All - Leep Calendar

National Penguin Day in the United States raises awareness of several species of penguins currently threatened by climate change. There are 17 different species of penguins, all native to the southern hemisphere.

Africa

Jan

San Sebastian's Day (BR): January 20

06:20 AM | -

Saint Sebastian was a maverick known for his bravery and secret life as a Christian, hiding at the very top of Roman nobility before Rome became Christian. Being Christian was dangerous at the time, yet Sebastian converted large numbers of soldiers to the faith, including the governor of Rome. But, like many before him, eventually, he was caught and executed under Roman law for practicing and proselytizing Christianity in 288 AD. Saint Sebastian is the patron saint of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His feast day is celebrated throughout the Christian world on January 20, and orthodox sects observe Saint Sebastian's feast on December 18.

Africa

Jan

Timket (C)(ET/ER): January 20

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In the Coptic, Ethiopian and Eritrean churches, Timket is the Epiphany celebration marking the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. Timket is a national holiday in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Africa

Jan

Use Your Gift Card Day, Ntl.: January 20

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Initiated in 2020, National Use Your Gift Card Day encourages people who received gift cards over the holidays and previous to get out and redeem the total amount. Each year, over $500 million in gift card expenditures go unused, which is 2% of the nearly $26 billion spent on gift cards. Put that money where it belongs: in your gift rather than the issuer's pocket. Redeem!

Africa

Jan

Angel Island Day, Ntl. (1910): January 21

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Today marks the anniversary of the opening of the immigration center on Angel Island, January 21, 1910. Located in the San Francisco Bay, Angel Island is the 2nd most significant island in the bay, with views of Sonoma and Napa on clear days. From 1910 to 1940, the Angel Island Immigration Station, "The Ellis Island of the West," was the first stop for over 1 million Asian immigrants entering the US. In 1964, after lobbying by the Chinese American community, it was declared a state landmark by the state of California. In 1975, California created the Angel Island Conservatory with a primary mission to facilitate the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of historical and natural resources on the island.

Africa

Jan

Citizen United Decision by Supreme Court (2010): January 21

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Citizens United is one of the most destructive decisions ever upheld by the US Supreme Court. Foundational to the decision is that a corporation, a legal entity created by a contract that cannot be jailed, breathe, killed, or wounded, is equivalent to a human being under the First Amendment. The court stated on January 21, 2010, that corporations, like people, have a constitutional right to be heard in election campaigns. The court maintained that there should be no limit to the amount of money corporations and unions can spend in elections, provided the money is independent of the campaign it intends to support. Without accountability, this decision has flooded national and local elections in the United States with billions of dollars from special interest groups, including international donors, creating an atmosphere of competing messages and non-transparent agenda funding. Not only has it exasperated the cost of elections, but it has also extended the campaign time into a near never-ending parade.

Africa

Jan

Clam Chowder Day, New England Style: January 21*

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Chowder is a cross between a stew and a soup, essentially made of vegetables and fish stewed in a cauldron. "Calderia" is Latin for a "place for warming things." "Jowter" is old English for a "fish peddler," and it is believed that this is the origin of the word "chowder." The first chowder recipes originated in France and England, among the coastal fishing villages. The custom was to have a cauldron simmering in the house, awaiting the fishing ships' return to port. A portion of each man's catch would be tossed into the pot, and the resulting chowder was served to the community to celebrate the ship's safe return. Clams were easy to harvest without embarking on a ship, making them ideal for chowder, especially in bad weather. Of course, clams could only be collected at certain times of the year. A staple of the working class, when clams were unavailable, the chowder was made from haddock, cod, and other local fish. Later, chowder recipes included other meats like ham, bacon, and poultry. Clam chowder became a favorite with East Coast Americans, especially on Fridays, due to a Christian custom of only eating fish on Fridays.

Africa

Jan

Daylight Savings (FJ, TO), Ends: January 21

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Daylight Savings in Fiji & Tonga commences on the 1st Sunday of November (Spring Forward) and ends on the 3rd Sunday of January (Fall Back). On this day, we move the clock one hour ahead at 2 AM in November or one hour back in January at 2 AM on Sunday. The saying, “spring forward, fall back,” is an excellent way to remember, and it works in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres as the seasons reverse. Benjamin Franklin was the first to propose daylight savings time in 1784. Modern DST was established in 1895. Throughout history, several variations of daylight savings ranged from 30 minutes to two hours. Only some people observe DST, which can make setting appointments very challenging. The primary purpose of DST is to make better use of daylight hours for farming, early morning activities (such as children walking to school in the light instead of dark), and saving energy. The closer one lives to the North and South Poles, the longer the period of daylight in the summer months. _______________________ Daylight Savings Above the Equator: United Kingdom, Albania, Adorra, Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Holy See, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Western Sahara: Last Sunday of March and Last Sunday of October United States, Bahamas, Canada, Cuba, Saint Pierre & Miquelon: 2nd Sunday of March; 1st Sunday of November Iran: Begins March 21/22; Ends September 20/21 Israel & Palestine: Friday before last Sunday, March; Last Sunday, October Jordan, Syria: Last Friday, March; Last Friday, October Mexico: 1st Sunday April; Last Sunday October _______________________ Daylight Savings Below the Equator: Australia: 1st Sunday of October (Spring Forward ) and the 1st Sunday in April (Fall Back). Brazil: 3rd Sunday in October; 3rd Sunday in February. Chile: 2nd Sunday in August and the 2nd Sunday in May. Fiji & Tonga: 1st Sunday of November; 3rd Sunday of January. Namibia observes on the 1st Sunday of September and the 1st Sunday of April. New Zealand: Last Sunday of September; 1st Sunday of April. Paraguay: 1st Sunday of October; 4th Sunday of March. Samoa: Last Sunday of September; 1st Sunday of April.

Africa

Jan

Granola Bar Day, Ntl.: January 21

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Granula, as it was initially called, originated in an 1863 mental health institution, the Jackson Sanitarium, and was popularized by Dr. James Caleb Jackson of Dansville, New York, to improve digestion. The name was later changed to granola by the Kellogg company to avoid a legal dispute when Kellogg began creating a similar baked cereal. Granola is baked, and muesli, which is similar, is the raw form of granola. By the early 20th century, granola slipped from favor. But oats and muesli were already being used to create cereal bars called "flapjacks" in the United Kingdom and muesli bars in Oceania. These were considered desserts and very similar to today's mass-produced bars. The flower children of the 1960s would revive it, pimping it with dried fruits and nuts. The ancient food, now marketed as a health food and a popular alternative to fast food on the go, was set to explode onto the market. The addition of the granola bar (basically a cookie in bar form and marketed as healthy) soon entered the snack and breakfast market during the mid-1970s to early 1980s. Today they are one of the most popular adult "sweets" and are often used as meal replacements.

Africa

Jan

Hugging Day, Ntl.: January 21

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Kevin Zaborney created National Hugging Day in 1986. Zaborney chose this day because he felt people are generally tired and in low spirits between Christmas/New Year and Valentine's Day, surmising a hug would cheer us up.

Africa

Jan

Pausha Putrada Ekadashi (H): January 21

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Putrada Ekadashi marks the waxing moon fortnight of the Hindu month of Pausha. On this day, devotees fast by avoiding grains, beans, cereals, and certain vegetables and spices while spending the day worshiping Lord Vishnu and praying for the birth of a son. PLEASE NOTE: We use the Indian civil calendar, the official holiday calendar in India. The Hindu faith has many calendars, each specific to different regions and tribes, with dates and celebrations marked by differing positions of the sun, moon, and stars. Names of months and holidays and the corresponding dates in the Gregorian Calendar may vary widely from one calendar to the next. Determine the proper calendar before attending local events.

Africa

Jan

Puppy, Hug Your Puppy Day, Ntl.: January 21

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A day set aside to demonstrate your love and affection for dogs. This event first ran in 2019.

Africa

Jan

Religion Day, World: January 21

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World Religion Day was first proposed and observed in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. It seeks to promote the universal principles underlining each of the world's major religions, including kindness towards others, charity, compassion, and respect. Recognized globally, World Religion Day reminds people that regardless of what we call ourselves or how we worship, our sense of humanity is ultimately universal.

Africa

Jan

Squirrel Day: January 21

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Squirrel Day, or Squirrel Appreciation Day, expresses our love for the little, nut-eating rascals. Squirrels are an essential part of the ecosystem and provide hours of joy to those lucky enough to watch them go about their day. This event was created in 2001 by Christy Hargrove of the Wild North Carolina Nature Center.

Africa

Jan

Answer Your Cat's Question Day: January 22

06:20 AM | -

Have a talkative cat? Today's the day you speak back and answer his or her question—another crazy holiday from Wellcat.

Africa