All - Leep Calendar

Maple syrup is an authentic North American sweetener. In the centuries before the first European explorers, Native Americans used this sweet sap and its crystalized sugar to sweeten their foods. Today, maple syrup is most commonly associated with waffles and pancakes. It is delicious on cheese, in yogurt, on cereal, used as a basting sauce for fowl and white fish, and as a sweetener for tea. If you use sugar or honey, you can likely use maple syrup instead. Maple Syrup Day is an unofficial food holiday with no sponsor.

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Dec

Pan American Aviation Day (1903): December 17

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Pan American Aviation Day seeks to stimulate interest in aviation, spawn further development of rapid communications, and increase cultural development between the countries of the Western Hemisphere. The date honors the first successful flight of a mechanically propelled heavier-than-air craft on December 17, 1903, by the Wright brothers in North Carolina.

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Dec

Wright Brothers Day (1903): December 17

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Presidential Proclamation: Wright Brothers Day On December 17, 1903, after years of determination and creativity, Orville and Wilbur Wright's wooden aircraft sailed the steady winds of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. They conquered the age-old dream of manned flight. That day, the two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, could only imagine what we now know. Those moments aloft in the North Carolina sky would send mankind on a revolutionary journey and modernize transportation. On this day, we celebrate their historic accomplishment, the limitless potential they represent, and the vision they spurred for the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs. The Wright brothers' monumental achievement solidified their place in history and earned them status as American and global icons. They moved aviation from a curiosity into an indispensable global industry. Self-taught and relentless in their years of work and experimentation, the brothers were a shining illustration of the limitless capacity of human intellect and the resourcefulness of the American entrepreneur. As part of an era of great visionaries, Orville and Wilbur Wright helped hasten an age of discovery and significant technological advancement. Their unyielding pursuit of powered flight stands as a proud example for young and curious minds eager to transform and advance the world around them. Just as the Wright brothers' breakthrough led to a new industry that forever altered our world, a new generation of space pioneers is now following in their footsteps and setting our Nation's sights even higher. Working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration, leaders in spaceflight are making significant progress in ushering in a new commercial space industry. America's long technological leadership and innovation history have been the product of learning and ingenuity. To maintain this tradition and propel it forward, America must empower the next generation of doers and makers. We must ensure our Nation's students receive the world-class mathematics and science education they need to challenge the boundaries of human knowledge and realize tomorrow what we can only dream today. We must also ready our children to become entrepreneurs whose tenacity and creativity will power the engine of our Nation's economy for centuries to come. On Wright Brothers Day, remembering that celebrated flight, let us recommit to preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs to create a future of promise and progress. The Congress, by a joint resolution, approved December 17, 1963, as amended (77 Stat. 402; 36 U.S.C. 143), has designated December 17 of each year as "Wright Brothers Day" and has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation inviting the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2010, as Wright Brothers Day. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth. BARACK OBAMA

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Dec

Arabic Language Day, Intl.: December 18

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Arabic is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and one of three surviving Semitic languages. The other official languages of the United Nations are Chinese, Spanish, Russian, French, and English. Each language gets its day each year. Arabic is the fourth most spoken language in the world after Mandarin, Spanish, and English.

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Dec

Bake Cookies Day, Ntl.: December 18

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National Bake Cookies Day is an unofficial holiday with no sponsor that grew out of the tradition of baking Christmas Cookies in the West. Christmas cookies are a big part of the annual holiday celebration, and each family has recipes handed down from generation to generation. It’s a common tradition to bring plates of cookies into the office during the holidays to share with coworkers. Another tradition is cookie parties. For a cookie party, each person attending brings 3-4 dozen of their favorite family recipe. These are distributed among all participants to create unique cookie plates and taken home or to the office to share. The best way to celebrate today is to bake and share a batch of cookies with friends and family. Merry Christmas!

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Dec

Migrant's Day, Intl.: December 18

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International Migrant's Day occurs before the Christmas holiday and honors migrants and their tremendous courage. People migrate for several reasons. Some are fleeing war, environmental destruction, or political situations, and others are seeking a better life with more opportunities, seeking religious tolerance, or joining the family. "On this International Migrants Day, I call on the international community to act on the global compact on safe, regular, and orderly migration as an important contribution to building a world of peace, prosperity, dignity, and opportunity for all." — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon On September 19, 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a set of commitments during its first-ever summit on large movements of refugees and migrants to enhance the protection of refugees and migrants. These commitments are known as the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (NY Declaration).

Africa

Dec

Qatar National Day (QA)(1878): December 18

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December 18, 1878, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Thani, who would defeat the Ottomans and erase them from his land, succeeded his father, Sheik Jassem, to the throne and founded the nation of Qatar. It would fall under the British empire after the Ottomans until it gained independence on September 3, 1971. National Day in Qatar is a national holiday.

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Dec

Republic Day, (NE)(1958): December 18

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Malta's Republic Day marks the anniversary of December 13, 1974, when the island nation ended the monarchy and became a republic. Republic Day is a national holiday.

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Dec

Roast Suckling Pig Day, Ntl.: December 18

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National Roast Suckling Pig Day celebrates a dish made from piglets (baby pigs) aged two and six weeks—"suckling" because the piglets have yet to be weened. The pig is roasted whole until its skin turns crisp. Its meat is so tender and succulent that someone named an entire holiday after it.

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Dec

Sankashti Chaturthi (H): December 18

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In the Hindu faith, Chaturthi is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Sankashti Chaturthi (Sankata Chaturthi) is observed on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha (the dark lunar phase or the waning phase of the moon). If this Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday, it is called Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi. Devotees observe strict fasting during daylight until darshan (the sight of the moon). Prayers precede the breaking of the fast to Lord Ganesha. 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

Dec

Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day, Ntl.: December 18

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Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day is a silly holiday without origin meant to remind people not to take life too seriously, and it falls smack dab at the height of the hectic holiday in December. If the season's stress is getting to you, put a plunger on your head, look in the mirror, and laugh. There. Isn't that better?

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Dec

Evergreen Day: December 19

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Evergreen Day pays tribute to the iconic Christmas Tree, which is usually a conifer in the genus Pinus (pine tree). Evergreen is a lay term used to describe trees and shrubs that do not lose their leaves in the fall and stay green year around. These include conifers (Hemlock, Redwood), tropical hardwoods (Mahogany, Eucalyptus), and temperate broadleaf trees (Holly, Rhododendron).

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Dec

Oatmeal Muffin Day: December 19

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Oatmeal Muffin Day celebrates the miniature cakes made of oatmeal flour often eaten for breakfast. Oatmeal was initially food for horses, and the plant was a weed. The Scottish first cooked it and ate it as porridge. The slightly sweet taste of oatmeal quickly made it a favorite. Russia, Canada, the United States, Finland, and Poland are the world’s top producers of oats. To this day, the majority of oats are consumed by livestock. However, the versatility of oats and their health benefits, being high in fiber, low fat, and multiple vitamins, have made oatmeal and oatmeal muffins a breakfast favorite and an excellent alternative to wheat.

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Dec

Re-gifting (White Elephant) Day: December 19

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The Thursday before Christmas in the United States is Re-gifting Day or White Elephant Day. A white elephant gift is a re-gifted gift that the receiver didn't want and is often tacky or tasteless. Everyone has received a present that they don't want or appreciate. If it is unmatched by the receiver's personality, tastes, or needs, it falls under the category of a white elephant gift. Sometimes, we receive more than one of the same gift or something we already have (like three blenders for a wedding gift, one each from different people). These also make excellent re-gifting gifts. Today is the day to dust off those items in the back of your closet and give them as gifts to people who might like them. Or, as a joke, if it's a white elephant. It's all in good humor!

Africa

Dec

The Big Press Conference (RU): December 19 (est)

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The date for this event is generally confirmed in the third quarter of each year. Due to the war with Ukraine, as of late November 2022, it appears to be unscheduled and set to be missed this year. The Big Press Conference is one of the rare occasions Russian President Putin takes questions from the press. The event typically lasts several hours, and leaders, politicians, diplomats, and journalists watch it in Russia and worldwide. Russia is the largest country in the world by land mass, nearly twice as big as the United States (including Alaska) and Canada, which comes in at #2, even after the break-up of the Soviet Union. From an empire ruled by tsars to an authoritarian dictatorship under communism, and finally, to a fledgling democracy hampered by corruption and crumbling infrastructure, Russia ended the 20th century with political whiplash, a vacancy in power, and an uncertain future. It was in this atmosphere, at the turn of the 21st century (December 31, 1999), that a shrewd, calculating former KGB intelligence officer and one of three First Deputy Prime Ministers would seize the reigns of power through the appointment of the former President, Yeltsin, and elections. Vladimir Putin would hold power through changing the laws, strategy, calculated intelligence, and astute politicking, on par with the canny of a world-class chess player. Putin sees himself as the Russian people's father, protector, leader, and their representative. The annual Big Press Conference is his version of a town hall—meet the press—throne room, where he solves local issues, positions the nation on the world stage, and engages with the people through the press once a year. The event is carefully orchestrated to promote his image, vision, and policies and to project the strength of the Russian nation to both allies and adversaries. Each year the archive is available on the Kremlin site in English and Russian.

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