All - Leep Calendar

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation sponsors Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in May to highlight the growing need for awareness about Cystic Fibrosis (CF). During this time, volunteers and people with CF and their families unite to help shine a spotlight on what CF is and the progress made toward a cure. 1) 30,000 children and adults have CF in the United States. 2) More than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of the defective CF gene. 3) About 1,000 new cases of Cystic Fibrosis are diagnosed each year. Activities include: Walk in Great Strides, an annual fundraising walk occurring in over 600 locations throughout the United States. Australia also observes May as 65 Roses Month, with 65 Roses Day at the end of May to bring awareness to this disease. Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that: Clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and It obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. In the 1950s, few children with Cystic Fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s, and beyond. The symbol of Cystic Fibrosis is the 65 roses.

Africa

May

Cystinosis Awareness Day: May 7

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Cystinosis Awareness Day began in 2018. This annual event seeks to raise awareness about the disease and raise funds to find a cure. From the Cystinosis Research Network: “Cystinosis is a rare genetic, metabolic, lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the CTNS gene on chromosome 17p13 which results in an abnormal accumulation of the amino acid cystine in various organs and tissues of the body such as the kidneys, eyes, muscles, pancreas and brain. The cystine accumulation causes widespread tissue and organ damage. Cystine accumulation can lead to kidney failure, muscle wasting, swallowing difficulty, diabetes, hypothyroidism, cerebral atrophy, photophobia, blindness, corneal ulceration, ventilatory impairment and more. Without treatment, children with cystinosis will usually develop end stage kidney failure or die prematurely. If cystinosis patients receive a kidney transplant, their new kidney will not be affected by the disease. However, without specific treatment, cystine accumulation can cause complications in other organs of the body.”

Africa

May

Day of Light, Intl.: May 16

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The International Day of Light is a global celebration highlighting the crucial role of light in various fields, including science, culture, art, education, sustainable development, medicine, communications, and energy. This day encourages worldwide participation in activities demonstrating the intersection of science, technology, art, and culture in achieving UNESCO's objectives, thereby promoting the construction of peaceful societies.

Africa

May

Day of the Holy Cross (MX): May 3

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The construction unions in Mexico chose to defy Pope John XXIII's cancellation of this feast day in the Catholic calendar in 1960. Until then, it was a day when people decorated the crosses of the dead and within the town with flowers and streamers. In later years they and other leaders petitioned the Pope and were able to keep their beloved holiday in Mexico alone. Today it is not just about decorating the crosses in Mexico. It is also about honoring the men and women of the construction industries that helped save their cherished day—with blessings. WHY SO MANY FEAST DAYS? Have you ever noticed that there seem to be feast days for just about everything in the Catholic and Orthodox Christian faiths? There is a reason for that. The church granted feast days to allow all subjects of the Crown to take a day off. As most worked six days a week, feast days provided a break that landowners and nobility couldn't deny. If they tried, they were going against the church, and that you did not do. In medieval times, there were approximately 60 feast days a year. Add this to 52 Sundays, Christmas, and Easter; workers received at least 114 days off a year. Contrast that to today. The average American gets 104 weekend days and seven national holidays off work—three days less than the commoners of the Dark Ages, in case you're feeling overworked.

Africa

May

Deaf Awareness Week (UK): May 4-10

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Deaf Awareness Week (DAW) is a unique UK awareness campaign with multiple sponsors. It aims to turn up the volume on deafness and the various tools available to those living with it. The week highlights the contributions and achievements of the organizations involved. Localized events can be found on the DAW calendar.

Africa

May

Declaration of the Bab (1844): May 22/23

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The Baha'i faith marks the Declaration of the Bab each year, and it is the anniversary of the day he was declared a new messenger of God in Shiraz, modern-day Iraq, on May 22, 1844. Declaration of the Bab is a religious holiday for the faith. The Bab is considered the predecessor of the Baha'u'llah, the founder of the religion, who the Baha'i believes to be the one promised in Islam. Born Siyyid' Ali-Muhammad on October 20, 1819, he was considered a precocious child. Trained early in the teachings of the Qur'an, he was considered "of pure lineage," a direct descendent of Fatimah.

Africa

May

Defense Transportation Day, Ntl.: May 15

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National Defense Transportation Day recognizes our nation's transportation infrastructure and the men and women who build, maintain, and utilize it. In 1957. by joint resolution, Congress requested the President designate the third Friday in May of each year as National Defense Transportation Day, and, by joint resolution approved May 14, 1962, as amended (36 U.S.C. 133), that the week during which that Friday falls is National Transportation Week. Roads, bridges, and ports are the transportation networks essential to securing the United States and protecting our borders. Repairing our transportation networks is about economic growth and security. Good roads ensure first responders can respond effectively during a crisis. That means protecting our critical infrastructure and repairing roads and bridges that put our people at risk. Together, we can make meaningful progress toward those goals. Let us recommit this week to revitalizing transportation, pioneering new solutions to tough challenges, and making lasting investments in America's infrastructure.

Africa

May

Dementia Awareness Week (UK): May 18-24

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National Dementia Awareness Week in the UK runs annually toward the end of May. Different regions may choose to celebrate on different weeks throughout the month. The week seeks to raise awareness about the problems dementia patients and their families face, the dangers of dementia, and what people can do to lessen their likelihood of getting it.

Africa

May

Devil's Food Cake Day, Ntl.: May 19

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Devil's Food is the first chocolate cake ever marketed as a cake mix by the Duff Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the 1930s. The first recipe for the cake was published in 1905. Essentially, Devil's Food cake is a dense dark chocolate cake, usually baked in a Bundt cake tin or as a layer cake, with a rich flavor that is not overly sweet. It can be served with a glaze, frosting, or without either. Devil's Food cake is the grandmother of the popular red velvet cake, the original which gained its red color through chemistry (interaction of acid (sour milk), alkali (baking soda), and non-alkalized unsweetened chocolate. The combination creates a blood-red color in the cake. Today, food coloring is typically used. Devil's Food Cake Day is an unofficial holiday with no sponsor.

Africa

May

Dhu al-Hijjah (M): May 15 - June 15

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Dhu al-Hijjah is the 12th and last month in the Islamic Calendar, the final of four sacred months, and the month of Hajj. Performing Hajj occurs between the 8th - 12/13th of the month and is one of Islam's five pillars or fundamental acts that define the faith. Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that devout Muslims endeavor to do at least once in their lifetime. When performed during the first 8-12/13 days of the Islamic month of Duh al-Hijjah, it is called Hajj, and when practiced at other times of the year, it is called Umrah. The following is a general description of Hajj al-Tamatt'u, the most common pilgrimage. Each year during Hajj, millions of people from around the world descend on the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca to perform the rituals of Hajj. One of the first places visited is the black box, the Kaaba. Muslims walk around counterclockwise seven times, three separate times during the pilgrimage. The word for this encircling is "tawaf." The Kaaba marks where Muslims believe Adam and Eve built the first house of worship, and Abram (hereafter referred to as Abraham (Ibrahim)) rebuilt it thousands of years later. In the Muslim faith, they refer to this as "the first house of the only true God." It is the Kaaba that Muslims face when they pray. Muslims believe it was here that God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael.* The Kaaba is believed to be the same size as Abraham's original temple. Performing Hajj is a 5-6 day process representing one of Islam's five pillars. FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM Charity. Testimony of faith. Praying five times a day. Fasting during the month of Ramadan. Performing Hajj. All acts of devotion during the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah are highly rewarded and blessed. Fasting on the 9th day is known as al Nisai and Abu Dawud. Fasting on this day removes one's sins for the next two years. How is Hajj performed? Day 1) Commences on the 8th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Step 1) Muslims change from everyday wear to ceremonial clothing called "ihram" upon arriving. Often in the airports around Saudi Arabia, you will see pilgrims flying in traditional clothing before arrival. Step 2: Dressed in their ihram, pilgrims perform "tawaf," circling the Kaaba seven times (3 times running, four times walking) counterclockwise. Step 3) After performing the first tawaf, pilgrims walk between the two hills of Safa and Marwa several times to the town of Mina, where they spend the night. The hills are where Hagar ran back and forth seven times, looking for water for Ishmael, and God took pity and created a spring for her. Pilgrims replicate the running back and forth through this ritual called "masa." The spring Muslims believe God created for Hagar is called Zamzam. Mina, where the day's journey ends, is the location of the three pillars (Jamrat al-Aqaba, Jamrat al-Wusta & Jamrat al-Sughra), representing the three times the devil tempted Abraham. Day 2: Performed on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Step 1) This day is about walking from Mina to Arafat, approximately 6 miles; it is called the "waqf," or day of vigil. Pilgrims stand from noon until sunset in Arafat as part of Hajj, and Arafat is where the prophet Mohammed delivered his last sermon in 632 AD. Step 2) Leaving Arafat after nightfall, pilgrims walk to Muzdalifa, about 4 miles, and collect 49 stones along the way. They spend the night in Muzdalifa under the stars, and most pilgrims will fast on this day. Day 3: Eid al-Adha, the 10th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Step 1) Pilgrims walk from Muzdalifa to Mina and throw stones at the devil, represented by the largest of the three pillars (Jamrat al-Aqaba). Day three is a day of celebration. Step 2) Pilgrims walk to Mecca from Mina to perform the second tawaf, walking seven times around the Kaaba. Step 3) They walk again between the hills of Safa and Marwa, returning to Mina. Step 4) Animals are sacrificed. The meat is cooked and distributed to commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God and God's acceptance of a sheep instead. A vast feast follows, with large portions going to the poor. Unlike sacrifices in other faiths, in Islam, the gift of an animal's life is not done to please God. It is performed to remember Abraham's obedience and for charity. One sheep or goat equals one person, and a camel or cow's sacrifice equals seven people. Only those who can afford to make a sacrifice will do so, often paying for those without funds. Days 4-6: the 11th - 13th days of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah On each day of this final period (2 or 3 days), pilgrims return to the three pillars representing the devil and stone them in a specific order. This uses up the remaining stones of the 49 collected on the second day. On the final day of Hajj, pilgrims change clothes, replacing the "iharm" with their standard attire to perform their third and final tawaf around the Kaaba. Upon completing Hajj, Muslims may now refer to themselves as 'alhaji' (male) or 'alhaja' (female). Like confirmation in Christianity or Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Judaism, this is a title of accomplishment in the Islamic faith. _________ *NOTE: The son referenced in this story is an area where Islam, Judaism, and Christianity differ in scripture. Christians and Jews believe it was Isaac, the son of Abraham's first wife, Sara. Muslims believe it was Ishmael, the son of Sara's handmaid Hagar, Abraham's second wife. _________

Africa

May

Dictionary Week (1995): May 11-15

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Dictionary.com celebrates its birthday (May 14, 1995) with a week-long event called #DictionaryWeek. The event includes various themed days: Wordplay Day (Monday): Participants are encouraged to share their favorite puns on Twitter, with the chance to be featured in the Pun Hall of Fame. There are also wordplay quizzes and games to enjoy. Word Love Day (Tuesday): A Word Giveaway takes place on Twitter, featuring favorite words selected by the Dictionary.com team. Limited edition virtual word certificates are available. The Word Love collection, curated for word lovers, is also featured. Word Pain Day (Wednesday): A Misspelling Bee occurs on Twitter, where participants share misspelled words that haunt them. There are spelling quizzes, games, and tips for getting words right. Word Curiosity Day (Thursday): A Twitter event allows users to ask questions about words, dictionary additions, language inclusivity, and more. Experts from Dictionary.com participate in answering the questions. Quizzes and strange-but-true word facts are also featured. Word Inspiration Day (Friday): Participants share the one word they would want their name to appear next to in the dictionary. Dictionary.com chooses one of these words as the Word of the Day, crediting the person who shared it. Throughout the week, participants are encouraged to follow Dictionary.com on Twitter and engage in various activities and events.

Africa

May

Digestive Diseases Awareness Month, Ntl.: May

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In 1988 President Reagan proclaimed Digestive Diseases Awareness Month. Digestive diseases rank second among all the causes of disability due to illness in the United States and account for one-tenth of the economic burden of disease. Their social and economic impact is enormous; half of all Americans are affected by them at some time during life. More Americans are hospitalized for digestive diseases than for any other family of illness. In recent years significant advances have taken place in digestive disease research, but efforts to determine their causes and to develop ways to prevent and treat them have only begun. Knowing these diseases' impact and the critical need for research in this field, private, scientific, and governmental organizations have committed themselves to increasing public awareness and understanding of gastrointestinal diseases. The National Institute on Health has put together several brochures on the most pervasive digestive disorder diseases, which people can access at http://www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/ap.aspx.

Africa

May

Dirty Dishes Day, (No): May 18

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No Dirty Dishes Day probably arose out of frustration in some office cafeteria. Have you ever noticed that people tend to put dishes in the sink until they pile up when you don't live there? In the office lunchroom, this happens even faster. Dirty dishes in the sink can be an annoying and unhealthful problem if left unattended. Dirty dishes, counters, and floors attract disease-carrying scavengers, including roaches, ants, flies, mice, and rats. Unattended dirty dishes can grow bacteria and mold, leading to allergies and sickness. But even simply washing dishes is only sometimes enough. Most home dishwashers cannot sanitize dishes, which means even though they may be clean to the eye, they still have germs and bacteria. To disinfect dishes, they must be rinsed with a disinfectant (like bleach or industrial chemical) or rinsed (or exposed to heat) for at least 10 seconds in water above 82 degrees Celsius or 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Whether it is in your office break room or at home, pledge today to leave no dirty dishes in the sink or elsewhere. After all, it is the best way to celebrate the day.

Africa

May

Dog Mom's Day, Ntl.: May 9

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Created in 2018 by DIG, National Dog Mom's Day celebrates a woman's best friend and her bond with her dog. Many women without children (or with) consider their dogs (and cats) to be their four-legged children and refer to themselves as pet parents. On the eve of Mother's Day, National Dog Mom's Day sets aside some time to celebrate this special bond.

Africa

May

Dog Park Day, Ntl.: May 2

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Dog owners and their four-legged friends are encouraged to enjoy the springtime weather in safe, off-leash areas in their communities by celebrating National Dog Park Day. Dog owners simply need to visit their local dog parks (aka Bark Parks) and enjoy the day. This event also raises funds and awareness for the non-profit 'Bark for Your Park' each year. This event began in 2017.

Africa