All - Leep Calendar

Created in 2007, Go Topless Day began as a Jeep owners' ode to Summer with the first official "put the top down and get out and drive day" annually on the third Saturday in May. It has since become a global event, with hundreds of Jeep clubs worldwide organizing parades, environmental cleanups, car washes, and other events. The tradition continues each year, with every year getting bigger and better. Though it is a Jeep tradition, anyone with a rag or removable top is welcome to join. Today is one of two Go Topless Days, and the second in August celebrates women's freedom and involves clothing rather than cars.

Africa

May

Kids to Parks Day, Ntl.: May 18

06:20 AM | -

Kids to Parks Day is a national day of play that connects kids and families with their local, state, and national parks. By discovering our public lands, kids across the country are learning about park stewardship, outdoor recreation, STEM, and history. Kids to Parks Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May.

Africa

May

Learn to Swim Day, Intl.: May 18

06:20 AM | -

Drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to 14. International Learn to Swim Day, created in 2012, aims to change that by encouraging every parent to ensure their children know how to swim. Check with pools in your city for lessons and activities on this day.

Africa

May

Mount Saint Helens Eruption (US-WA)(1980): May 18

06:20 AM | -

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, a volcano in the Cascade Mountain range of the northwestern region of the United States, erupted, unleashing 24 megatons of thermal energy, removing the north side and shrinking the mountain's height by about 1,300 feet (400 m). It left a crater one by two-mile (1.6 X 3.2 km) gash in its wake. The blast cloud enveloped the 17 miles north of the volcano. The landslide traveled about 14 miles west down to the North Fork of the Toutle River, where debris eventually wiped out the bridge on Interstate 5, the main north-south highway between Mexico and Canada in the United States. Prevailing winds blew 520 million tons of ash east across the United States and caused complete darkness in Spokane, Washington, 250 miles from the volcano. Fifty-seven people died due to the eruption, in addition to over 7000 large game animals and around 12 million salmon. The plinian eruption was in the same category as the infamous Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD and ranked five on the Volcanic Explosivity Index. That index measures volcanos on a scale of 1-7. Seven would match the volcanic eruption 600,000 years ago that created the Yellowstone Caldera when over 100 cubed kilometers of earth were extracted by its force. By contrast, Mount Saint Helens blew out 2.79 cubed kilometers. Experiencing the eruption My family had just moved to Portland, Oregon, from Silicon Valley in January 1980 when rumblings began registering on the mountain in February and March. We traded earthquakes for volcanos, it seemed. On May 18, the mountain completely exploded. I don't recall hearing it or seeing anything, but you could see the cloud from Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. That first significant explosion blew east rather than west where we lived. In the weeks following, one could follow the ash cloud spread in a large funnel shape from its origin, over the Rockies and into the Dakotas. The cloud was so large and dense in ash visible from outer space. I remember my father loading us in the FIAT and taking us to the top of Skyline Drive, which runs along the hills separating where we lived from the city of Portland and the Willamette River. It seemed to go on and on, as high as the eye could see. The mountain seemed to cough up billow after billow of gas and hot ash. We'd never seen anything like it and would later discover that the blast removed the mountaintop. Over the next several months, the mountain continued to erupt, with the wind not always in our favor. One particular Saturday, my parents held a garage sale. When we walked outside, it looked like it was snowing. It wasn't. It was ash, falling from the sky and covering it in several inches of grey, flaky dusk. That dust got into everything, turning into a thick paste when it rained. We had to walk around for days with monkey masks (my word at the time for the masks so standard now after COVID-19), which as a young teen, I detested. But the air was too thick to breathe. One of the aspects I remember fondly was when my father allowed me to help him take apart the engine of the FIAT and clean it. Every part of the car was caked in ash dust. Thank heaven Rosey's engine wasn't as complicated as today's. She had a manual choke, manual clutch, and no radio. It was a great learning experience and a tremendous father-daughter project. Little did I know that car would be mine in a few years. For those of us who witnessed Mount Saint Helens and her eruption, it is something we'll never forget. For us, far away, it was curiosity. For those close, fifty-seven people died, most from inhaling scalding ash. Round about the 25th anniversary, I found myself in Oregon again. Now in my thirties, I drove my car up to the mountain, which had reopened. The forest was beginning to come back. Animals had returned, and for a moment, it was nearly impossible to believe the event had ever happened. Then I glanced skyward toward the crater where a rounded dome once stood, and the reality returned. Oh yes, now, I remember. I remember it well.

Africa

May

Museum Day, Intl.: May 18

06:20 AM | -

International Museum Day first ran in 1977 and has continued each year since. It is a day to celebrate the world's museums, no matter how big or small, and their contribution to science, culture, and heritage. Currently, over 30,000 museums in 120 countries participate in this event. ICOM Advisory Committee decides each year's theme.

Africa

May

Preakness Stakes: May 18

06:20 AM | -

The Preakness Stakes is a horse racing competition held annually at Pimlico racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, since 1919. It's one of the oldest and most famous horse races in the United States and forms the second race of the Triple Crown, which includes the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

Africa

May

Visit Your Relatives Day: May 18

06:20 AM | -

When was the last time you visited your family? For some of us, it is a daily occurrence; for others, it can be decades. Visit Your Relatives Day is a reminder of the importance of keeping in touch with those in kin and keeping family ties strong. It is sponsored annually by AC Vierow.

Africa

May

Whisky Day, World: May 18

06:20 AM | -

World Whisky Day celebrates the "water of life" and encourages everyone worldwide to sample a dram and celebrate. It is promoted by Hot Rum Cow Publishing Ltd annually on the third Saturday of May.

Africa

May

Europa League Final (IE): May 22

06:20 AM | -

The season's final football (soccer) game for the UEFA (Union of European Football Association) in the adult men's division occurs today. The UEFA includes teams from Europe and areas of Asia, including Kazakhstan, Israel, and Russia. It is one of the most anticipated games of the year.

Africa

May

Public Gardens Week, Ntl.: May 10-19

06:20 AM | -

In 2019 National Public Gardens Day became a week-long celebration. According to the American Public Gardens Association, the definition of a public garden is as follows: "A public garden is an institution that maintains collections of plants for the purposes of public education and enjoyment, in addition to research, conservation, and higher learning. It must be open to the public and the garden's resources and accommodations must be made to all visitors. Public gardens are staffed by professionals trained in their given areas of expertise and maintain active plant records systems." Public gardens enhance life, especially in urban environments. National Public Gardens Week is about raising awareness of the benefits of public gardens and encouraging people to assist in preserving these public treasures.

Africa

May

Coeliac (Celiac) Awareness Week: May 9-15

06:20 AM | -

Coeliac (Celiac) Awareness Week is an annual international event that seeks to educate people about celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, and the benefits of a gluten-free diet for the one percent of people with this autoimmune, hereditary disease.

Africa

May

Craft Beer Week, American: May 13-19 (est)

06:20 AM | -

Created in 2005 by the Brewers Association, American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) celebrates U.S. craft brewers. It usually occurs the second full week of May. Beer lovers everywhere celebrate the craft beer revolution via hundreds of events that showcase the innovative and economic contributions of today’s small and independent brewers. Events occur in all 50 states at craft breweries, brewpubs, and via retail partners. Additional activities include hosted brewery tours, special beer releases, multi-course pairing dinners, collaboration beers, retail promotions, and more.

Africa

May

Mental Health Awareness Week (UK): May 13-19 (est)

06:20 AM | -

Mental Health Awareness Week in the United Kingdom occurs the second week of May. Each year there is a new theme. Everyone has anxiety at some point in their lives, whether preparing for a job interview or bringing up a child. It is normal to experience stress in everyday situations; however, persistent and excessive anxiety can cause serious mental health and physical issues. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems in nearly every country. While a low level of stress can be a beneficial motivating force, it can sometimes take over your life. The success of Mental Health Awareness Week is mainly due to the generous support of organizations and individuals throughout the UK who get involved by publicizing the week, organizing activities and events, and having some fun.

Africa

May

Road Safety Week (NZ): May 20-26

06:20 AM | -

Road Safety Week is a community event in New Zealand promoted by Brake to raise awareness about road safety on a local level. Road crash statistics in New Zealand include national hospital, breath and blood alcohol, road user behavior, and comparative international statistics related to road crashes. For the most recent numbers, see the Ministry of Transportation website at: http://www.transport.govt.nz/research/roadcrashstatistics/motorvehiclecrashesinnewzealand/ New Zealanders are encouraged to use Road Safety Week to communicate important road safety messages to neighbors, colleagues, children, and friends.

Africa

May

Road Safety Week, UN: May 13-19 (est)

06:20 AM | -

Created in 2015 as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the United Nation's Global Road Safety week seeks to reduce and eliminate unnecessary traffic deaths and casualties worldwide. Tactics include speed management, government leadership, improved infrastructure, vehicle safety standards, law enforcement, and post-crash survival. Someone in the world dies in a road accident every 23 seconds.

Africa