All - Leep Calendar

At 15:29 Washington DC time and 23:59 August 30, 2021, local time, the final C-17 plane lifted off from Afghanistan, ending nearly 20 years of occupation and war. The 16-days preceding saw over 123,000 civilians, diplomats, allies, and personnel evacuated, the largest extraction mobilization by air in history. The US invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. As of July 2022, the Taliban has regained control of the country and reversed most of the democratic, progressive policies and privileges adopted in the previous twenty years. Women have suffered disproportionately, losing access to work, school, and personal independence. Poverty, starvation, and authoritarian rule have returned and are the norm.

Africa

Aug

Frankenstein Day, Ntl. (1797): August 30

06:20 AM | -

Frankenstein, the story of a mad scientist who brings the dead back to life, only to discover that he has created a monster, continues to be one of our most popular and lasting horror stories. National Frankenstein Day celebrates its author Mary Shelley, born on August 30, 1797. "Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus" was the book's original title, and Shelly was just a teenager when she wrote Frankenstein. As if living a teenage dream, she ran away with the poet Percy Bysshe and gave birth to two children over the first two years. In 1816, the couple traveled to Switzerland and visited Lord Byron at Villa Diodati. While there, 18-year-old Mary started writing Frankenstein. The book was published in 1818 when she was 20 years old.

Africa

Aug

Grief Awareness Day, Ntl.: August 30

06:20 AM | -

Created in 2014 by Angie Cartwright annually on her mother's birthday, Grief Awareness Day encourages people to become familiar with the stages of grief. These are generally accepted to be four: Denial, Depression, Anger, and Acceptance. Some add a fifth, bargaining, occurs between the first three stages. Grieving takes time and can occur over any loss: loss of a person, a job, a lifestyle, for women--fertility with menopause. Even addicts go through a period of grief when they stop using their drug of choice. Grieving is a natural process everyone experiences. However, each of us grieves differently, and there is no expiration date on grief. It simply takes as long as it takes until finally, it reaches acceptance. Use National Grief Awareness Day to check in on those you know are grieving a loss and learn a little more about the process for yourself.

Africa

Aug

Holistic Pet Day, Ntl.: August 30

06:20 AM | -

National Holistic Pet Day emphasizes the positive impact holistic and natural treatments can have on promoting the quality and longevity of life for your pets. Lifestyle, diet and environment all contribute the health and welfare of one’s pet. This event was started by Coleen Paige in an effort to promote pet adoption, Ms. Paige has created over 17 pet holidays including this, National Cat Day, International Dog Day, and National Dress Up Your Pet Day.

Africa

Aug

Marshmallow Day, Toasted: August 30

06:20 AM | -

Toasted Marshmallow Day celebrates the camping-inspired dessert of toasted marshmallows. People can relive their camping experiences on this day by gathering firewood, sticking marshmallows on long sticks (or unwound wire hangers), and toasting over a campfire. Marshmallows get their name from a wetland marsh plant, the mallow plant. Initially, marshmallows were reserved for royalty and the wealthy in ancient Egypt, and today they are made of cornstarch from a process developed in the nineteenth century. Today, marshmallows are one of America's favorite sweets, with over 50% of purchases used over summer devoted to campfire roasts.

Africa

Aug

Raksha Bandhan (Siblings Day) (H): August 30

06:20 AM | -

Rakshya Bandhan can also be called Siblings Day. It is a celebration of sibling love observed on the Purnima of Sawan in the Hindu calendar. Raksha Bandhan is an ancient observance ripe with myth and historical legends. One recounts how the Rajput queens practiced the custom of sending rakhi threads to neighboring rulers as a token of fraternity. This legend is illustrated today by sisters tying a sacred thread, rakhi, on her brother's wrist as a symbol of her love and prayers for her brother's well-being and his lifelong vow to protect her. 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

Aug

Santa Rosa de Lima, (PE): August 30

06:20 AM | -

August 30 is a national holiday in Peru, set aside to celebrate their patron saint, Rose of Lima. Born Isabel Flores De Oliva on April 20, 1586, she devoted her life to the poor and needy and died on August 24, 1617.

Africa

Aug

Tomatina, La (ES): August 30

06:20 AM | -

Food Fight! Who doesn't love a food fight? One hundred twenty tons of tomatoes are flung and flayed by 35,000 people for two hours each year in the town of Buñol, Spain. This is the La Tomatina Festival. Prepare to be soaked in red and have the time of your life! Tickets are required to attend. Annually on the last Wednesday in August. For Tickets: https://www.festivalsallaround.com/tomatina-festival

Africa

Aug

Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Intl. Day for: August 30

06:20 AM | -

Enforced disappearance, also referred to as rendition, is a strategy to spread terror within society. The insecurity generated by this practice is not limited to the close relatives of the disappeared but impacts their communities and society. Enforced disappearance is a global problem. Initially associated with military dictatorships, enforced disappearances occur in complex situations of internal conflict as a means of political repression. Of particular concern are: 1) Ongoing harassment of human rights defenders, victims' relatives, witnesses, and legal counsel dealing with cases of enforced disappearance. 2) States use it under the guise of counter-terrorism as an excuse for breaching obligations. On December 21, 2010, by its resolution 65/209, the UN General Assembly expressed deep concern about the increase in disappearances. The resolution focused on "the growing number of reports concerning harassment, ill-treatment, and intimidation of witnesses of disappearances or relatives of persons who have disappeared." The United Nations declared August 30 the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances beginning in 2011.

Africa

Aug

Victory Day, (TR)(1922): August 30

06:20 AM | -

Victory Day in Turkey marks the anniversary of August 30, 1922, when the nation achieved its independence; Victory Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Aug

Whale Shark Day, Intl.: August 30

06:20 AM | -

Whale sharks are the most prominent member of the shark family, growing to over 46 feet in length (14m+), which is why they are called whales. These gentle giants have tiny teeth, smaller than most people! They're not meat eaters; they eat plankton and tend to live in shallow water, not deep. Currently, the whale shark is under threat. Its fins and meat are delicacies in Asia, and a lack of regional enforcement of laws designed to protect them further endangers them. International Whale Shark Day seeks to raise awareness about the plight of these graceful and friendly creatures and increase the number of laws and bodies enforcing those laws internationally to protect them. International Whale Shark Day first ran in 2012.

Africa

Aug

White Balloon (Bravehearts) Day (AU): August 30

06:20 AM | -

Protecting children from childhood predators and providing the resources for victims to heal is the agenda of White Balloon Day, also called Bravehearts Day, in Australia. Funds raised during White Balloon Day support personal safety education programs and child protection services, counseling and support services, and lobbying for legislation to protect children. This event first ran in 1996.

Africa

Aug

Zhong Yuan Festival (CN/TW): August 30

06:20 AM | -

The Zhong Yuan (Ghosts) Festival in China is celebrated every year on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese calendar. The Zhong Yuan (also known as Zhongyuan Festival by Taoists or Yu Lan Pen Festival by Buddhists) is the day the Chinese respect their ancestors and all who have passed via sacrifices. It is believed that ghosts emerge on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month and visit the living. The Chinese have other festivals throughout the year that honor the dead, and Zhong Yuan is unique as it honors all persons who have passed, not just family.

Africa

Aug

African Descent, Intl. Day for People of: August 31

06:20 AM | -

The United Nations will celebrate the International Day for People of African Descent for the first time on August 31, 2021. The observance aims to honor the remarkable contributions of the African diaspora globally and to eradicate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent. The UN asserts that all humans, irrespective of race, are born free and equal in dignity and rights, contributing significantly to the development and welfare of societies. The UN vehemently denounces racial superiority theories and any practices resulting in the discrimination of separate human races. The UN strongly condemns the continuous violent practices and excessive use of force by law enforcement against Africans and people of African descent and the structural racism in criminal justice systems globally. The Organization recognizes the Transatlantic Slave Trade as one of humanity's darkest periods, asserting the dignity and equality of the victims of slavery, the slave trade, and colonialism, especially people of African descent in the African diaspora. The year 2020 marked the midpoint of the International Decade for People of African Descent. Although some progress has been made legislatively and institutionally, racial discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion still plague people of African descent. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgency of addressing deep-seated structural inequalities and systematic racism, especially in healthcare. The murder of George Floyd in 2020 was a turning point in addressing these issues, sparking global protests against racism and racial discrimination, and leading to vital global discussions on racial justice. In response, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on protecting Africans and people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement. The High Commissioner for Human Rights then presented an agenda for transformative change towards racial justice and equality to the Human Rights Council.

Africa

Aug

Constitution Day, (KZ)(1995): August 31

06:20 AM | -

Constitution Day in Kazakhstan marks the anniversary of August 31, 1995, when the nation ratified its constitution. Constitution Day is a national holiday.

Africa