All - Leep Calendar

Primavera Sound is a notable music festival that typically takes place annually in Barcelona, Spain. It first started in 2001 and quickly gained a reputation for its eclectic and broad range of musical genres, including indie, pop, rock, electronic, and dance music. A defining characteristic of the festival is its dedication to showcasing both well-established artists and emerging talent. From headlining superstars to underground musicians, Primavera Sound's line-up is typically a mix of big names and promising new artists. The festival takes place 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 environmental impact of the festival, 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 from around the world. It is considered one of Europe's most prestigious and popular music festivals. Please note that as of my last update in September 2021, information about future events or changes could be missing. For the most accurate and up-to-date information about Primavera Sound, check their official website.

Africa

Dec

Student's Day, (IR)(1953): December 7

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Student's Day in Iran honors three student protesters martyred on December 7, 1953, for freedom of speech and the right to assemble.

December 7, 1953, Tehran University students gathered to protest the upcoming December 9 arrival of American Vice President Richard Nixon. The peaceful protests were met with a 'Shoot to Kill' order from the Shah's security forces. Three student protesters, Mostafa Bozorgnia, Ahmad Ghandchi, and Mehdi Shariat-Razavi, were killed. Though the public remembers the martyrs each year after that, the Shah's security services would ruthlessly pursue and dissuade anyone from recognizing their sacrifice during his rule.

Immediately following the 1979 revolution and the overthrow of the Shah, Student's Day became a symbol of the nation's displeasure with American foreign policy. Over the next few decades, under the strict rule of the Ayatollahs, Student's Day was used by the people to voice opinions about their current rulers, in addition to foreign nations, which did not sit well with the religious and political leaders. As in the Shah's day, the Islamic leaders actively repressed dissent and free speech, bringing the Iranians back full circle to 1953 without the bullets.

By 2009, rules were relaxed, and celebrations of Student's Day could be observed, provided celebrants were not critical of the Iranian government or its religious leaders.

WHY IS THERE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN IRAN AND THE WEST?

Most animosities between the West and Iran began in August 1953, four months before the students were killed.

In January 1953, Iran was a nascent yet thriving democracy and the region's most progressive and wealthy nation. Its natural resources, highly educated society, and forward-thinking prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddeq, projected a bright future for the West Asian country.

Mosaddeq was a man of the people. He believed his nation's natural resources and the generated wealth should belong to and benefit all Iranians rather than foreign governments or wealthy individuals, thereby creating a problem for two other countries, the United States and Great Britain. Both nations had invested heavily in oil exploration within the region since the 1920s. Nationalized oil would prevent British and, to a lesser extent, American companies from fully profiting and impacting their nations' influence in the region. But oil isn't Iran's only natural resource. Iran has a variety of ecosystems, minerals, water, and sources of wealth, giving it a well-rounded economic footing in multiple markets not shared by its Gulf neighbors.

Prime minister Mosaddeq's ideas would make the Persian nation less amenable to foreign stewardship and coaxing while protecting it from the internal corruption of its monarchal past. Mosaddeq wanted to return the country to its geopolitical and cultural importance while elevating the quality of life of his people. Not everyone was happy, particularly nations hoping to control the resources and the new government, as well as former loyalists of the monarchy within Iran.

On August 19, 1953, agents of the CIA, MI-6, and various dissenting factions within the Iranian population orchestrated a coup, overthrew the prime minister, and reinstalled the exiled Shah (king) in power. Mohammad Mosaddeq went into hiding, and martial law was declared. The secret police began arresting, imprisoning, and tracking dissenters.

The Shah, a brutal, ostentatious dictator, ruled without mercy and deferred to Western powers who helped him stay in control—until his people overthrew him in 1979. The Hostage Crisis, culminating with the storming and occupation of the US embassy in Tehran for 444 days, is one of the most well-known events of that year. The United States is the primary reason the Iranians lost their democracy and suffered for 25 years under the Shah. It's why the students protested in 1953, and it's why students occupied the US embassy.

Concurrently, in 1979, animosity between Persian Iran and its Arab neighbors escalated. It is also the year much of the Islamic world pivoted toward austere conservativism. However, the why on that pivot is a story for another day.

Over the next decade, animosity developed between Iran and the Gulf states. Iraq invaded Iran, and that war continued for nearly a decade. Americans deeply embarrassed by the hostage crisis remained steadfastly parochial, and the third spoke in the wheel, Israel, decried Iran as a threat.

Contrary to perceived wisdom, the threat Israel sees is not due to Iran's nuclear capabilities, which Israel has had since 1963 and Iran has never had. It's not due to religion (Iran has a robust Jewish population). The reason is far simpler. Strategically positioned between Asia and Europe, Iran is a nation of 84 million people (versus Israel's nine million, Saudi Arabia's 36 million, and the United Arab Emirates' ten million) with vast natural resources (including ample fresh water) and well-educated citizens. Absent sanctions and permitted self-determination, Iran has the potential to outperform Israel and the Gulf states militarily, economically, and, therefore, influentially. When you peel away the excuses, the core reasons for fear are power, influence, and money—like always. Nothing more.

So decades later, the dance of Iran's containment continues with sanctions, vilification, and accusations. However, the events of fall 2022 in Iran, with the protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody, surpassed the outcry of Iranian students in 1953 and gained world admiration. The people of Iran appear ready for change, making the question, will the world allow them that chance?

We shall see.

Review the events of the 1953 coup via the US National Security Archives:
https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB435

Africa

Dec

The Game Awards: December 7 (est)

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Considered the top gaming awards competition, The Game Awards were created in 2014 by Geoff Keighley. Attendees and honorees include game developers, game players, and celebrities. The purpose of the "Academy Awards of Gaming," as the Washington Post called it, is to advance gaming's position as the most immersive, challenging, and inspiring form of entertainment worldwide.

Africa

Dec

Bodhi Day (B)(JP)(532 BC): December 8

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Bodhi Day celebrates the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, on the anniversary of his becoming the Buddha. Japan celebrates this event annually on December 8th. However, the Chinese religious calendar celebrates it on the eighth day of the 12th lunar month in the Chinese Calendar, which is why there is more than one Bodhi Day. Siddhartha Gautama was born in Nepal, a source of great pride for the Himalayan country.

Africa

Dec

Chocolate Brownie Day, Ntl.: December 8

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National Chocolate Brownie Day celebrates the chocolate brownie. A brownie is a cross between a cookie and a cake. It is dense like a cookie but cake-like in consistency. Brownies are typically cooked in a pan and cut into squares. Though the blond brownie had been around since 1896, the chocolate brownie made its official debut in print in 1898 in an advertisement in the Kansas City Journal. The following year, in 1899, the first chocolate brownie recipe would be published. The chocolate brownie originated with Palmer House Hotel in 1893, it is believed. Proprietor Bertha Palmer was looking for a dessert that women would like and would easily fit in a boxed lunch, and her chef came up with the chocolate brownie. By the mid-twentieth century, brownies would become one of North America's favorite snack-time desserts.

Africa

Dec

Constitution Day, (UZ)(1991): December 8

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Uzbekistan's Constitution Day marks the anniversary of December 8, 1991, when the people approved their new constitution. Constitution Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Dec

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (C): December 8

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The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is one of the most important Marian feasts in Roman Catholicism, praising the solemn belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary is one of the most influential figures in Christianity and Islam. Both faiths believe in the immaculate conception and revere Mary, though only Christians mark it as a holy day. Predominantly Catholic countries celebrate The Feast of the Immaculate Conception as a national holiday, and Panama considers this day Mother's Day. This observance occurs worldwide eight months before the feast of the Nativity of Mary.

Africa

Dec

Lady of Camarin Day (GU): December 8

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Santa Marian Kamalen, also referred to as Our Lady of Camarin, is the patron saint of Guam, a US territory associated with the continent of Oceana. Her feast day, Lady of Camarin Day is on the eighth of each year; this is also the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Guam's government provides a public holiday on the Monday closest.

Africa

Dec

Lard Day, Ntl.: December 8

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National Lard Day premiers in 2018 and promotes healthy, animal-based fats in cooking and baking. This day strategically falls on the day before National Pastry Day, and lard is what makes pastries flakey and tasty. With trans-fats, the manufactured synthetic fats, on their way out, people are rediscovering the versatility and flavor of natural animal-based fats like lard.

Africa

Dec

Lost & Found Day, Official: December 8

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On the second Friday of each December, the world turns its attention to Official Lost and Found Day. This event was initiated in 2012, and it's a day to take another look and try to find something you misplaced, forgotten, or left.

Africa

Dec

Pansexual Pride Day: December 8

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Pansexuals are romantic opportunists, preferring females one day, males another, and somewhere in between on additional days, depending on how they feel and what they believe is their "true self" minute by minute. Pansexual Pride Day celebrates these sexual and gender cameleons who believe sex and gender should never determine who a person loves.

Africa

Jun

Primavera Sound Madrid (ES): June 6-10

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Africa

Dec

Take It in the Ear Day: December 8

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National Take It in the Ear Day is one of those silly holidays with no origin. "Take it in the ear" is an excellent way of saying, "Stick it up your ______." Celebrate as you see fit.

Africa

Dec

Utpanna Ekadashi (H): December 8-9

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Ekadashi occurs twice a month, each with a different name and significance in its worship of Lord Vishnu. Utpanna or Utpatti Ekadashi falls on the waning moon (Krishan Paksha) fortnight of the Hindu month of Magha. Observance of this vrat removes sins committed during previous and present births (Hindus believe in past lives and reincarnation) via the worship of Lord Vishnu. PLEASE NOTE: We use the Indian civil calendar, the official holiday calendar in India. The Hindu faith has many calendars, each specific to different regions and tribes, with dates and celebrations marked by differing positions of the sun, moon, and stars. Names of months and holidays and the corresponding dates in the Gregorian Calendar may vary widely from one calendar to the next. Determine the proper calendar before attending local events.

Africa

Dec

Anti-corruption Day, Intl.: December 9

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The United Nations General Assembly designated December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day in 2005 to raise awareness of corruption and the Convention's role in combating and preventing it. Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development, and contributes to governmental instability. Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law, and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes. Economic development slows when foreign direct investment is discouraged, and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the 'start-up costs' required because of corruption. International Anti-Corruption Day focuses on the causes of corruption and urges communities to unite to combat it for the good of all.

Africa