All - Leep Calendar

It's the end of the year and the New Year's Diet Resolution countdown. Time to satiate all those cravings, ergo National Bacon Day. Like many great things, from sunglasses to pasta, bacon originated in China around 1500 BC. By salting pork, the Chinese could preserve it during hot months. The same technique made its way to Europe and eventually America. Bacon is considered an adequate hangover food (ever notice you seem to crave fatty foods when hungover?), and the choline found in bacon is said to help in fetal brain development. PS: For those on Halal, Kosher, or Vegan diets, nobody said your bacon couldn't be turkey, beef, or plant-based. Also, check out the Los Angeles Times' 18 ways to enjoy bacon (including a bacon martini, bacon-bourbon-pumpkin pie, and salads): http://www.latimes.com/food/la-dd-recipes-for-bacon-lovers-from-the-la-times-test-kitchen-20140829-photogallery.html Or Weber's favorite bacon grill recipes. https://www.weber.com/US/en/blog/grilling-inspiration/six-recipes-to-celebrate-national-bacon-lovers-day/weber-29555.html. National Bacon Day is an unofficial event with no sponsor.

Africa

Dec

Bicarbonate of Soda Day, Ntl.: December 30

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Native Americans first used baking soda, soda ash, or bicarbonate of soda as a leavening agent for bread. 1835 marked the first time a pre-packaged version of baking soda went on sale, dubbed Royal Baking Powder. It was a combination of baking soda and cream of tartar. Once introduced to moisture, these two chemicals release CO2, causing the bread to rise. The first recipes published using baking soda for soda bread appeared in Ireland in "The Southern Planter," published in 1843. Yeast was often challenging, and baking soda became a much less expensive substitute. December 30 is dubbed 'bicarbonate of soda day' due to another use of baking soda: as an antacid. With all the eating and drinking during the holidays, some will inevitably overeat and overdrink, causing tummy trouble. A teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a cup of water often suffices as the perfect antacid.

Africa

Dec

Dancing Bears Festival (RO): December 30

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If you're wandering around any city in Romania on December 30, you'll see a lot of bears! Romanian tradition goes back centuries when local legends believed misfortune was avoided through the appearance of wild animals. The belief translated into people dressing as dancing bears and visiting neighbors to share good luck for the new year. Bukarest holds the largest Bear Festival, with thousands of people dressed in 100-pound bear suits marching through the streets with red tassels on their backs. The bear skins are real, often handed down from generation to generation. Additional costumes include dressing in adorned former soviet era military uniforms and marching in a parade.

Africa

Dec

Falling Needles Family Fest: December 30

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Did you celebrate Christmas this year? Did you have a real Christmas tree? If the answer to these questions is YES, consider celebrating National Falling Needles Family Fest! Gather your family, friends, coworkers, or any group of people, and make it a point to collect all the scattered needles from the Christmas tree over some food, drinks, and much laughter! It’s a great way to top off the season and clean the carpet at the same time from the folks at Wellcat.

Africa

Dec

Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute: December 30

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The Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute is observed two days before the beginning of the new calendar year. The symbolism derives from the idea that we all vow or make New Year's Resolutions at the beginning of each year. Today is an extra incentive for those who have yet to reach all their goals to do something about it before the year ends.

Africa

Dec

Moon—New: December 30

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

Africa

Dec

Rizal Day, (PH)(1896): December 30

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Intellectual and revolutionary Dr. Jose Rizal was a hero of the Philippine revolution. He was martyred on this day, December 30, 1896, and executed by firing squad. His death anniversary is a national holiday in the Philippines.

Africa

Dec

Bingo Month, Ntl. (1929): December

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International Bingo Month marks the anniversary of the promotion of the modern game of bingo (the one now associated with church basements), in December 1929, by toy salesman Edwin S. Lowe. First seen at a carnival, the game became an answer for creating income at the onset of the Great Depression. It was a hit! The original name was 'Beano.' It became bingo due to mispronunciation. Initially, players used beans to cover the numbers called. Today we use stamps. Lowe used two methods, one with twelve cards and one with 24 cards, charging $1 and $2, respectively. But Lowe wasn't the originator of bingo. The game was first played in 1530s Italy and was a lottery called Lo Giuoco del Lotto d'Italia. Over the centuries, it spread throughout Europe and morphed into several different formats, from educational to gambling. Today it is often associated with fundraising and senior citizens. No matter what you call it, bingo is beloved by millions worldwide.

Africa

Dec

Calendar Awareness Month, Intl.: December

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International Calendar Awareness Month seeks to remind us of changes to our current calendar over the years and educate us about the different calendars used by various cultures worldwide. Pope Gregory XIII created the Gregorian Calendar in 1582, but it was universally implemented in 1752. The Gregorian calendar has 365 days, with one leap year every four years to account for the 365.25 days it takes the sun to rotate around the earth. The birth of Christ is the demarcation point for BC "Before Christ" and AD "Anno Domini," meaning "The year of our Lord." Non-Christian societies refer to the periods as BCE "Before the Common Era" and CE "Common Era." Regardless of which designation, the same demarcation point, the birth of Jesus Christ is universal. We use both markers in LEEP Calendar. Prior to 1752, the world used the Julian Calendar, which the Roman Empire adopted in 45 BC by Julius Caesar. He was the first to create Leap years and designate January 1 as the first of the year, but the timing was off by one day every 128 years. When the Roman Empire fell, the first of the year moved back to March and, in some cases, Christmas. By the Middle Ages, the extra day every 128 years caused issues with Christian holidays and the harvest. The equinoxes marking the changes in the seasons were falling ten days too early. Pope Gregory XIII decreed a new calendar for all of Christendom. England and its colonies, Protestant and ever the rebel, continued on the Julian Calendar under Queen Elizabeth I, while the rest of Europe transitioned to the new Gregorian Calendar. Eventually, this became problematic, leaving England out of step with its trading partners. An act of parliament in England officially approved the Gregorian Calendar in 1750, and the change was implemented in stages during 1752 and established January 1 as New Year's Day. Every civilization has operated on a calendar. Other calendars in use today often follow religious observances and mark their years according to when that specific faith came into being or by the position of the moon, stars, and sun. Examples of this include: 1) The Islamic calendar (Hijra) begins in 622 CE to mark the Prophet Mohammed's journey between Mecca and Medina. 2) The Hebrew Calendar begins October 6, 3761 BCE. 3) The Hindu calendar begins January 23, 3102 BCE. 4) The Buddhist calendar initiates on May 13, 544 BCE, or March 11, 545 BCE. There is some discrepancy within the faith. 5) The Sikhs mark time from March 14, 1469 CE. 6) The Chinese Calendar begins in 2637 BCE. Live in countries where the above religions are the dominant faith? You'll find events, holidays, and legal documents often have the faith calendar date rather than, or in addition to, the Gregorian calendar date. Following a religious calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar can be advantageous. On average, faith calendars are shorter than the Gregorian calendar, allowing for shorter billing cycles per year. The shortage often translates to a 13th month of pay for employees working under religious calendars. In Islamic countries, where the Hijra calendar is the official government calendar, you'll see this. It is also why Islamic observances move every year 11 days earlier.

Africa

Dec

Cancer Related Fatigue Awareness Month: December

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The American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, the US Government, and various other cancer-related organizations promote Cancer Related Fatigue Awareness Month. The National Cancer Institute of the United States defines cancer-related fatigue as such: "Fatigue is cancer treatment's most common side effect tied to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or selected biological response modifiers. Cancer treatment-related fatigue generally improves after therapy, but fatigue may persist for months or years following treatment. Research indicates that fatigue may be a significant issue long into survivorship for at least a subset of patients. Fatigue presents as a symptom in cancers that produce problems such as anemia, endocrine changes, and respiratory obstruction and is common in people with advanced cancer who are not undergoing active cancer treatment. Cancer treatment-related fatigue occurs in 14% to 96% of patients undergoing cancer treatment and 19% to 82% post-treatment. Several studies have documented significantly worse fatigue in cancer survivors compared with non-cancer populations, as described in one review article. For example, a Norwegian cross-sectional study compared the prevalence of fatigue in long-term survivors of testicular cancer (n = 1,431) at an average of 11 years post-treatment with the majority of fatigue in age-matched men in the general Norwegian population (n = 1,080). The prevalence of chronic cancer-related fatigue (CRF) was 17.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.2–19.1%) among testicular cancer survivors, compared with 9.7% (95% CI, 8.0–11.5%) in the general population. Chronic CRF was also associated with multiple psychosocial problems, somatic complaints, and poor quality of life. Fatigue, like pain, is viewed as a self-perceived state. Patients may describe fatigue as feeling: • Tired • Weak • Exhausted • Lazy • Weary • Worn-out • Heavy • Slow • Like they do not have any energy or any get-up-and-go." This month is about educating those dealing with cancer, those supporting cancer patients, and their caregivers on how to mitigate this side effect and live fuller lives.

Africa

Dec

Cat Lover's Month, Ntl.: December*

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Ailurophile is the fancy name for a person who loves cats, and December is National Cat Lover's Month. Cats have been companions to people for over ten to 12,000 years and perform an essential function in keeping rodent populations at bay. Cats, as we know them today, are descendants of a Middle Eastern wildcat called "Felis Sylvestris," or Cat of the Woods. This origin is why cats are called felines and where the name Sylvester (as in Sylvester the Cat) is widespread. National Cat Lover's Month is an opportunity for cat lovers to socialize, share and work together to make the world more purrfect! This event appears to have been initiated in 2014, and its founder is unknown.

Africa

Dec

Constipation Awareness Month: December

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December was declared Constipation Awareness Month sometime ago and is observed fastidiously in the healthcare industry despite being absent from official status since 2012. In Western cultures, December is a time of overeating, rich foods, and high alcohol consumption. For many, this causes stomach issues ranging from indigestion to constipation. Holistic remedies and physical activity can often prevent or relieve this issue. If left unchecked, constipation kills. December presents an excellent opportunity to explore solutions and learn to eat in such a way that your health remains good.

Africa

Dec

Decembeard (AU): December

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Australian men skip shaving for a month and grow a beard for a good cause, fighting Bowel Cancer. Decembeard is an annual fundraising campaign (and the perfect excuse not to shave). To get started, register on the event website. Start growing your beard and enjoy the festivities of the holidays. It's as easy as 1-2-3 and all proceeds go to fight bowel cancer and cancer research.

Africa

Dec

Disability Inclusion Month: December

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Disability Inclusion Month is a new event in 2021 designed to encourage employers, schools, and public spaces to accommodate the 1 in 4 people in the United States with physical or mental disabilities. These can be obvious, like wheelchair access, or hidden, like dyslexia. Inclusion means making sure that people with disabilities can Use your services Access the information they need Easily enter and move around buildings That they feel safe in your environment That they feel included December is the second Disability Awareness Month annually, and the first is in October and focuses on making workplaces more disability friendly.

Africa

Dec

Eggnog Month, Ntl.: December

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The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says eggnog is a drink made of eggs, sugar, milk, or cream and often includes liquor. Nog is an old English dialect word from East Anglia of obscure origins used to describe a variety of fortified beer, hence noggin. Eggnog appeared in print in the seventeenth century. Enjoy the entire month by making your recipe for eggnog.

Africa