All - Leep Calendar

Today is the official public holiday in India for Deepavali or Diwali. It is a five-day festival of lights in the Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist faiths celebrated on Naraka Chaturdasi Thithi. The lighting of clay lamps (Deepa) outside their homes is the origin of the name, and these candles symbolize the inner light that illuminates spiritual darkness.

The legends behind the festival vary from region to region in India and are slightly different for Sikhs and Buddhists. However, traditions tend to be universal. Diwali is equally important to Hindus as Christmas to Christianity, Rosh Hashana to Judaism, and Eid al Fitr to Muslims. The festival celebrates overcoming negativity, including good over evil, light over dark, and other extremes. Faith practitioners reaffirm friendships, practice tolerance, and spread joy during Diwali.

DAY ONE: Clean and shop for gold and gifts.

DAY TWO: Home decoration.

DAY THREE: The big celebration with feasts, fireworks, and family get-togethers.

DAY FOUR: The Hindu New Year, gift exchange, and family and friends celebrate with a major banquet.

DAY FIVE: Married sisters accept visits from their brothers and treat them to a major feast.

On the first day, Hindus go shopping, purchasing gold and other items for themselves and as gifts. Buying gold and jewelry serves to ensure prosperity in the coming year. Cleaning the house is another significant activity. The oven is smeared with lime and embellished with four or five kumkum dots before filling it with water for the next day's oil bath. Special attention is paid to the entryway, where the goddess of wealth, Laxmi, may enter. The more light and color emanating from the home, the more likely she will visit.

Elaborate decorations using colored powder in rangoli patterns are everywhere. The prayer (pooja) room is decorated within the home with betel leaves, betel nuts, plantain fruits, flowers, sandal paste, kumkum, ginger oil, turmeric powder, and scented powders displayed as offerings. Firecrackers and new clothes lay on a plate after smearing kumkum or sandal paste on them in preparation for festivities. Noisy firecrackers scare off evil, while sparklers and other lighted adornments seek to invite the good gods.

Of course, like every religion, Hindus have special sweet treats they prepare for Diwali and share with friends and family. Chakli, Sev, gujiya, laddoos, barfi, and farsan are popular sweets during the festival. Diwali is one of the most colorful Hindu festivals and a favorite with the faithful and tourists alike. "Happy Diwali" is the traditional greeting.

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

Nov

Fraud Prevention Week, Intl: November 12-18

06:20 AM | -

Five percent of annual revenues are lost by organizations each year due to fraud, according to a study conducted by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The ACFE’s 2016 Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud and Abuse analyzed 2,410 occupational fraud cases that caused a total loss of more than $6.3 billion. International Fraud Awareness Week promotes anti-fraud awareness and education.

Africa

Nov

Home Care Aide Week: November 12-18

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Home Care Aide Week is part of Home Care & Hospice Month. Since 2001 NAHC has used the second full week in November to highlight the many aides whose contributions bring a personal warmth to the daily work of caregiving. They are invaluable to their patients as caregivers, companions, and friends.

Africa

Nov

Narak Chaturdashi (H): November 12

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Naraka Chaturdashi (Kali Chaudas, Roop Chaudas, Bhoot Chaturdashi, and Naraka Nivaran Chaturdashi) is a Hindu holiday that falls on the second day of the five-day festival Diwali. Hindu mythology teaches that Krishna and Kali killed the asura (demon) Narakasura on this day. The day is celebrated by early morning religious rituals and festivities.

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

Nov

Orangutan Awareness/Caring Week: November 12-18 (est)

06:20 AM | -

Orangutan Awareness Week falls during the second full week of November and focuses attention on orangutans and the rainforest where they live. The highlight of this week is Orange for Orangutan Day, where people are encouraged to wear orange in support of orangutan conservation.

Africa

Aug

Navajo Code Talkers Day (1942): August 14

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Navajo Code Talkers Day commemorates the significant contribution of the Navajo Nation to the Allied victory in the Second World War. Navajo is unique because of its complexity and is an oral language, not written. August 14 was chosen as the day of commemoration, for it is the anniversary of the Japanese surrender. In 2000, President Bill Clinton honored the Navajo Code Talkers with Congressional Gold Medals. Navajo trainees were given a dictionary that contained military terms to memorize, then benign words in Navajo were used in their place. Philip Johnston first proposed the Navajo language as the foundation of coded communication; it proved impossible for the Japanese to crack. The film "Windtalkers" from 2002 is an excellent tribute to the Navajo Code Talkers https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245562.

Africa

Aug

V-J Day (1945): August 14

06:20 AM | -

On August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered unconditionally to the Allied forces, ending WWII.

Africa

Aug

Victory Day (US-RI)(1945): August 14

06:20 AM | -

Victory Day is a state holiday in Rhode Island. It marks the anniversary of Japan's official surrender at the end of WWII, as announced by President Harry Truman on August 14, 1945.

Africa

Aug

Best Friends Day: August 15*

06:20 AM | -

Need an excuse to hang with your BFF? Best Friends Day is just the day to do that. Go shopping, play cards, or share a cup of coffee. Friends are the most significant wealth we have. This is one of two Best Friends Days on the calendar. The other occurs in June and is not sponsored.

Africa

Aug

Chauvin Day (UK)(1790): August 15

06:20 AM | -

Chauvin Day commemorates the life of Nicolas Chauvin, a legendary soldier who served under Napoleon Bonaparte. Nicolas Chauvin is believed to have been born in Roquefort, France, on August 15, 1790. He became a soldier at 18. Disfigured due to his war wounds (he was injured 17 times), Chauvin was awarded a Sabre of Honor and a 200 francs pension. Known for his zealous loyalty to Bonaparte, he became a subject of ridicule when Bonaparte lost his power and influence. The word "chauvinism" is derived from his name, and its original meaning of extreme patriotism and sycophancy fell away. Today, chauvinism or chauvinist refers to the behavior of men who believe they are superior and above women.

Africa

Aug

Check the Chip Day, Ntl.: August 15

06:20 AM | -

Microchips significantly increase the chances that you'll get your pet back if he/she is lost or stolen, but a microchip only works if its registration information is accurate. To remind pet owners to have their pets microchipped and to keep the registration information up-to-date, AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) joined together to create "Check the Chip Day." With support from HomeAgain, we've been able to develop additional materials to promote the event. Many databases allow you to register your pet's microchip. Still, the one that counts – the one that animal shelters and veterinarians will search – is the database maintained by the manufacturer of your pet's microchip, http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org. AAHA's Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool is linked to the registries of most microchip manufacturers and allows a quick database search of any microchip made by these manufacturers. In addition, several public microchip registries have also been linked to the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool to make it easier to find a microchip's registration.

Africa

Aug

Constitution Day, (GQ)(1982): August 15

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Constitution Day in Equatorial New Guinea marks the anniversary of August 15, 1982, the official ratification of the new constitution from the original of 1968 . Constitution Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Aug

Dormition of Theotokos (C): August 15

06:20 AM | -

Marking the assumption of the Virgin Mary to heaven, the Dormition of Theotokos is the Orthodox Catholic and Eastern Orthodox feast day following fourteen days of fasting.

Africa

Aug

Failures Day, Ntl.: August 15*

06:20 AM | -

National Failures Day instills the importance of failure in the pursuit of success. The Case Foundation sponsors this event each year and asks parents to speak with their children about the essential role of failure in achieving success. Often, it can be the catalyst of greatness. If it weren't for failures, we wouldn't have penicillin, stainless steel, or Post-it notes! Steve Jobs, the founder and former CEO of Apple Computers, experienced success and failure as he built Apple Computer. Not everything he tried worked. Not everything that he thought was a good idea was. But, when he finally did land on an idea with potential, he changed the world. Participants are also encouraged to tweet about their failures using the hashtag #dayforfailure and celebrate the successes failure nurtured. As US President John F. Kennedy said, "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly."

Africa

Aug

Feast of the Assumption of Mary (C): August 15

06:20 AM | -

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the assumption to heaven of the Virgin Mary in countries where Catholicism is a primary religion. Celebrations include public processions where people carry a statue of the Virgin Mary adorned with colorful clothing and flowers across the city. In the evening, usually there are fireworks and different displays.

Africa