All - Leep Calendar

Groundhog Day is an American tradition with roots in the Roman Empire, though it combines pagan rituals with Christian observances. It coincides with Candlemas, the date in the Christian calendar 40 days after the birth of Christ, representing the purification of the Virgin Mary. It is the reason Groundhog day occurs on February 2nd. Various legends in Europe state that winter will continue if the sun shines on Candlemas, and if it is cloudy, winter will end early. The idea of using an animal to predict the length of winter comes from the Romans. The Romans often used the exit from the hibernation of various animals to predict future events, regarding the creatures as omens. Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is the name of the groundhog used to predict whether winter will continue or spring will be early. It’s a big event each year reported all over the United States. The first time Punxsutawney Phil predicted the weather was in 1886.

Africa

Feb

Heavenly Hash Day: February 2

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Heavenly Hash is mixed together with rice, pineapples, marshmallows, and whipped cream. Sometimes ice cream with nuts, marshmallows, and fruits is used instead, mixed up and plopped into a bowl. Most food holidays have no origin and are unofficial, and heavenly Hash Day is one.

Africa

Feb

Hedgehog Day: February 2

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Meet the original groundhog from the times of ancient Rome, the hedgehog. This little rodent is the original inspiration for shadow or no shadow day and is still celebrated as a European folk holiday.

Africa

Feb

Major League Baseball Birthday (1876): February 2

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Major League Baseball was founded on this day in 1876.

Africa

Feb

Marmot Day: February 2

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In the lower 48, we celebrate Groundhog Day. In Alaska, it is known as Marmot Day (an animal part of the same family. This event was established in 2009 by the state of Alaska. Marmots, native to the Northern Hemisphere, are charismatic rodents about the size of a house cat. They are hunted for their fur and meat, a delicacy in some parts of the world. The town of Owosso, Michigan, also celebrates Marmot Day in July.

Africa

Feb

Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day: February 2

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Rheumatoid Awareness Day exists to give people with rheumatoid arthritis a day of recognition. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive inflammatory disease causing damage to joints and organ tissues, resulting in severe pain, frequent disability, and increased mortality. For most patients, current treatments neither relieve all symptoms nor assure a healthy future, and Remission is rare. Rheumatoid disease affects about one percent of the world’s population, with 1.6 to 2 million Americans currently diagnosed. Mayo Clinic says the lifetime risk of the disease is 3.6 percent for women and 1.7 percent for men. Rheumatoid Awareness Day comes at the start of Heart Disease Awareness month, underscoring a severe aspect of rheumatoid disease: heart health.

Africa

Feb

Sled Dog Day, Ntl.(1925): February 2

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National Sled Dog day honors Balto, perhaps the most famous sled dog in history. In 1925, during a diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska, Balto and his master Gunnar Kaasen braved the Alaskan wilderness with the life-saving medicine needed. Balto wasn’t alone. Like the Pony Express, sled dog teams ran in relays. Balto and his team relayed with another sled dog leader Togo driven by Leonhard. The two dogs and their teams ran a total of 674 miles and arrived in Nome, Alaska, at just shy of 5:30 AM on February 2, 1925. National Sled Dog (also written Sled dog)is about acknowledging the place in history sled dogs have occupied in exploration, search and rescue, transportation and sport.

Africa

Feb

Tater Tot Day, Ntl.: February 2

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National Tater Tot Day celebrates the bite-sized molded hash browns that are deep-fried. An invention of the Or-Ida food company in the early 1950s, Tater Tots have been a school lunch favorite for decades. This event first ran in 2009 and was created by the food blog Foodimentary.

Africa

Feb

Time to Talk Day (UK): February 2

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Created in 2014, Time to Talk Day takes place on the first Thursday in February in the United Kingdom. Its purpose is to break the silence surrounding mental health issues. Mental health problems affect one in four people, yet the subject is often considered taboo. For people with mental health problems, not being able to talk about it can be one of the worst parts of the illness. By encouraging discussions on mental health, stereotypes disappear, relationships improve, and tools for recovery become accessible.

Africa

Feb

Ukulele Day, World: February 2

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The late ukulele teacher and musician Mike Lynch created Ukulele Day. Over 40 years of his life were devoted to teaching music, with his favorite instrument, the small four-string guitar-like instrument called a ukulele. His wife continues his legacy with Ukulele Day by distributing his books, music, and videos. Mike Lynch passed away on January 2, 2018.

Africa

Feb

Wetlands Day, World (1971): February 2

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World Wetlands Day began in 1997. Ever since, government agencies, non-government organizations, and community groups worldwide have recognized World Wetlands Day, focusing on the benefits and necessity of conserving this vital resource. World Wetlands Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in Ramsar, Iran, on February 2, 1971.

Africa

Feb

Bubble Gum Day, Ntl.: February 3

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Bubble Gum Day gives people a chance to chew gum in places where they usually can't. All they have to do is donate 50 cents or more to a charity the school chooses. Kids have fun raising money for a good cause. Some creative teachers even incorporate bubble gum into their lessons for the day! Libraries, community centers, and even businesses are participating in this event now too. Bubble Gum Day was created in 2006 by children's book author Ruth Spiro.

Africa

Feb

Carrot Cake Day, Ntl.: February 3

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Carrot Cake is a favorite dessert with a long history. Known initially as carrot pudding, the first carrot cake recipe was published in 1591 in "A Booke of Cookrye." It next appears in John Evelyn's "Discourse of Sallets" in 1699. American President George Washington is rumored to have served a version of carrot pudding to guests on November 25, 1783, to celebrate British Evacuation Day. The first time carrot pudding was referred to as carrot cake occurred in the 'Art of French Cookery' by AB Beauvilliers in 1827. Carrot Cake Day is an unofficial event without a sponsor. Research from the Carrot Museum, United Kingdom.

Africa

Feb

Four Chaplains Memorial Day (1943): February 3

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During WWII, the USAT Dorchester, a troop ship, was making its way across the Atlantic when German U-boats off the southern coast of Greenland torpedoed it. The passengers onboard fell into the water, but there were not enough lifejackets to go around. Four chaplains, Alexander Goode, John Washington, Clark Poling, and George Fox (a Catholic, a Jew, and two Protestants), relinquished their lifejackets to save the lives of other passengers. Four Chaplains Memorial Day is a memorial to their selfless sacrifice.

Africa

Feb

Give Kids A Smile Day: February 3

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The Give Kids A Smile program began in 2003 to allow dentists and related organizations to join together and provide dental services to underserved children. Originally a one-day event in February, many cities have expanded it into a year-round service providing screenings, treatments, and education to children throughout the United States. Each year, approximately 450,000 children benefit from more than 1500 localized events, all because of the efforts of 40,000 or more annual volunteers.

Africa