All - Leep Calendar

International Labor Day recalls the Haymarket Martyrs in Chicago in 1886. It was 1886 when the workers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company in Chicago went on strike. The farm equipment manufacturing factory had begun mechanizing, putting the highly skilled metal workers out of work. Those remaining went on strike to demand an eight-hour workday. In the 1880s, workers typically worked 60 hours a week. In response, the company locked out the workers and hired scabs. On May 1, 1886, a large May Day parade was held in Chicago. On May 3, a riot at the factory saw two men killed by the police, leading to a mass rally in Haymarket Square the following night. Most of the rally was a peaceful event, with over 1500 people in attendance. After the last speaker, the police tried to break up the crowd. The crowd resisted, and someone set off a bomb. The violence escalated. Police began firing into the crowd. Seven policemen and four protesters were killed, and over 100 were injured. The riot was blamed on the labor movement, and its leaders, "the anarchists," were rounded up. In June 1886, they were brought to trial, and seven were sentenced to death despite never proving who threw the bomb. Two would later have their sentences commuted to life. The aftermath of Haymarket put unions in a negative light. Still, it led to the formation of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), which would take the drive to unionize into the 20th Century. May 1 is internationally recognized as Labor Day or Workers Day in over 80 countries. Some, like the United States, have a separate holiday set aside. For China, this is a significant state holiday that may move dates if May 1 falls on a Tuesday-Thursday so workers can enjoy a three-day weekend.

Africa

May

Law Day: May 1

06:20 AM | -

Law Day is a national event in the United States created to focus on the founding laws and ideals of the United States, beginning with the Constitution. It is observed on May 1.

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May

Lei Day, (US-HI): May 1

06:20 AM | -

Lei Day is a big celebration in Hawaii with local music, hula dancing, and of course, lei contests. The lei is a Hawaiian necklace made of flowers, worn around the neck, and Lei Day is one day when everyone gets lei'd.

Africa

May

Love Day, Global: May 1

06:20 AM | -

Global Love Day began in 2004. It celebrates universal oneness through love to unite one and all in a celebration of love and compassion. HOW TO PARTICIPATE Simply be love. Let the love within your heart be the focus of your awareness throughout the day. Allow yourself to be accepting, forgiving, peaceful, joyful, and in harmony with yourself and all life around you. Just be! THE INVITATIONAL The Love Foundation Inc. hosts an annual Art, Essay, and Poetry Invitational along with Global Love Day. This program encourages participants to share their perspectives on global love creatively.

Africa

May

Loyalty Day: May 1

06:20 AM | -

Loyalty Day is set aside in the United States by Presidential decree each year to honor those who have defended the country, beginning with the original militia fighting in the Revolutionary War. It is a day of patriotism and nationalism, honoring all who have served.

Africa

May

May Day: May 1

06:20 AM | -

May Day has been celebrated since Roman times and began as a pagan holiday to celebrate spring and fertility. In Germany, it is known as Walpurgis Night. Saint Walburga brought Christianity to the German people. Since the 1880s, May Day has also been associated with labor and employment, with the Catholic Church designating May 1 as the Feast of St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers. May Day is celebrated all over the world as either a worker's holiday, pagan holiday, or saint's feast. The Maypole dance is the iconic expression of this holiday and dates back to the seventeenth century, originating in Germany. For most people, May Day is simply the herald of the warm weather months to come. The following is an article from 1937 about May Day illustrates the enthusiasm surrounding this day: _____________ Skyrack Express Friday, May 21, 1937 Barwick Village Maypole re-erected Miss Yvonne Gascoigne crowns The Queen The triennial festival to celebrate the re-erecting of "Ye Olde Village Maypole" at Barwick took place on Whit-Tuesday, with all the usual excitement and glamour. A steady influx of visitors began early in the morning, and by the early afternoon, all the roads were thronged with people all eager to watch the ancient, time-honored ceremony of raising the pole. The carnival, which precedes the rearing of the Maypole, is also a survival of an ancient custom, and again the old traditions were observed to the minutest detail. To the delight of the crowd, the sun was on its best behavior, giving warmth and added charm to the procession, which was headed by the Garforth Brass Band. The 1937 Maypole Queen, Betty Binns, and her attendants. (Photograph kindly supplied by Brian Foxcroft, Betty's nephew.) The May Queen (Miss Betty Binns), a schoolgirl of 13, and her retinue followed in a profusely-decorated wagon, and then came the maypole-plaiters and the country dancers, also in beautifully decorated wagons. Three more decorated wagons competed for a prize and helped to make the procession a memorable one. The fourth wagon presented a Dutch tableau, complete with a windmill and a Dutch family, playing midst a blaze of tulips. A striking picture was presented by a fifth wagon, on which was a tableau representing the Empire; and the last was a cheerful little cart trimmed in Coronation colors. There was one entrant in the fancy dress parade—a junior who created much mirth as a small teddy bear. The procession wended its course along Main Street and down Chapel Lane to the Hall Tower Field. The May Queen and her courtiers, on the platform erected for the crowning ceremony, presented a charming ensemble. The Queen was crowned by Miss Yvonne Gascoigne, with whom were Mrs. Gascoigne and Lady Ashdown. The Rector introduced the visitors, and also on the platform were Mrs. Lovell Clark and Mrs. Keed. Miss Gascoigne also presented the May Queen with a bouquet of carnations, and herself received a bouquet of iris from Rita Senior on behalf of the teachers and scholars. The train-bearers to the Queen were Margaret Birch and Frank Poulter, attired in white. Michael Ashworth was the crown-bearer, and Walter Barrett and Derick Burke were the equerries. The eighteen Maids of Honor looked very dainty in white, all having been chosen from the Primary Class. The plaiters skipped daintily around the miniature Maypole, weaving spiders' webs and barbers' poles, etc., in various colors. An attractive display was given by the country dancers from the Senior Class, who wore old-country costumes; the girls' dresses of floral cotton with bonnets to match and the boy's in smocks. The Garforth Brass Band played for the ceremony. Other diversions included a Punch and Judy show and an excellent concert party from Leeds. The judges of the decorated wagons placed Mr. Verity first, Mr. Tom Braithwaite 2nd, and Mrs. Bedford 3rd. The judges were Mr. Ward and Mr. Binns of Scholes. The prize for the best pair of plow horses was divided between Mr. John Thorp of Barwick and Mr. Helm of Aberford. All the entrants for swarming the greasy pole to retrieve a ham were unsuccessful. The pets' competition was won by a small terrier, the property of Miss Brenda Cooper, and Miss Jean Kirk got the second prize for a Persian cat and kitten; the third prize went to Miss Elam of Wyke Beck Farm, Halton, with a small Berkshire pig of much fame, which accompanies her on shopping expeditions. Towards evening the band led the villagers and visitors to fetch the giant pole (all beautifully renovated and bearing a painted flag in honor of Coronation year) from the Hall Tower Field, where it had gone through a course of "beauty treatment" under the expert hands of Mr. Dennis Armitage. On the return with the pole, Cr. Hemingway headed the band, which played very appropriate music. The beautiful garlands, the newly gilded fox, and the red, white, and blue stripes of the pole were all most effective. Five ropes had been secured to the pole for the purpose of guiding and assisting the rearing, and ladders of various sizes were used, all padded to avoid scratching the paint. After very careful work, the Pole was raised to perpendicular height, to the cheers of the huge crowd, and to the strains of "Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue." All that remained was for someone to scale the pole to release the ropes. This Mr. Frank Tennant did with remarkable agility. Not only did he release the ropes, but he swarmed to the top and turned the fox around. This feat was greeted with a storm of applause. Great credit for the excellent performance of the schoolchildren is due to Mr. G. Ashworth and Misses Grimshaw, and Shillito. The people responsible for the garlands were members of the Mothers' Union, Mrs. Cooper, and family, Misses Nora and Marian Lovett, and the schoolchildren. Mrs. Wood of Potterton Hall provided the children with red, white, and blue ribbons with which to decorate the garlands. The organizing committee was Messrs. Fred Robshaw, Walter Lovett, and Ernest Harrison.

Africa

May

May One Day: May 1

06:20 AM | -

May One Day is about defining a dream, taking steps to realize that dream, and making it a reality. Annually on May 1 since 2016.

Africa

May

Moon—Third Quarter: May 1

06:20 AM | -

Today is the third quarter of the moon, meaning it is halfway between the full moon and the new moon.

Africa

May

Mother Goose Day: May 1

06:20 AM | -

Mother Goose Day began in 1987 with Gloria T. Delamar, the author of Mother Goose; From Nursery to Literature, as a promotional tool for her book. Libraries, schools, cities, and even nursing homes celebrate the day as an opportunity to explore the history of nursery rhymes and children's literature.

Africa

May

Podenco Day, Intl. (ES/UK): May 1

06:20 AM | -

International Podenco Day brings awareness to the suffering and plight of this much maligned Spanish hunting breed. They are referred to as the “great forgotten”. A fundraising and awareness event, marches are held in various locations in Spain and the UK. Podencos often hunt with Galgos and are typically discarded once their owners have gotten their use from them. Like Galgos, they are consider hunting tools and do not share the legal protection as that of home pets. They are identified by their bubblegum pink noses and oversized perked up ears. Podencos are primarily used to hunt hares and boar in packs. Known for their endurance and deft agility, it's these very qualities that when hunting in packs of up to 24 dogs, often result in injury or death.

Africa

May

Purebred Dog Day, Ntl.: May 1

06:20 AM | -

Purebred dogs have achieved their pedigree through decades and centuries of breeding. Each breed has a purpose and distinct trademarks of action and form. Today is a day to celebrate these amazing animals. The American Kennel Club is the sole purebred dog registry in the United States. It conducts thousands of inspections yearly to ensure compliance with standards that support the health, safety, and welfare of dogs and the environments in which they live. National Purebred Dog Day was created in 2013 by writer Susi Szeremy.

Africa

May

School Principal's Day, Ntl.: May 1

06:20 AM | -

This day honors K-12 Principals in the United States and was created by Janet Dellaria of Michigan. It has now become a regularly acknowledged event but is not backed by influential organizations. October is National Principal’s Month. In early April each year, there is a National Associate Principal’s Week; both major events are sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and renewed each year through congress.

Africa

May

Silver Star Families of America Day: May 1

06:20 AM | -

Silver Star Families of America Day began in 2004. The Silver Star Families of America's primary goal is to assist the American soldiers, wounded or who have fallen ill in the line of duty, as well as their families. The Silver Star is given to those injured or killed in combat. This day supports and advocates for them in educating their families and the public about their plight.

Africa

Jun

Primavera Sound Porto (PT): June 6-8

06:20 AM | -

Primavera Sound is a notable music festival that typically takes place annually in Barcelona, Spain. It started in 2001 and quickly gained a reputation for its eclectic and broad range of musical genres, including indie, pop, rock, electronic, and dance.

A defining characteristic of the festival is its dedication to showcasing both well-established artists and emerging talent. Primavera Sound's line-up is typically a mix of big names and promising new artists, from headlining superstars to underground musicians.

The originating festival occurs in the Parc del Fòrum, a large seaside outdoor venue in Barcelona. Over the years, it has expanded to include additional locations. In the early 2020s, the organizers of Primavera Sound announced plans to hold additional festivals in Los Angeles and Porto, expanding their global presence. Primavera Sound is also known for its strong commitment to sustainability and has implemented several measures to reduce the festival's environmental impact, such as recycling programs and using renewable energy sources.

The festival generally takes place in late May or early June and lasts for several days, often attracting hundreds of thousands of music fans worldwide. It is considered one of Europe's most prestigious and popular music festivals.

Africa

Jun

Old Time Music Ozark Heritage Festival (US-MO): June 6-7

06:20 AM | -

The Old-Time Music Ozark Heritage Festival is the signature event in West Plains. The two-day festival celebrates, preserves, and passes on an appreciation of the old-time music and folk life traditions distinctive to the Ozark Highlands. Folk music has its distinctive sound and contributes to the complex palette of indigenous American music. Musicians, artisans, and storytellers from throughout the state come to the West Plains festival in enthusiastic support of creating a place to listen, watch, interact, and honor the old-time traditions of the Southern Ozarks communities. Activities include the Fiddlers' Frolic, quilting competitions, beard competitions, mule jump, jig dancing, square dancing, street performances, Dutch oven workshops, a bucket brigade, and children's activities.

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.

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