All - Leep Calendar

Ashura marks the Shi'a Islamic new year. "Ashura" is the Arabic word for tenth, thus named as it occurs on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Ashura is significant to the Shi'a Muslims. It marks the death of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala on October 12, 680 AD. The Islamic calendar follows the moon; therefore, the actual day of the Ashura occurs approximately 11 days earlier each year. Ashura is a national holiday in Shi'a majority countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran. Image: © Yunlutas | Dreamstime.com Shia Muslim Women Mourn During Ashura

Africa

Jun

ASK Day, Ntl.: June 21

06:20 AM | -

ASK Day is about gun safety. It is a day to remind parents, caretakers, and teens to ask, "Is there an unlocked gun in your house?" Safe storage of guns saves lives. Each day in the United States, an average of eight children are injured or killed by an unsecured firearm. 4.6 million children live in homes with unlocked and loaded guns. 20% of children have handled a gun without adult supervision. ASK Day is a safety campaign and awareness campaign. Ask if a home has an unsecured gun. This one conversation may save a life!

Africa

Jun

Asteroid / Meteor Day, Intl. (1908): June 30

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International Asteroid Day is observed each year on the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russia, on June 30, 1908. The day seeks to raise public awareness about asteroid impact hazards. Events include lectures, films, expert science presentations, and educational workshops organized by museums, research institutes, government agencies, universities, astronomers, filmmakers, and concerned citizens. In February 2014, astrophysicist Dr. Brian May (and famed guitarist for the rock band QUEEN, which is why we include music as one of the categories) began working with Grigorij Richters, the director of a new film titled "51 Degrees North," a fictional story of an asteroid impact on London and the resulting human condition. May composed the music for the film and suggested that Richters preview it at Starmus, an event organized by Dr. Garik Israelian and attended by esteemed astrophysicists, scientists, and artists, including Stephen Hawking, Richard Dawkins, and Rick Wakeman. The result was the beginning of discussions that would lead to the launch of Asteroid Day in 2014. To ensure that the nascent idea of a movement had global support, May introduced Richters to the B612 Foundation, an American-based non-profit advocacy organization created to protect the world from dangerous asteroids through early detection. B612 co-founders Apollo 9 Astronaut Rusty Schweickart and three-time Astronaut Dr. Ed Lu, along with Danica Remy, Chief Operations Officer, brought to Asteroid Day a network of planetary defense specialists and global contacts. The four official co-founders of Asteroid Day are Dr. Brian May, Danica Remy, Grigorij Richters, and Rusty Schweickart.

Africa

Jun

Ayatollah Ruollah Khomeini Day (IR)(1989): June 3

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Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Day is a national holiday in Iran and marks the cleric's death on June 3, 1989. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was an influential Shiite Muslim cleric and political leader who was pivotal in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, transforming Iran into an Islamic republic. Born on September 24, 1902, in Khomeyn, Iran, Khomeini embarked on his religious education from an early age, rising through the clerical ranks to become a leading figure in the Shiite community. As an Ayatollah, a high-ranking title in Shiite Islam, Khomeini became a critic of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's regime, particularly his modernizing efforts in the 1960s, which Khomeini saw as a deviation from Islamic principles. This opposition led to his exile in 1964, first to Turkey, then Iraq, and finally to France. During his exile, Khomeini propagated his vision of an Islamic state led by a supreme religious leader, or "Velayat-e-Faqih," via sermons and writings. His influence grew, and his resistance messages against Pahlavi's regime became increasingly popular, gaining him a vast following among Iranians disillusioned with Pahlavi's authoritarian rule. In 1979, the growing discontent culminated in the Iranian Revolution. As the Pahlavi's regime crumbled, Khomeini returned to Iran amidst public euphoria, effectively taking control of the government. He oversaw the drafting of a new constitution, establishing the Islamic Republic of Iran. Theocratic and unapologetically anti-Western, this new state embodied Khomeini's vision, with him as the Supreme Leader. Khomeini's leadership embraced a conservative interpretation of Islamic law, widespread political repression, and conflict with the West, most notably the hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. However, his policies also included land redistribution, expansion of social services, and women's education. Internationally, Khomeini's leadership and the Iranian Revolution inspired Islamic revivalist movements and anti-imperialistic sentiments in the Middle East. Despite international isolation, Khomeini remained defiant and emphasized self-sufficiency. He continued as Iran's Supreme Leader until his death on June 3, 1989. Despite his controversial legacy, Khomeini's influence on Iran and the wider Islamic world is undeniable. His blend of political and religious leadership remains the defining characteristic of Iran's political system. His life and leadership marked a seismic shift in the region's politics, religion, and relations with the West.

Africa

Jun

Baby Boomers Recognition Day: June 1

06:20 AM | -

Dorothy Zjawin of New Jersey champions Baby Boomers Recognition Day in the US. This event used to occur on the first day of summer. Additionally, there was a previous event of the same name on August 17 each year, and that event's website went dark in 2016. However, the month of August is Boomers Making a Difference Month, sponsored by another group. Until the 21st century Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, were the largest generation the world had ever seen. They earned their name due to the 'baby boom' that ensued as soldiers worldwide returned home from WWII. Boomers are split into two groups: Premier baby boomers from 1945-1954 and secondary boomers from 1955-1964.

Africa

Jun

Baby Jumping Festival (ES): June 7

06:20 AM | -

Europe has some fascinating traditions, often originating in ancient pagan traditions or Christianity. The Baby Jumping Festival of Castrillo de Murcia, Spain, is one such amusing event. The festival's main event involves a group of men dressed in red and yellow costumes, known as the Colacho, jumping over mattresses with babies lying on them. All the babies born during the past year are gathered on mattresses in the town center on the Sunday after the Christian holiday of Corpus Christi. Men dressed as devils run down the street and jump over the babies in a symbolic gesture to cleanse all newborns of their original sin and ensure their safe passage into adulthood. Referred to as El Salto del Colacho in Spanish, it is a highly anticipated climax to a week of festivities, including a procession through the streets, traditional music and dancing, and other cultural events. It is a unique and fascinating celebration that attracts locals and tourists worldwide. This event began in 1620.

Africa

Jun

Bach Fest, Leipzig (DE): June 11-21

06:20 AM | -

Every year since 1904, Leipzig, Germany, has hosted a music festival celebrating composer Johann Sebastian Bach. In this city, Bach composed many of his most beloved pieces. The Leipzig Bach Music Festival is a true family affair with food, music, and entertainment.

Africa

Jun

Ballpoint Pen Day, (1943): June 10

06:20 AM | -

Please take a moment to think about what it would be like to write without ballpoint pens. Two brothers, Laszlo, and Gyorgy Biro, invented this revolutionary writing instrument in Hungary. On June 10, 1943, they filed for a European patent. Seeing an opportunity and a writing edge, upon the patent's grant, the British government bought the rights. After all, being able to write faster is a matter of national security. Happy Ballpoint Pen Day!

Africa

Jun

Ban Live Transport, International Day of Action: June 14

06:20 AM | -

The International Day of Action to Ban Live Transport is an event highlighting the condition and plight of live animals in freight. Animals suffer during these long hauls, and many die before reaching their destination. What started as a simple movement by farmers Peter and Anna Roberts 50 years ago has become a global phenomenon in which many cities participate. You can help by sharing and tweeting about freight animals on social media or joining the Animals International campaign for the World Organization for Animal Health. There are also local rallies you can also participate.

Africa

Jun

Banning Interracial Marriage Ruled Unconstitutional (Loving 1967): June 12

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June 12, 1967, is the day Americans finally became free to marry whomever they wanted, regardless of race, origin, or faith, due to the landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court in Loving vs. Virginia. Previous interracial marriage laws were now void. Mildred Loving, a black woman, married Richard Perry Loving, a white man. In Virginia, such a union was deemed criminal due to the anti-miscegenation statute (that a white person cannot marry a black person), which resulted in Richard Loving being sentenced to a year in prison. The couple was married in Washington, DC, to bypass the Racial Integrity Act of 1924. However, the couple returned to Central Point, Virginia, where the police raided their home while the Lovings were sleeping. In the initial trial, Leon M. Bazile reiterated the 18th-century meaning of race. On January 6. 1959, the Lovings were sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty. A 25-year sentence was suspended, providing the couple left Virginia, so they moved to the District of Columbia. In 1964, Lovings wrote to Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who forwarded their case to ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). The civil rights group filed a brief stating that the statutes contradicted the Fourteenth Amendment. On this day in 1967, the US Supreme Court found that the previous conviction was invalid and discriminatory due to the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Africa

Jun

Barcode Day (1970): June 26

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On June 26, 1974, the first product to have the barcode was swiped in Troy, Ohio—a pack of Wrigley’s gum. Today, the barcode is used in everything from retail to tracking cattle.

Africa

Jun

Bathroom Reading Month, Ntl: June

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Created in 1988, Bathroom Reading Month celebrates the 66 percent of Americans who admit to reading in the bathroom. It is a great way to multi-task and catch up on current events. Annually in June.

Africa

Jun

Beautician's Day: June 26

06:20 AM | -

Beautician’s Day is when people appreciate their beauticians, including hair stylists, make-up artists, colorists, and manicurists. Also called cosmetologists, beauticians care for people’s skin, groom their hair and clean their nails. Today, people recommend their cosmetologists to friends and visit salons.

Africa

Jun

Beer Day, Britain (UK) (1215): June 15

06:20 AM | -

Created by Jane Peyton (award-winning beer sommelier, drinks educator, author, and events producer), Beer Day Britain is supported by the beer industry in the United Kingdom, including Britain’s Beer Alliance, Society of Independent Brewers, British Beer & Pub Association, and the Campaign for Real Ale. Pubs, brewers, and retailers throughout the United Kingdom celebrate by hosting special events in their pubs, breweries, and shops. The date chosen commemorates the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215AD on June 15. This document includes on line 35: Let there be throughout our kingdom a single measure for wine and a single measure for ale and a single measure for corn, namely the London quarter. This event first ran in 2015.

Africa

Jun

Béierfest, Diekirch (LU): June 7

06:20 AM | -

The little nation of Luxembourg is famous for its craft beers. Each year, Diekirch hosts a Beer Festival (Béierfest) during the late spring or early summer 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 unknown until 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