All - Leep Calendar

Twice a year (January in the Northern Hemisphere, June in the Southern Hemisphere), Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). During International Christian Unity Week, Christians gather and pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes globally exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. Traditionally the week of prayer is celebrated between 18-25 January, between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, churches celebrate June 4-11, around Pentecost, another symbolic date for unity.

Africa

Jun

Cognac Day: June 4

06:20 AM | -

National Cognac Day celebrates cognac, one of the most sought-after forms of hard liquor. It is a status symbol in China and the United States, the world's two largest consumers. Cognac is a brandy named after the town of Cognac, France, and was first distilled in the 17th century. For a brandy to be called a Cognac, the white wines are distilled in copper pot stills twice and then aged in French Limousin or Troncais oak barrels for a minimum of two years. The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) champions National Cognac Day.

Africa

Jun

Dog Bite Awareness Week, Ntl.: June 4-10 (est)

06:20 AM | -

More than 5,400 postal employees were attacked by dogs in the United States in 2021. From nips and bites to vicious attacks, aggressive dog behavior poses a serious threat to postal employees and the public. To highlight the enormity of this serious issue, the U.S. Postal Service is providing information on the do’s and don’ts of responsible dog ownership as part of its annual National Dog Bite Awareness Week public service campaign. “Every year, thousands of postal employees are attacked by dogs as they deliver America’s mail. And while it’s a dog’s natural instinct to protect their family and home, we ask all customers to act responsibly by taking safety precautions with their dogs while the mail is being delivered,” said USPS Employee Safety and Health Awareness Manager Leeann Theriault. “When a carrier comes to the residence, keep the dog inside the house and away from the door — or behind a fence on a leash — to avoid an attack.” Cleveland, Ohio is the city with the most postal dog attacks at 58 in 2021, followed by Houston, Texas, Kansas City Missouri, Los Angeles California and Louisville Kentucky.

Africa

Jun

Ducasse de Mons, Doudou (BE)(1349): June 4-11

06:20 AM | -

Ducasse de Mons (Doudou) is an eight-day festival running Sunday through Sunday, including a Friday night concert, festivities, the procession, Car d'Or, and the fight between Saint George and the dragon Sunday afternoon. On June 2, 1349, Mons, Belgium, managed to defeat the Black Plague when the entire town transported the shrine of Waltrude to the village of Casteau. The villagers considered it a miracle and now celebrate the abolishment of the plague every year on Trinity Sunday since 1352. The Ducasse de Mons is the celebration of that event. Each year a procession carries Waltrude's Shrine through the town, beginning with a torchlight handover on Saturday night. The following morning, the shrine lands in a gold horse-drawn wagon (Car d'Or), which needs to climb a very steep cobblestone hill (Rampe Sainte-Waudru) in one try if the town's good fortune continues for another year. Since the horses cannot do this alone, hundreds of onlookers assist the cart over the hill. Once it crests the hill, legend says the town will be free from significant disasters for another year. The festival concludes with the battle between Saint George and the dragon, the Lumeçon, in the central town square of Mons. Dogs, devils, dragons, and saints, you have to see to believe. Header Image: Daniel71953 at fr.Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Africa

Jun

Emancipation Day (TO)(1970): June 4

06:20 AM | -

The 150 Polynesian islands comprising Tonga were granted independence from the British Empire on June 4, 1970. Emancipation Day is the national holiday marking this anniversary.

Africa

Jun

Flag Day (FI)(1867): June 4

06:20 AM | -

Often the 'happiest place to live on earth' and home of the Northern Lights, reindeer, and gorgeous scenery, Scandinavia's Finland honors the birth of its sixth president, Carl Gustaf Mannerheim, on June 4, 1867. A military leader, in addition to a politician, Mannerheim is celebrated by Finland's military each year with Flag Day.

Africa

Jun

Garden Week, Ntl.: June 4-10

06:20 AM | -

National Garden Week in the US is celebrated annually in June and hosted by National Garden Clubs (NGC). National Garden Week’s objectives include the promotion of beautification, education on environmental efforts, gardening, and involvement. See your local gardening club for events in your area. The United Kingdom’s Gardening Week is in April.

Africa

Jun

Godparent's Day, Intl: June 4

06:20 AM | -

Godparents began as a tradition in the Catholic Church. Still, today signify the people a couple believes should have a special bond with their children, like an honorary aunt or uncle. In religious families, the role of a godparent is to help the children understand their faith and support them throughout their lives. In secular families and more common today, the godparent is a trusted friend or relative who serves as a mentor, role model, and person second only to grandparents with spoiling rights, showering favor and attention on their godchildren throughout their lives. National Godparent's Day is situated between Mother's Day and Father's Day in the annual calendar, and it's a day to celebrate the village that raises a child. Annually on the first Sunday of June; the Church of England typically celebrates this day on the second Sunday of July.

Africa

Jun

Grand Prix of Spain (ES): June 4

06:20 AM | -

The Grand Prix of Spain, also known as the Spanish Grand Prix, is a Formula One motor racing event held in Spain. As a part of the FIA Formula One World Championship, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious races in the annual calendar. The history of the Spanish Grand Prix dates back to 1913, but it became a part of the official Formula One calendar in 1951. The Spanish Grand Prix has been held at various circuits throughout its history, such as Pedralbes, Jarama, Montjuïc, and Jerez. Since 1991, however, it has been hosted at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, located in Montmeló, a municipality near Barcelona. The circuit has a length of 4.655 km (2.892 mi) and features a mix of high- and low-speed corners, along with a long straight, making it a challenging and exciting track for drivers and teams. The Spanish Grand Prix is an important event for both fans and teams, as it usually takes place early in the season and often serves as a benchmark for car performance and development. The race is known for its passionate fans, and Spanish drivers like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jr. have enjoyed great support from the local crowd in recent years.

Africa

Jun

Life, Celebrate Life Day: June 4*

06:20 AM | -

Each year, Support Connection presents Celebrate Life Day to honor cancer survivors for their strength and courage and to recognize the contributions of families, friends, and other caregivers. Celebrate Life Day is uplifting, including musical entertainment, inspirational speakers, and the pleasure of good company and good food. It occurs on the same day as National Cancer Survivors Day, an annual worldwide celebration of life held in hundreds of communities throughout the United States, Canada, and other participating countries.

Africa

Jun

Moon—Full: June 4

06:20 AM | -

A full moon occurs when the moon is illuminated by the sun and on the opposite side of the earth. Its ecliptic longitude is 180 degrees. For centuries, people have applied names to full moons to track the seasons and as a point of reference. The names listed below come from Native American and Colonial American traditions passed down through generations. Here are the common names for full moons in each month in the Northern Hemisphere (the Southern Hemisphere doesn't do this tradition): January: Wolf Moon—Named after the howling of wolves during the cold winter nights. February: Snow Moon—Named for the typically heavy snowfall. March: Worm Moon—As the ground thaws, earthworms emerge, attracting birds. April: Seed Moon—Time to plant for the fall harvest. May: Flower Moon—Named for the abundance of flowers in May. June: Strawberry Moon— due to the short harvesting season for strawberries in the northeastern United States. July: Buck Moon—when new antlers grow on male deer (bucks). August: Sturgeon Moon—when sturgeon fish are abundant in North America's Great Lakes. September: Harvest Moon—time to harvest crops. October: Hunter's Moon—game is at its fattest, allowing hunters to stock up for the winter months. November: Beaver Moon—when beavers build their winter dams. December: Cold Moon—long, dark, and cold nights. Full moon names vary between cultures, regions, and traditions; several full moons have alternative names. The above are the most common. A blue moon occurs when two full moons are in a single month, and February is the only month in the year that occasionally does not have a full moon. A blood moon describes a total lunar eclipse.

Africa

Jun

Old Maid's Day: June 4*

06:20 AM | -

Old Maid's Day was created in 1946 when many WWII soldiers returned home. Think of it as the first-speed dating service bringing singles together in a social atmosphere. Although there was an upsurge in marriages following the war's end, many women remained without partners. Social functions brought soldiers and unmarried women together in hopes of creating a love match. The tradition continues today, albeit electronically via dating sites, events, and, as mentioned, speed dating.

Africa

Jun

Orthodox Pentecost (C): June 4

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Orthodox Christians follow the Julian Calendar rather than the Gregorian Calendar and celebrate most holidays a week later. Orthodox Pentecost is a Christian observance celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit into the disciples of Jesus Christ following His ascension to heaven (Easter). It is always held on the seventh Sunday after Easter and coincides with the Jewish festival of Shavuoth. Pentecost marks the beginning of the Christian faith as an official movement in 33 AD. In the Commonwealth countries, Pentecost is also called Whitsun or Whit. Its significance to Christians can be paralleled with the Holy Month of Ramadan in the Islamic faith and the receipt of the Decalogue in Judaism. In all instances, the disciples (Christian) and prophets (Islam and Judaism) received instruction and word from God/Holy Spirit, defining the basis of the faith.

Africa

Jun

Rip Current Awareness Week, Ntl.: June 4-10

06:20 AM | -

The second week of June is Rip Current Awareness Week, an public service campaign supported by the US Government’s National Weather Service and other agencies. Most rip current fatalities each year are visitors from non-coastal locations. Rip currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore and are the leading surf hazard for all beachgoers, especially for weak or nonswimmers. The United States Lifesaving Association states that 80 percent of surf beach rescues are attributed to rip currents. Over 100 people die annually from drowning when they cannot escape a rip current. Rip currents form when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves at the beach. One of the ways this water returns to the sea is to form a rip current, a narrow jet of water that moves swiftly offshore, roughly perpendicular to the shoreline. Under most tide and sea conditions, the speeds are relatively slow; however, under a particular wave, swell, and beach profile conditions, their speed can quickly increase to become dangerous to anyone entering the surf, even the most experienced swimmers. Rip currents can be very narrow to hundreds of meters wide. The seaward pull of rip currents varies from just beyond the line of breaking waves to hundreds of yards offshore.

Africa

Jun

Theater Understudy Appreciation Week: June 4-10

06:20 AM | -

Understudy Appreciation Week celebrates the often overlooked role of understudy. A theater understudy is a performer who learns the lines, blocking, and choreography of one or more positions in a stage production, with the primary purpose of being prepared to step in and perform those roles in case the leading actor is unable to complete due to illness, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances. Understudies are essential in ensuring the smooth running of a theatrical production, as they provide a backup in emergencies. Understudies typically attend all rehearsals, closely observing the leading actor and taking notes on their performance, so they can accurately replicate the role if needed. They may also participate in understudy rehearsals to practice their assigned roles with other cast and crew members. In some cases, an understudy might also be a part of the ensemble or have a minor role in the production, allowing them to be actively involved in the show while still being prepared to step into a more prominent role if required. It's important to note that understudies are different from standbys and swings. Standbys are performers exclusively dedicated to covering the lead role or roles, while swings are responsible for covering multiple ensemble tracks and sometimes principal roles in a production. On the other hand, understudies often have their own parts in the show in addition to learning the roles they are understudying. Being an understudy requires immense dedication, adaptability, and professionalism. They seamlessly step into a role at a moment's notice while still delivering a high-quality performance for the audience.

Africa