All - Leep Calendar

The Glastonbury Festival, created in 1970 and drawing over 250,000 people a year, is like stepping into a magical wonderland where music, art, and good vibes come together in the heart of the English countryside. Created by Michael Eavis on his farm in Pilton, Somerset, England, the humble gathering would evolve into something truly extraordinary. Glastonbury, or Glasto, is a five-day extravaganza that celebrates music, creativity, and community, including big-name headliners from a diverse lineup with genres ranging from rock, pop, and indie to electronic, folk, and world music.

Attendees dance to their favorite bands, discover new artists, and lose themselves in the rhythm and melodies that fill the air. In addition to music, the sprawling green fields transform into a colorful tapestry of tents, stages, and art installations. Explore various themed areas, from the iconic Pyramid Stage (the festival's centerpiece) to the intimate acoustic performances in the legendary Stone Circle. Wander through the bustling markets filled with unique crafts, clothes, and delicious global food. Circus acts, theater performances, poetry readings, and even a dedicated Kidz Field for the little ones round out the electric atmosphere.

Over the years, Glastonbury has hosted some of the greatest artists of all time, including legends like David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Radiohead, and Beyoncé. Tickets sell out in a matter of minutes! Glastonbury, in addition to music and art, focuses on social and environmental causes, actively promoting sustainability and green initiatives through "Green Fields" focused on eco-friendly living, renewable energy, and holistic well-being.

The Glastonbury Festival is an experience where new friendships are forged, dreams come alive, and music reigns supreme.

Africa

Jun

Calcio Storico Fiorentino (IT): June 24

06:20 AM | -

The Calcio Storico Fiorentino, often called Calcio Fiorentino, can be considered sport's answer to anger management. This traditional sport of Florence, Italy, dates back to the 16th century and combines soccer, rugby, and wrestling in an exciting, violent, and vibrant spectacle. It originated from the Roman sport of harpastum, which Roman generals used to keep legionnaires fit and in top fighting condition beginning in 59 BC. The game is played in the Piazza Santa Croce, on a field of sand, twice a year in June as part of the San Giovanni celebrations, honoring St. John the Baptist, the city's patron saint. Four teams represent the four quarters of the city: Santa Croce (Blue), Santo Spirito (White), Santa Maria Novella (Red), and San Giovanni (Green). Each team comprises 27 players. Once the players are on the field, a historic cannon fires to begin the match. The game's objective is to throw the ball over a designated spot on the opponent's side of the field. Players employ a free-for-all strategy of violence and technique, using any means necessary to achieve victory. A lack of rules leads to extreme scrambling, pushing, and tackling that would be considered illegal in most modern contact sports. The most famous game was held in 1530 during the siege of Florence, seen as an act of defiance against the attacking forces. Today, Calcio Storico Fiorentino is a source of immense local pride. The annual games draw large crowds, including a parade of participants dressed in historical costumes. The tournament winners are awarded a white calf, keeping with centuries of tradition. 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

Jun

Celebration of the Senses Day: June 24

06:20 AM | -

Celebration of the Senses Day falls on June 24 to highlight awareness of sensory perception. People are encouraged to use their senses more actively, and some join activities that help them perceive objects by becoming more aware of how they use their five senses.

Africa

Jun

Discovery Day, Newfoundland, Labrador (CA)(1497): June 24

06:20 AM | -

On June 24, 1497, John Cabot discovered Newfoundland in what was to become Canada. It is a provincial holiday in the regions of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, on the Monday closest to June 24 of each year.

Africa

Jun

Energy Shopping Day, Ntl.: June 24

06:20 AM | -

National Energy Shopping Day encourages consumers and businesses in deregulated states to check their energy contracts and shop for a fixed-rate energy supplier. Annually on the first Monday of Summer. Energy Supply Shopping 101 Most people cannot choose which company delivers their electricity or gas to their homes or businesses, and utilities are essentially monopolies. However, on that gas and electric bill, you're paying three different entities, at the minimum: the service provider (your electric or gas company); the government (taxes and fees); and the supplier, the actual gas or electricity you use. You can't do anything about the service provider (except go off the grid). The only way to change anything about the taxes is to lobby your government. You can do something about the supply, though; that is where Energy Shopping Day comes in. Gas and electricity are commodities. That means they are traded on the commodities market daily, and the actual price fluctuates daily. Most businesses of any size, if they're in one of the 37 states with energy deregulation, tend to apply fixed-rate contracts to their gas and electric supply to protect against price volatility. It is like signing a lease for rent or a fixed-rate mortgage. You know what you'll pay for a set period, and even if the landlord raises everyone else's rent, your rent doesn't go up until your lease ends. For example, after the 2008 economic crisis, electric and natural gas supply prices increased nearly 100% over the next three years. By 2014, they were at all-time highs. Companies and residents locked in their fixed rates with suppliers didn't experience the wild price increases, and they paid whatever they had agreed to pay on their 12-60 month contracts. What about businesses that signed fixed-rate contracts at the height of the market in 2014 and 2015? The market tanked in 2016 and 2017 again. If a company signed up with a broker rather than an individual supplier, they're usually covered. Reputable brokers watch the market and re-negotiate with all their suppliers when the market drops dramatically for an extended period. They then redo their clients at lower rates, choosing from whichever supplier has the best rate for that client's usage. Brokers aren't locked into a specific supplier. The business or residence is protected against large fluctuations in the market while given a "get out clause" if everything goes south. Over three to five years, the Canadian government and US government reporting agencies and several news organizations have shown that companies opting for fixed-rate energy contracts pay less over the full term. There may be a month, quarter, or even a year in that contract that they pay a little more than the variable rate. However, over a long time, choosing a supplier not only increases your accuracy at budgeting (you know what your usage was last year, so you can accurately calculate total cost this year now that you know what the energy will cost) but it also protects you from the unknown: hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, political instability in energy supplying nations, extended cold weather, pandemics and anything else that might affect supply and demand that is beyond your control. What's the caveat? If you're not working with a broker (brokers prevent this from happening), you must keep a close eye on when your contract expires and renew before then. People and businesses that sign up for "introductory offers" or fail to renew their contracts before expiration will start to see their rates skyrocket once out of contract. They return to variable rates, whatever the supplier wants to charge. Going back to the lease versus month-to-month rent, on a lease, your rent cannot go up. Once the lease expires, the landlord can raise your rent monthly if you haven't signed a new one. It's the same principle with energy supply contracts.

Africa

Jun

Fairy Day, Intl.: June 24

06:20 AM | -

Numerous historical accounts testify that fairies appeared in Greek mythology about 3,000 years ago, but their popularity has increased over the years. According to legends, the worlds of humans and fairies overlap or mingle only during the summer months. In mainstream culture, the world's most famous fairies come from William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and J. M. Barrie's character Tinkerbell from "Peter Pan: The Boy Who Would Never Grow Up." Fairy Day is for everyone who believes in the magic of fairytales.

Africa

Jun

Macau Day (CN)(1622): June 24

06:20 AM | -

Macau Day, also called Saint John the Baptist Day, marks the day Dutch forces vacated Macau on June 24, 1622. This former Portuguese colony is now part of China.

Africa

Jun

Pralines Day, Ntl.: June 24

06:20 AM | -

National Pralines Day celebrates the French confectionery named after Cesar duc de Choiseul, Comte du Plessis-Praslin, its creator. Initially, pralines were created by adding almonds to boiling sugar. Today a praline can be in its original form or as a bonbon, chocolate candies filled with nuts, milk, or cream. National Pralines Day is an unofficial holiday with no sponsor.

Africa

Jun

Saint John (Jean) the Baptist Day: June 24

06:20 AM | -

Saint Jean Baptiste Day (Feast of Saint John the Baptist) is a day to honor Saint John the Baptist, the man who baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. The holiday is celebrated in the French Canadian provinces with open-air concerts, parades, and fireworks displays. Alternate names include language La Saint-Jean, Fête Nationale du Québec, St. John the Baptist Day, and Quebec's National Holiday. In Quebec, Saint Jean Baptiste Day is a public holiday, meaning that public offices are closed, and public transportation has a limited schedule. This day is a paid day off holiday if this date falls on a Sunday for workers who work that day. Like most festivals that fall in the Midsummer, Saint Jean Baptiste Day has its roots in the pre-Christianity times when the summer solstice is celebrated in Europe. When Europe converted to Christianity, pagan elements were incorporated into the celebrations introduced by French colonists in Canada. The first celebration of Saint Jean Baptiste Day occurred on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River with bonfires and munitions salutes using canons and muskets. Saint Jean Baptiste Day was first officially observed in 1843 after Ludger Duvernay decided to have an event similar to Montreal's St. Patrick's Day. That year, he established the Saint Jean Baptiste Society as the promotional tool for the celebration. With the backing of the Catholic Church, in 1880, the Saint Jean Baptiste Society formed the first Congrès National des Canadians Français during the festival, and the song "O Canada" was first performed. By 1908, Saint John the Baptist became the patron Saint of Quebec.

Africa

Jun

Swim-a-Lap Day: June 24

06:20 AM | -

Swim-a-Lap Day urges people to spend a day at the pool and swim a lap or two. Additionally, it encourages people to embrace swimming as a recreational activity to enhance physical activity or relaxation. Check your local public swimming pool for special events.

Africa

Jun

Women in Diplomacy, Intl. Day of: June 24

06:20 AM | -

Women, representing half of the world's population and potential, are essential in global governance and diplomacy. They broaden the scope of issues considered and improve outcomes with their leadership styles, expertise, and priorities. Research suggests that when women are involved in cabinets and parliaments, they pass laws and policies better suited for people, the environment, and social cohesion. Increasing women's participation in peace and political processes is crucial to achieving real equality amidst entrenched discrimination. However, progress towards gender equality in political roles is slow. Of the 193 United Nations Member States, only 34 women serve as elected Heads of State or Government. Global proportions of women in other political offices are low: 21% of ministers, 26% of national parliamentarians, and 34% of local government elected seats. At the current pace, equal parliamentary representation won't be achieved until 2062. Historically, men have dominated diplomacy, often overshadowing women's significant contributions. As of 2014, 143 countries guaranteed gender equality in their constitutions, but 52 have not. Advocating for increased women's representation in decision-making positions will shape and implement multilateral agendas significantly. Despite representing only 13% of negotiators, 6% of mediators, and 6% of signatories in peace processes from 1992 to 2019, women's contributions are critical. Gender equality and women's empowerment are key to progress across all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially since SDG 5 calls for women's equal participation in decision-making. The United Nations General Assembly declared June 24 each year as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, inviting all Member States, UN organizations, and non-governmental groups to observe the Day through education and public awareness-raising. However, further progress is needed as women remain underrepresented in many fields, including technical arms control. Despite these challenges, where more women are involved in government, less defense spending and more social spending has been noted.

Africa

Jun

Catfish Day, Ntl.: June 25

06:20 AM | -

Created by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, National Catfish Day educates Americans about the nutrition and uses of farm-raised catfish. The tradition continues today. Farm-raised catfish have come a long way from their bottom-feeding ancestors. Catfish available today (fresh or frozen) are products of state-of-the-art aquaculture methods. The fish thrive in clean freshwater ponds with surface-fed soybean, corn, fish meal, vitamins, and minerals. Farm-raised catfish not only furnish American consumers with a tasty delicacy, but the fish provide a nutritious, low-calorie, low in cholesterol source of protein. In addition to June 25th each year, August is also National Catfish Month.

Africa

Jun

Independence Day (MZ)(1975): June 25

06:20 AM | -

Independence Day in Mozambique marks the anniversary of June 25, 1975, the official separation of the nation from Portugal. Independence Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Jun

Journalist, Columnists' Day, Ntl.: June 25*

06:20 AM | -

Journalism is under attack globally and in the United States. Columnists are the people we turn to daily or weekly for information and opinion. They help us sift through data, consider facts and challenge perceived notions. Columnists' Day was created by Jim Six, a columnist with the Gloucester County Times and later South Jersey Times from 1984-2014. Six passed away in 2017, but his event continues in his honor and to honor the columnists who keep us entertained and informed. Always on the 4th Tuesday in June.

Africa

Jun

National Day (SI)(1991): June 25

06:20 AM | -

National Day in Slovenia marks the anniversary of June 25, 1991, the official declaration of the nation's independence from the Soviet Union. National Day is a national holiday.

Africa