All - Leep Calendar

Look on the Bright Side Day is an unofficial event with no sponsor that encourages people to see the glass half full and seek out the silver lining. Always celebrated on the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and amidst frantic Christmas preparations, the date of this holiday is not chosen randomly. Winter and the holiday season are times of great stress and heightened depression. No matter how difficult things look, there is always a brighter side—you have to look for it!

Africa

Dec

Crossword Puzzle Day (1913): December 21

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The first officially published crossword puzzle was created by the journalist Arthur Wynne of Liverpool, England, on December 21, 1913. However, his was not the first crossword puzzle ever created. A simple version of wordplay first appeared in England during the 19th century. National Crossword Day celebrates the anniversary of the first crossword puzzle published in a major newspaper.

Africa

Dec

Father’s Rights Day (1955): December 21

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Desmond Doyle (1924 - 1986) was an Irishman and father whose wife left him and their children for another man. The state took care of his children when he went abroad for work, then refused to give them back. Poor, single, and alone, Doyle would have to fight tradition, the Irish state, and the Catholic Church for the right to raise his children, regardless of marriage. After years of fighting, he won. At the time, fathers were considered incapable of caring for children alone. Doyle set a legal precedent and led the fight for fathers' rights, changing family law in Ireland by challenging the system and proving that a father could and should be able to raise his children. Over the following decades, his example would influence fathers and family law worldwide. He is a primary reason many fathers now receive partial or full custody of their children in divorce. December 21 is the anniversary of that ruling in 1955. The 2002 film "Evelyn" with Pierce Brosnan celebrates his story and struggle.

Africa

Dec

Flashlight Day, Ntl. : December 21

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National Flashlight Day occurs on December 21, the Winter Solstice, the year's longest night. It is a reminder to ensure emergency candles and lighting are ready for the winter. The flashlight was invented by David Misell of the United Kingdom in 1899, three years after the batteries used to power it were created.

Africa

Dec

Fried Shrimp Day: December 21

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Rejoice, shrimp lovers. Fried Shrimp Day is here! Did you know that all shrimp are born male? As they develop, some become female. Shrimp is America’s favorite seafood, and we have the Chinese first, then the native American tribe of the Muskogee to thank. The Chinese have been eating shrimp for thousands of years, and Marco Polo brought this delicacy to Europe. The combining of shrimp with grits and other grains, common to Southern dishes, comes from the Muskogee. It takes 2 pounds of fish to produce one pound of farmed shrimp. Prawns are commonly used in the US to designate large shrimp from small shrimp.

Africa

Dec

Humbug Day, Ntl.: December 21

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How do you propel Ebenezer Scrooge toward the epitome of curmudgeon? Dedicate a Christmas season holiday to him! Humbug Day is dedicated to those frustrated by all the Christmas preparations and jibber-jabber. It's a holiday meant to help us vent our seasonal frustrations.

Africa

Dec

Martyrdom, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (S)(1705): December 21

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Martyrdom, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, marks the death of the Older Sahibzadas brother, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh. He was eight years old when he was executed for refusing to renounce his Sikh faith. At five years old, his brother died the same way five days later. The brothers were two of four sons born to Guru Gobind Singh.

Africa

Dec

Phileas Fogg Day (1872): December 21

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For fans of Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days is a perennial favorite. Phileas Fogg made a bet in the book that he could make it around the world in 80 days, and the bet was for 20,000 English pounds. He achieved his goal on December 21, 1872, in 79 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds—Now that is cutting it close! Phileas Fogg Day is annually on December 21.

Africa

Dec

Re-gifting (White Elephant) Day: December 21

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The Thursday before Christmas in the United States is Re-gifting Day or White Elephant Day. A white elephant gift is a re-gifted gift that the receiver didn't want and is often tacky or tasteless. Everyone has received a present that they don't want or appreciate. If it is unmatched by the receiver's personality, tastes, or needs, it falls under the category of a white elephant gift. Sometimes, we receive more than one of the same gift or something we already have (like three blenders for a wedding gift, one each from different people). These also make excellent re-gifting gifts. Today is the day to dust off those items in the back of your closet and give them as gifts to people who might like them. Or, as a joke, if it's a white elephant. It's all in good humor!

Africa

Dec

Short Fiction Day, Celebrate: December 21

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What better way to spend the shortest day of the year than curled up in your favorite chair, reading a book from beginning to end? That is what Celebrate Short Fiction Day has been all about since it first appeared in 2012.

Africa

Dec

Shorts Day: December 21

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Created in 1986, Shorts Day is a day to flaunt the first day of winter on the solstice by wearing shorts to honor the shortest day of the year. Just be sure to wear a coat if you go outside! Have fun.

Africa

Dec

Summer Begins (Southern Hemisphere): December 21

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December 21 in the southern hemisphere is the day summer officially begins.

Africa

Dec

The Big Press Conference (RU): December 21 (est)

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Canceled in 2022 due to war. Generally confirmed in the 3rd quarter each year. The Big Press Conference has been held 17 times as of 2021, and is one of the rare occasions in which President Putin takes questions from the press. The event typically lasts several hours each year. It is watched not only in Russia, but throughout the world by leaders, politicians, diplomats, journalists and engaged audiences. Russia is the largest country in the world by land mass, nearly twice as big as the United States (including Alaska), and Canada, which comes in at #2, even after the break-up of the Soviet Union. From an empire ruled by tsars, to an authoritarian dictatorship under communism, and finally to a fledgling democracy hampered by corruption and crumbling infrastructure, Russia ended the 20th Century with political whiplash, a vacancy in power and an uncertain future. It was in this atmosphere, at the turn of the 21st Century, (December 31, 1999) that a shrewd, calculating former KGB intelligence officer and one of three First Deputy Prime Ministers, would seized the reigns of power through the appointment of the former President, Yeltsin and elections. Vladimir Putin would hold power through changing the laws, strategy, calculated intelligence and astute politicking, on par with the canny of a world class chess player. Putin sees himself as the father of the Russian people, their protector, leader and their representative. The annual Big Press Conference is his version of a town hall - meet the press - throne room, where he solves local issues, positions the nation on the world stage and engages with the people through the press once a year. It is carefully orchestrated to promote his image, his vision, his policies and to project the strength of the Russian nation to both allies and adversaries. Each year the archive is available on the Kremlin site in English and Russian.

Africa

Dec

Winter Begins, Solstice (Northern): December 21

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In the northern hemisphere, winter begins on the winter solstice. A solstice is an occurrence when the sun is farthest from the equator. During the winter solstice, the most southern point of the Earth points towards the sun, giving cooler temperatures north of the equator.

Africa

Dec

Yalda (IR): December 21

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Yalda, Shab-e Chelleh, or Shab-e Yalda could be considered equivalent to the "Thanksgiving Day" celebration in the Persian world, dominated by Iran but including Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Tajikistan, and non-Islamic communities in Turkey. The winter solstice, the longest night of the year, is a time for family and friends to gather together and feast. Yalda originated between the second and third centuries AD, 300 years before Islam, within pagan communities distressed by the celebrations of Christians moving into the area. Over the years and centuries, it became part of the social fabric, and in 2008 the government of Iran officially recognized Yalda on its List of National Treasures.

Africa