One Thousand and One Nights" is the perfect example of East meets West in folklore, and possibly why it remains popular globally. Everyone of every culture can relate. And boys like them as much as girls. The stories of Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sinbad were created during the 17th and 18th centuries by Europeans traveling or living in the Middle East, most notably Antoine Galland, who translated the original stories from Arabic into French; "Scheherazade" and others in the book were written during Islam's Golden Era, during the 12th and 13th centuries, or derived from oral legends common to West Asia. "One Thousand and One Nights" is a collection of stories that took centuries to compile and required input from nearly every major culture to create the timeless fairy tales generations continue to love. Celebrate Read a Fairy Tale Day. Grab your magic carpet, kiss a frog and ride off into the sunset with the one you love.

Africa

Feb

Work Your Proper Hours Day (UK): February 24

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Work Your Proper Hours Day is when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do every year and starts earning for themselves. Are you one of the five million Brits who donate their labor to their employer through unpaid overtime? Use this calculator to determine how much it is costing you: https://secure.goingtowork.org.uk/page/content/unpaid-overtime.

Africa

Feb

Anosmia Awareness Day: February 27

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Imagine if you couldn't smell anymore. That is what anosmia is, the inability to smell. Some people are born with anosmia, and others acquire it through accident, disease, or misadventure. It has a profound impact on many areas of life. With smell, tasting is more accessible. Smell is used for pleasure as well as a warning against danger. Currently, 6.3 million people in America suffer from anosmia. Anosmia Awareness Day seeks to educate the public about this condition and provide resources for those with it. This event first ran in 2012.

Africa

Feb

Business Clean-up Day, National (AU): February 27

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Business Clean-up Day is designed for Australian businesses as an opportunity to improve the environment, both outside and in the office, through waste reduction. It’s also a great team-building exercise.

Africa

Feb

Independence Day (DO)(1844): February 27

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Independence Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Dominican Republic from Haitian occupation, February 27, 1844. Independence Day is a national holiday.

Africa