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Described as whimsical and fascinating, each year, the city of Oaxaca (pronounced Wa-Saw-Kha) in Mexico hosts the Night (or Feast) of the Radishes, Noche de Rabanos. The tradition began over 100 years ago when the merchants of the town square were looking for ways to draw worshippers exiting Christmas season services to their stores. Radishes were at peak harvest, so they started carving them into little people and animals. The people loved them and purchased them in force, using them as decorations for holiday festivities. In 1897, it was declared an official festival on December 23rd each year, the day before Christmas Eve. Today expert and novice carvers alike compete for the best-carved radishes. These are not your typical small kumquat-size radishes found in the produce section. Oaxaca grows a mega radish that can weigh up to 6.5 pounds (3kg) and be up to 20 inches in length (50 cm). The festival draws people worldwide and includes a parade, music, food, and fireworks. It's one of the unique Christmas celebrations in the world. Image: Alejandro Linares Garcia, Creative Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rabanos2014_068.JPG

Africa

Dec

Advent (C): December 1- 24

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The season of Advent occurs in the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It's about preparing the mind, body, and soul for the Messiah's joyous arrival and marking the church's birth. What is the Messiah, and how does this differ between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism? Here's a bare-bones mini-messianic primer for those not familiar with Abrahamic faiths. Christians believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah (savior and liberator of the people) promised to the Israelites and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Muslims believe Jesus is a prophet of God but not a Messiah. Many of His sermons and teachings are in the Qu'ran. Judaism believes Jesus is a man who lived and was a teacher (rabbi), not the Messiah promised, nor a prophet. Judaism believes the Messiah is yet to come. Okay, so the cousins don't agree on everything. No surprise there. Advent is a Christian celebration unique to its faith. However, has it always been observed as it is today? NOW & THEN The commercialization and the secularization of Christmas during the past century shifted the public understanding of Advent. Today it is more likely to signify the beginning of the Christmas shopping and party season. Festivities begin in late November and end on New Year's Day. Traditionally, Advent was a 40-day fast, similar to Ramadan, a time of preparation, prayer, and solemn reflection beginning on November 12 and continuing through Christmas Eve. Observant Christians abstained from celebrations until Christmas Eve, including putting up their trees. In the ninth century, Advent became four weeks long and followed the traditions of Lent, featuring abstinence in exchange for complete daylight fasting. Until the last two centuries, Christmas music and parties only occurred during Christmastide (Christmas Eve through January 5). The Christmas feast marked the end of fasting and the commencement of the celebrations. ADVENT TRADITIONS ADVENT CALENDARS: Advent Calendars have been a favorite European tradition for centuries within Protestant and Catholic faiths. It is common for children to have an Advent Calendar beginning December 1 to mark off the days until Christmas. Eastern Orthodox faiths begin Advent on November 15, but western churches celebrate Advent during the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Advent Calendars come in many forms, the most common being a paper version with windows corresponding to a particular day, which children open to see a picture inside. Other forms include candy or little drawers with coins. The purpose of the Advent Calendar is to count down the days until the birth of the Messiah by marking each day with an event designed to remind each person of the upcoming miracle. Advent comes from the Latin "advenio," which means "to come to." The Advent season is about preparing for the arrival of the Messiah—the birth of Jesus Christ. ADVENT WREATH: The Advent wreath originated in Germany and began as a Lutheran tradition before moving to the Catholic and Anglican churches and is similar to the lighting of the menorah in Judaism at Hanukah, but the reason and purpose are different. The menorah represents the eight days lamp oil lasted during a war that allowed the Israelites to recapture and re-consecrate their temple. The Advent wreath, with its four candles (three purple and one rose) in a circle surrounded by evergreens (symbolizing hope and eternal life), represents preparation for the Messiah's birth. A large white taper candle is often in the center for lighting the other candles. In church, the vestitures of the clergy and drapings of the altar will be purple or rose, coinciding with each Sunday of Advent. On the first Sunday of Advent, Christians light a single purple candle and continue to light it each night of the week. On the second Sunday, a second purple candle joins it, burning together until the third Sunday when a rose candle, representing Gaudete (Rejoice), is lit. Gaudete marks the halfway point of the season and is accompanied by relaxing the rules and adding colors and flowers. These three candles, two purple and one rose carry through each night until the final Sunday of Advent, when all four candles burn together, signaling that the feasting begins! The Advent wreath is prominent in Christmas celebrations today, though it is often mistaken for a pretty centerpiece rather than its true purpose. ADVENT MUSIC: Since music is relegated to Christmastide, there aren't a lot of Advent songs. However, the following carols are about it. O Come, O Come Emmanuel Gaudete Twelve Days of Christmas. That's Advent. It marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical and ecclesiastic year, which is central to the faith and the celebration of Christmas. A blessed Advent to all those observing. This article is adapted from the interactive edition of The Storybook Advent Calendar: 24 Stories for Christmas by Lewis Brech (LD Lewis & Michael Brech), available on Apple iBooks, Kindle, and GooglePlay. The music, performed by Michael Brech, is also available on iTunes, iHeart, Amazon, and other streaming services via Storybook Advent Carols Collection Volume One: 20 American Christmas Classics and Storybook Advent Carols Collection Volume Two: 20 British Christmas Classics.

Africa

Dec

NORAD Santa Tracker: December 1-24

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Created from a misprinted phone number in a Sears ad in 1955, the NORAD Santa Tracker goes live each December 1 and follows Santa's progress leading up to his big day, December 24. This delightful tool teaches children world geography while adding to the excitement of Christmas Eve every year since 1958.

Africa

Dec

Operation Santa Paws: December 1-24

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Operation Santa Paws is a three-week event organized every December, from December 1 to December 24. Promoted and run by various animal-related organizations (like http://www.hautedogs.org/ for example), it's a time to raise awareness about the countless homeless animals out there and encourage people to adopt a pet for their kids (or for themselves!) before or at Christmas.

Africa

Dec

Las Posadas (C): December 16-24

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Las Posadas is an evening event that occurs each year during the week of December 16-24. It commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus Christ, to Bethlehem and their inability to find lodging once arriving there for the census. Parties are held in homes throughout Mexico, Central, and South America each night. People approaching house parties stand before and sing or say: "In the name of Heaven I ask you for lodging, because She cannot walk, my beloved wife." The host and people inside the house respond: "This is no inn, keep on going. I won't open the door, in case you are a truant." The tradition continues for several verses, with those outside giving clues about who they are. Once the people inside discover who the people outside are, they all enter the home for festivities. Each party wandering from house to house has a little girl dressed as the Virgin Mary and a boy as Joseph. If available, "Mary" rides a donkey. Las Posada parties occur every night and are an excellent way for neighbors to get to know each other and celebrate the season. Posada means "lodging" in Spanish.

Africa

Dec

Simbang Gabi, (PH)(C): December 16-24

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Simbang Gabi is the official Christmas prayer tradition in the Philippines. It begins nine days before Christmas and includes nine early dawn and nine evening masses (church services). It is the preparation leading up to Christmas and is celebrated by Filipinos worldwide.

Africa

Dec

Christmas Eve (C): December 24

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Christmas Eve is the night before Christmas Day. Christmas Day is the second most important day in the Christian calendar, second only to Easter. It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ sometime between 1 BC and 1 AD. (There is no year "0"). Christians believe Jesus Christ is the son of God, the messiah promised to the Israelites (and later the Hebrews), and He is the world's savior. Christmas means "The mass of Christ." Christmas is observed by over 2 billion people each year. Some denominations observe it on December 25, and others choose January 7, the day after the Epiphany, or March 25, when the angel told the Virgin Mary that she would have the messiah. Emperor Constantine was the first to declare December 25 as the day set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in 336 AD, and Pope Julius I confirmed the date a few years later. In reality, it is believed that Jesus was born in the early spring as The Bible story of the nativity details the census, the reason the family traveled to Bethlehem, in some detail. The actual date of His birth is not included in scripture.

Africa

Dec

Eggnog Day, Ntl.: December 24

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Christmas Eve is also National Eggnog Day, but what makes up the milky concoction anyway? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says eggnog is a drink made of eggs, sugar, milk, or cream and often includes liquor. Eggnog has been linked to the holidays since the 1700s. At that time, immigrants brought the beverage to North America.

Africa

Dec

Independence Day, (LY)(1951): December 24

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Independence Day in Libya marks the anniversary of December 24, 1951, when the nation gained independence from Italy. Independence Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Nov

ARIA Music Awards (AU): November 24

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The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) is an annual event celebrating the Australian music industry put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The event date is typically scheduled in September or early October. The date given here is estimated based on previous years' dates. The ARIAs began in 1987 and have become the premier event on the Australian music calendar. Voting is through members of the Australian music industry (including artists, producers, engineers, and video directors) plus five publicly voted awards: Song of the Year, Best International Artist, Best Australian Live Act, Best Video, and the Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award, which is awarded earlier in the year. The winners take home the ARIA, a stylized inverted pyramid trophy. Initially, the ARIA Music Awards occurred in small venues with audiences of around 600 people. As the popularity increased, they moved to larger venues, including the Sydney Opera House and the Star Event Centre. Today they are also telecast on national television. Categories: The ARIA Music Awards features numerous categories, including Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group, Breakthrough Artist, and genre-specific awards for categories like Best Pop Release, Best Rock Album, Best Urban Album, Best Country Album, and more. In 1988, the ARIAs inducted successful career artists into the ARIA Hall of Fame award. Notable inductees include AC/DC, INXS, John Farnham, Kylie Minogue, and Crowded House. The ARIAs are instrumental in shaping public and international perceptions of Australian music. They've launched successful international careers and are considered a critical achievement in the global music scene. 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

Nov

European Union Day (1993): November 1

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The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union comprising 27 member countries, primarily in Europe. Its origins trace back to the aftermath of World War II, with the idea of fostering cooperation and preventing future widespread conflict. The EU was first conceptualized in 1950, with the proposal of the Schuman Plan, by the French foreign minister, Robert Schuman, which led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome was signed, forming the European Economic Community (EEC), with the same six countries, to create a common market and customs union. The EEC expanded to include Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom in 1973. Greece joined in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986. In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty became effective, establishing the EU and setting the foundation for a single currency, the euro. The EU continued to expand, with Austria, Finland, and Sweden joining in 1995. In 2004, in the most significant single expansion, ten more countries joined the EU: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Romania and Bulgaria followed in 2007. The most recent addition was Croatia in 2013. The United Kingdom, in a historic move, exited the EU on January 31, 2020, in an event commonly known as "Brexit." As of August 2023, the EU's 27 member states are: Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden The EU continues to evolve, with its members working collaboratively on matters related to defense, asylum, and international trade. It represents one of the world's largest economic blocs and a unique regional cooperation and integration experiment.

Africa

Nov

The Ivors Classical Awards (UK): November 14

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The Ivors Composer Awards, previously known as the British Composer Awards, has been re-launched as The Ivors Classical Awards. These awards celebrate creative excellence in composition for contemporary classical and sound art.

Established in 2003, they transitioned to The Ivors Composer Awards in 2019, recognizing classical and sound art and jazz composing. The Academy plans to introduce The Ivors Jazz Awards in 2024. Winners of The Ivors Classical Awards receive the prestigious Ivor Novello Award, widely recognized as the pinnacle of achievement since its inception in 1956. Musical works and awards fall into eight award categories, celebrating chamber, choral and orchestral compositions, staged works, community and participation projects, and sound art.

Africa

Nov

The Ivors Composer Week (UK): November 13-17

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Composer Week is a five-day lead-up and celebration of the British music industry leading up to and through the Ivor Classical Awards. Artists, celebrities, and music industry craftsmen gather for a week of celebration, networking, workshops, and concerts to celebrate the industry and support each other leading up to the awards ceremony on Tuesday night.

Winners of The Ivors Classical Awards receive the prestigious Ivor Novello Award, widely recognized as the pinnacle of achievement since its inception in 1956. Musical works and awards fall into eight award categories, celebrating chamber, choral, and orchestral compositions, staged works, community and participation projects, and sound art.

Africa

Nov

Makepung Lampit Races (ID): November 17 (est)

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The Makepung Lampit is a traditional buffalo racing event held annually in Jembrana, western Bali, Indonesia. Unlike its counterpart, Makepung, dry land-based races that occur throughout Bali from June through October, the Makepung Lampit (Chase the Plow) races occur in muddy rice fields, adding an element of challenge and excitement to the event. Teams of buffaloes, guided by jockeys, race through the slushy terrain, pulling a wooden plow behind them. The event not only showcases the physical strength and stamina of the buffaloes but also the skills and talent of the jockeys. Makepung Lampit is deeply rooted in Balinese culture and agriculture, symbolizing the joy and enthusiasm towards the plowing season. It's a festive occasion that gathers locals and tourists alike, providing a spectacle full of cultural significance, thrills, and even comedy. Often, the event also features other cultural activities like music, dance, and traditional food, making it a comprehensive experience of Balinese culture. Local communities generally organize the races, and they serve multiple purposes. On one level, they are a form of entertainment and celebration. The races foster community ties and help identify the most robust and capable buffaloes, considered valuable in agrarian practices. Makepung Lampit offers a unique and authentic glimpse into Balinese culture, making it a must-see for anyone interested in understanding the local way of life.

Africa

Nov

ARIA Music Awards (AU): November 23 (est)

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Africa