All - Leep Calendar

Labour Day in Australia is a national holiday, but it is complicated as each province celebrates on different days, which can occur in March, May, or October. West Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria provinces observe in March, and Queensland and the Northern Territory mark it today. The Northern Territory refers to it as May Day. Labour Day represents the international celebration of organized labor and was conceived first in North America. American and Canadian unions conference in 1884 declared May 1, 1886, as a day of strike action supporting the eight-hour day. In Chicago, a crowd of 80,000 workers was attacked by police, and six workers were gunned down. In subsequent protests, another 11 workers were killed. A further seven workers were arrested, of whom four were hanged, and a fifth killed himself to cheat the noose. Two others received life sentences. In Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald reported in 1890 that in Vienna, the wealthy business owners and elites were so unnerved by worker support for May Day that they placed their valuables in banks' custody. Two years earlier, Australian workers rallied to the cause of British dockworkers during the famous Dockers Strike of 1888. Of $48,000 contributed from overseas, more than $30,000 was sent by Australian workers. In 1891 squatters in Queensland determined to break the Shearers union employed scab labor. The Shearers and the Queensland government sent police and armed troops to arrest strikers. A call to create an international day during the nineteenth century failed due to ideological splits within the trade union movement. May Day gathered in strength in Australia and is now part of the worldwide celebration recognizing labor. However, Australia's territories maintained state-supported Labour Days throughout the year.

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May

Families Week, Ntl. (AU): May 15-21

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Each year, over a hundred thousand people and hundreds of organizations celebrate National Families Week in Australia. Families Australia and the Australian Government created National Families Week in 2003. It is a time to celebrate with family and runs in conjunction with the United Nations International Day of Families.

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May

Families, Intl. Day of: May 15

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The family is the basic building block of society and central to all aspects of cultural uniqueness. May 15 was proclaimed the International Day of Families by the UN General Assembly in 1993 with resolution A/RES/47/237. It is considered an opportunity to reflect on the international community's importance to families. Activities on this day include workshops and conferences, radio and television programs, newspaper articles, and cultural programs highlighting relevant themes.

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May

Family Week, Ntl: May 3-9

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The week leading up to Mother’s Day in the Christian community in the United States is called Family Week.

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May

Family Wellness Month: May

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May is National Family Wellness Month, an opportunity to evaluate your family’s health and implement any changes. Having your health under control is of the utmost importance. Healthy individuals create healthier families. Healthy habits begin young. This month allows parents to set their children on life-long wellness. Check local listings for clinics and events in your area. National Family Wellness Month is a nationally supported health initiative.

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May

Felony Day (2024): May 30

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FELONY DAY—THE CONVICTION OF DONALD J TRUMP As of 17:00 EDT on May 30, 2024, the 45th President of the United States became the first President to be tried and convicted of a felony. Concurrently, as the Republican candidate for President, the verdict makes him the first convicted felon to run for the office of the Presidency. Donald J. Trump was convicted of 34 felonies in the State of New York for felonious business practices, interfering with the election and related issues. Popularly, the trial was called the "Hush money trial." The event at the case's core occurred two weeks before the general election 2016. Mr. Trump authorized payment to an adult film actress he had a brief affair with ten years before in an attempt to prevent the voting public from learning facts about the candidate's character and conduct. In addition to the verdicts, Mr. Trump faces three additional trials for a variety of crimes, including mishandling classified documents and violating the Espionage Act, election interference and conspiring to overturn the election. Predictably, after hearing the guilty verdicts, Mr. Trump exited the courtroom and immediately claimed victimhood and began spinning the outcome as a "rigged trial" with a "corrupt judge" and President Biden behind it. Though many of the former President's acolytes will believe him, the assertions are impossible or highly improbable. As a state trial with state charges, the federal government has nothing to do with the personnel on the court, the court, the case, or its outcome. Sentencing will occur on July 11, 2024, three days before the start of the Republican convention. Each charge carries a $5,000 fine and up to four years in jail.

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May

Ferret Day, Ntl. (UK): May 5

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National Ferret Day occurs on this day every year in the United Kingdom. It seeks to highlight issues such as welfare, care, nutrition, and ownership and educate the public to respect the animal we care so much about. Ferrets are work animals, hunting and eating rabbits, gophers, and other garden pests. The term ‘ferreting’ means using ferrets to hunt. They are cute and mischievous pets (like mongooses) that live well with large pets (keep them away from rabbits, guinea pigs, small kittens/puppies, and hamsters, though). National Ferret Day is an opportunity to dispel myths and show the ferret to be both the traditional hard worker it continues to be and the excellent companion animal it has become in recent years. The Ferret Education & Research Trust (FERT) is the founding charity behind National Ferret Day in the UK. It aims to educate the public about domesticated ferrets to ensure they are respected as working animals and companions. The Trust was disbanded in September 2013 but continues to support the Green Ribbon Campaign and National Ferret Day. People are encouraged to consult the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA AWF) for more information about this event.

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May

Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month: May

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Fibromyalgia Education & Awareness Month occurs in May each year. It was started by California- based National Fibromyalgia Association, and today it is supported by the Pharmacists Planning Service. Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain disorder affecting an estimated ten million people in the US and three to six percent of the world’s population. While fibromyalgia (FM) can also occur in men and children of all ethnic groups, 75-90 percent of those with this disorder are women. Fibromyalgia patients experience chronic widespread body pain and moderate to extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties. Often they are sensitive to touch, light, and sound and can develop irritable bowel syndrome, lupus, and arthritis. This month is about focusing awareness on fibromyalgia and creating an increased understanding of the disease and the struggles its victims deal with daily.

Africa

May

Finastic Friday, Sharks: May 8

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Sharks may be the most feared fish in the sea, but they're also very misunderstood. Fintastic Friday gives a voice to sharks and seeks to educate people on this necessary and beautiful creature. People kill over 100 million sharks annually, causing many species to hover near endangered or extinct. Fintastic Friday seeks to change the narrative around sharks and promote conservation in the decades ahead.

Africa

May

Firefighters Day, Intl.: May 4

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International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) is when the world recognizes and honors firefighters' sacrifices to ensure their communities and environment are as safe as possible. Show your support by proudly wearing and displaying blue and red ribbons pinned together or participating in a memorial or recognition event. Firefighting became an occupation at the time of Jesus in ancient Rome under Augustus Cesar. Many communities through the ages have supported volunteer fire departments in the absence of full-time departments. George Washington, the United States' first President, was a volunteer firefighter. May fourth was chosen as the day to honor firefighters, as it is the Feast of Saint Florian. Saint Florian is the patron saint of firefighters. 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—just in case you're feeling a little overworked.

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May

Fitness Day, Ntl.: May 2

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Celebrated on the first Saturday in May since 2017, National Fitness Day is an opportunity for people to share their passion for fitness and the benefits they receive from it.

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May

Five Boro Bike Tour (US-NY): May 2

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The TD Five Boro Bike Tour is the premier fundraising event for Bike New York, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to empowering New Yorkers to transform their lives and their communities through cycling. Proceeds from the event directly fund free public bike education programs for over 30,000 adults and kids throughout the five boroughs. Bike New York co-produces this iconic New York tradition with the New York City Department of Transportation. “We’re back and better than ever,” said Ken Podziba, CEO and President of Bike New York. “The opportunity to ride car-free through the five boroughs of the most exciting and diverse city in the world is why the TD Five Boro Bike Tour has become our country’s most popular bike ride. And knowing the proceeds from the Tour fund Bike New York’s free bike education and safety programs makes it even more meaningful.” Annually on the first Sunday in May since 1978.

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May

Flora Day (UK): May 8

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Flora Day hosts the annual Furry Dance. If you're in Southern England and love dancing in the streets, the Helston Furry Dance in Cornwall is your ticket to a fabulous day. Dancers begin in the early morning and dance through the streets, building to building. The dance is a medieval tradition to welcome spring.

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May

Florida Folk Festival, White Springs (US-FL): May 22-24

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The Florida Folk Festival is a three-day celebration of music, dance, stories, crafts, and food, highlighting the uniqueness of Florida. From Irish fiddle tunes, techno contra dancing, and chocolate-covered Key Lime pie to the varieties of music brought by immigrants, the state's cultural heritage reflects the lives of generations of Florida families and communities. This event occurs over Memorial Day weekend and features over 300 performances illustrating Florida's heritage.

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May

Flu Season Begins, Southern: May 1

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Today marks the official beginning of the flu season south of the Equator. Fortunately for you, it’s nowhere near as bad in the south as in the north. Lucky you, Australia, Brazil, and your temperate neighbors. The World Health Organization has reported that influenza activity has declined in all temperate countries of the southern hemisphere. At the same time, influenza-like illness has increased in many European countries. Of course, that doesn’t mean you get off scot-free. The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) has adopted WHO recommendations for the seasonal influenza vaccine composition. Influenza activity peaks at the end of August in most areas of Australia and Tasmania. The Northern Territory experiences a late peak, while Western Australia reports increased activity from mid-August through September.

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