All - Leep Calendar

Often the 'happiest place to live on earth' and home of the Northern Lights, reindeer, and gorgeous scenery, Scandinavia's Finland honors the birth of its sixth president, Carl Gustaf Mannerheim, on June 4, 1867. A military leader, in addition to a politician, Mannerheim is celebrated by Finland's military each year with Flag Day.

Africa

Jun

Old Maid's Day: June 4*

06:20 AM | -

Old Maid's Day was created in 1946 when many WWII soldiers returned home. Think of it as the first-speed dating service bringing singles together in a social atmosphere. Although there was an upsurge in marriages following the war's end, many women remained without partners. Social functions brought soldiers and unmarried women together in hopes of creating a love match. The tradition continues today, albeit electronically via dating sites, events, and, as mentioned, speed dating.

Africa

Jun

Yom Yirushalayim (IL)(1967): June 4/5

06:20 AM | -

Yom Yerushalayim, or Jerusalem Day, is an Israeli state holiday celebrating the conquest and annexation of East Jerusalem during the Six Day War of 1967. In Israel, the day is described as the Day of Reunification, and it is the day the city of Jerusalem fell under Israeli control and those of the Jewish faith. The reunification was recognized solely in the State of Israel until December 6, 2017, when President Donald Trump declared his administration recognized Jerusalem as Israeli exclusively, only of and for the Jewish people. Yom Yerushalayim occurs on the anniversary of the annexation according to the Hebrew calendar, and it is a secular holiday. PLEASE NOTE: Under international law, East Jerusalem is and has been occupied since 1967. The city of Jerusalem, under the United Nation's agreement creating the state of Israel, is to remain an international city, not the exclusive land of an individual nation. Representatives of Isreal agreed to this requirement in 1947 as a condition of their statehood. The inhabitants of East Jerusalem are predominantly Christians and Muslims and were under the guardianship of the Kingdom of Jordan at the time of the war. Despite his beliefs, the president of the United States does not have the authority to rewrite international law, reallocate sovereignty, or change the status of East Jerusalem at a whim.

Africa

Jun

15th of Khordad (IR)(1963): June 5

06:20 AM | -

June 5, 1963, is the anniversary of an uprising in Iran, referred to as the 15th of Khordad. Iranian historians and the people point to this event as the beginning of the Islamic Revolution. The event began with a speech by Imam Seyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, who would go on to lead the opposition to the repressive monarchy. He would later be known to the West as Ayatollah Khomeini. His speech exposed the back-channel collusion between the Pahlavi regime and the state of Israel. Angered by the disclosure, the people rose in protest. Agents of the government intervened, arresting and killing several of the protesters. The actions of the 15th of Khordad were the first time the people openly challenged the much-hated regime. Khomeini would lead the revolutionaries and ultimately depose the Shah in 1979. That deposition ushered in the current Iranian Republic, headed by an Ayatollah and governed by a President. The 15th of Khordad is a national holiday in Iran.

Africa

Jun

Constitution Day (DK)(1849/1953): June 5

06:20 AM | -

On June 5, 1849, Denmark became a constitutional monarchy, and the constitution was changed and readopted on June 5, 1953. Constitution Day in Denmark marks these two anniversaries and is a national holiday.

Africa

Jun

Environment Day, World: June 5

06:20 AM | -

World Environment Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of protecting nature and the planet proactively. This awareness campaign is sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program and was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 as an initiative for the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Parades, rallies, tree-planting activities, and clean-up campaigns are held worldwide.

Africa

Jun

Fishing, Intl. Day Against Illegal Fishing: May 5

06:20 AM | -

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities pose a serious threat to the sustainability of global fisheries, leading to a loss of 11–26 million tonnes of fish each year and costing the world's economy $10–23 billion annually. This impacts not just the fishing industry but also disrupts the balance of the marine ecosystem, threatening biodiversity. It undermines international efforts towards achieving food security, especially with the growing global population. In response to this challenge, the UN has adopted measures to effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing and IUU fishing as a part of its Sustainable Development Agenda (Goal 14, Target 4). The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been actively promoting awareness about the detrimental effects of IUU fishing. To encourage responsible practices, the FAO adopted the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in 1995, a voluntary agreement aiming for effective conservation, management, and development of living aquatic resources. Subsequently, in 2009, the FAO introduced a binding agreement, the Agreement on Port State Measures, to deter and eliminate IUU fishing. Furthermore, 5 June has been declared as the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing to emphasize the importance of this issue. This date commemorates the day when the Agreement on Port State Measures came into effect. In addition, 2022 has been declared as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, emphasizing the role of small-scale fishers who make up 90% of the global fisheries workforce. Ultimately, the fight against IUU fishing is not limited to the actions of governments and international organizations. Consumers have a role to play as well, as it is estimated that 1 in every 5 fish comes from IUU fishing. By being more discerning about the sources of the seafood they consume, individuals can contribute to the fight against IUU fishing and promote sustainable practices.

Africa

Jun

Gingerbread Day, Ntl.: June 5

06:20 AM | -

While the gingerbread house is most prevalent during Christmas, people enjoy gingerbread year around. Gingerbread is often mixed with honey and molasses (treacle) and made into bread or biscuit. In the past, gingerbread referred only to preserved ginger, which later evolved into what it is today. Ginger has several health benefits, including calming an upset stomach. Ginger cookies are a healthy addition to afternoon tea or any other meal.

Africa

Jun

HIV Long-term Survivors Day (1981): June 5

06:20 AM | -

On June 5, 1981, the Centers for Disease Control described a new disease that seemed to attack gay men. That disease would eventually be called AIDS, and the virus was identified in 1985 as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. During its first few years, AIDS and HIV were virtual death sentences for anyone who caught it. Over 39 million people worldwide have died from the disease. By the early 1990s, treatments began to create longevity, and the number of people killed by the virus declined. Today, a high percentage of those who contract the disease survive and live long and happy lives. Today, nearly 37 million people live with the disease. HIV Long-term Survivors Day celebrates those who continue to battle HIV but have survived. Created by Tea Anderson in 2014, it is supported by several governmental and NGO organizations worldwide.

Africa

Jun

Running Day, Global: June 5

06:20 AM | -

Global Running Day occurs on the first Wednesday of June as a tribute to those who love running. Created in 2009, Global Running Day is organized by various nationwide running clubs. Competitions, goal setting, and sharing the benefits of running are common activities.

Africa

Jun

Six Day War Begins (1967): June 5

06:20 AM | -

The Six-Day War continues to resonate as a foundational event creating the current facts in Israel. It marks the beginning of the complete military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights, occupations that continue today via containment, siege, and direct interference with the added strategic tools of massive walls, no man's land, home demolitions, checkpoints, targeted strikes using missiles, tanks, bulldozers, naval and aircraft, a two-tiered legal system, Jewish only colonies, and Jewish only roads throughout the occupied land. The Six-Day War was a stunning military victory for the Israeli army. On that, everyone agrees. Historians have since removed the idealized thinking surrounding this event, the chief being that the state of Israel was under imminent threat of attack and needed to strike first. It was not. In reality, back-channel talks occurred between the United States and Egypt over the Sinai, the portions conquered by Israel in 1967. Egypt would regain the Sinai between 1973 and 1981. Israel continues to control the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Golan Heights, each of which is an Occupied Territory under International Law. The Six-Day War was a strategic operation to expand Israel's land holdings (referred to by the settler movement as Erez Israel) and military supremacy in the Middle East. The West Bank is home to one of the largest aquifers in the Middle East, and the Gaza Strip sits atop natural gas reserves. The result of the Six-Day War is the ongoing and expanding occupation. There are several excellent books written in the past decades that benefit from declassified historical documents on this issue: Ilan Pappe's "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" Benny Morris' "The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited" Jimmy Carter's "Peace, not Apartheid." David Hirst's "Gun and the Olive Branch: The Roots of Violence in the Middle East." Rashid Khalid's "The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood." Tom Segev's "1967: Israel, the War, and the Year that Transformed the Middle East." The First part of Prof. Ilan Pappe's lecture on the Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine is below. The 40-minute four-part series is viewable here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ilanpappevideos.

Africa

Jun

Tailor's Day, Ntl.: June 5

06:20 AM | -

National Tailor’s Day occurs on the first Wednesday of June. It pays tribute to the profession that makes us look our best in clothes. Tailoring is an occupation that dates back to around 1297 AD when the dictionary first mentioned the word. It wasn’t until the 1400s the industry took off. Fashion had evolved into more complex, form-fitting pieces, rather than the drapes and layers of cloth used to hide one’s physique of the past. By the Renaissance, fashion wasn’t about hiding who you were but showing off. To do that, one needs a tailor!

Africa

Jun

Applesauce Cake Day: June 6

06:20 AM | -

Applesauce Cake Day commemorates this traditional cake and its historical importance. During WWI, bread and cake ingredients were rationed. Because of this, people replaced several ingredients with applesauce to make cakes sweet and moist. Applesauce Cake is also a favorite of Girl Scouts and campers. It can easily be made in a Dutch oven over an open fire.

Africa

Jun

Bonza Bottler Day™, Intl: June 6

06:20 AM | -

When the number of the month matches the number of the day, that's Bonza Bottler Day. It is a play on numbers. There are twelve Bonza Bottler Days a year. This event began in 1985. Bonza is Australian for "Super." Bottler is slang for "something excellent."

Africa

Jun

D-Day (1944): June 6

06:20 AM | -

June 6, 1944, D-Day, was the Allied forces' first day of the massive invasion of Normandy, France. At the time, the Axis powers, led by Nazi Germany, held most of Europe under their authority. This invasion created a two-front war for Germany and was the first significant invasion, which turned the fortunes of the war and began the march to the end of the Third Reich.

Africa