All - Leep Calendar

Saint Sebastian was a maverick known for his bravery and secret life as a Christian, hiding at the very top of Roman nobility before Rome became Christian. Being Christian was dangerous at the time, yet Sebastian converted large numbers of soldiers to the faith, including the governor of Rome. But, like many before him, eventually, he was caught and executed under Roman law for practicing and proselytizing Christianity in 288 AD. Saint Sebastian is the patron saint of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His feast day is celebrated throughout the Christian world on January 20, and orthodox sects observe Saint Sebastian's feast on December 18.

Africa

Jan

Angel Island Day, Ntl. (1910): January 21

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Today marks the anniversary of the opening of the immigration center on Angel Island, January 21, 1910. Located in the San Francisco Bay, Angel Island is the 2nd most significant island in the bay, with views of Sonoma and Napa on clear days. From 1910 to 1940, the Angel Island Immigration Station, "The Ellis Island of the West," was the first stop for over 1 million Asian immigrants entering the US. In 1964, after lobbying by the Chinese American community, it was declared a state landmark by the state of California. In 1975, California created the Angel Island Conservatory with a primary mission to facilitate the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of historical and natural resources on the island.

Africa

Jan

Bald Eagle Appreciation Days (US-IA): January 21-22

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During the late fall and winter months, bald eagles flock to Iowa, a warmer home than their summer residences in Alaska and Canada. In Alaska and Canada, the rivers freeze over, so over 1,400 bald eagles follow the river south and spend the coldest months of the year along the Mississippi River between Saint Paul and Saint Louis. The highest percentage live in the area of Keokuk. Each year US Army Corps of Engineers, Non-game Wildlife programs within the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Department of Conservation, Lee County Conservation Board, Keosippi Mall, and The Keokuk Area Convention and Tourism Bureau host Bald Eagle Appreciation Days, the third weekend of January. Thousands of people flock to Keokuk to view firsthand the national symbol of the United States of America in its natural surroundings. Bald Eagle Appreciation Days feature many free indoor and outdoor programs, including: • Hourly seminars featuring live Bald Eagles • Lectures • Exhibits • Films • Special events • Manned observation areas along the Mississippi Riverfront • Spotting scopes available • Conservation officials and biologists on hand for questions Tips for finding and viewing eagles: The best time to view eagles is in the early morning when they feed. Eagles can be seen soaring and diving for fish; the colder, the better. When eagles are not feeding, observe them sitting in large, mature trees closer to the river or on river ice near openings. Be sure to bring strong binoculars!

Africa

Jan

Calibash (US-CA): January 21-22

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Calibash is an annual music festival featuring Latin American and Hispanic artists. First held in 2007, attendance has increased year-on-year, making it one of the most anticipated music festivals of the year.

Africa

Jan

Citizen United Decision by Supreme Court (2010): January 21

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Citizens United is one of the most destructive decisions ever upheld by the US Supreme Court. Foundational to the decision is that a corporation, a legal entity created by a contract that cannot be jailed, breathe, killed, or wounded, is equivalent to a human being under the First Amendment. The court stated on January 21, 2010, that corporations, like people, have a constitutional right to be heard in election campaigns. The court maintained that there should be no limit to the amount of money corporations and unions can spend in elections, provided the money is independent of the campaign it intends to support. Without accountability, this decision has flooded national and local elections in the United States with billions of dollars from special interest groups, including international donors, creating an atmosphere of competing messages and non-transparent agenda funding. Not only has it exasperated the cost of elections, but it has also extended the campaign time into a near never-ending parade.

Africa

Jan

Clam Chowder Day, New England Style: January 21*

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Chowder is a cross between a stew and a soup, essentially made of vegetables and fish stewed in a cauldron. "Calderia" is Latin for a "place for warming things." "Jowter" is old English for a "fish peddler," and it is believed that this is the origin of the word "chowder." The first chowder recipes originated in France and England, among the coastal fishing villages. The custom was to have a cauldron simmering in the house, awaiting the fishing ships' return to port. A portion of each man's catch would be tossed into the pot, and the resulting chowder was served to the community to celebrate the ship's safe return. Clams were easy to harvest without embarking on a ship, making them ideal for chowder, especially in bad weather. Of course, clams could only be collected at certain times of the year. A staple of the working class, when clams were unavailable, the chowder was made from haddock, cod, and other local fish. Later, chowder recipes included other meats like ham, bacon, and poultry. Clam chowder became a favorite with East Coast Americans, especially on Fridays, due to a Christian custom of only eating fish on Fridays.

Africa

Jan

Granola Bar Day, Ntl.: January 21

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Granula, as it was initially called, originated in an 1863 mental health institution, the Jackson Sanitarium, and was popularized by Dr. James Caleb Jackson of Dansville, New York, to improve digestion. The name was later changed to granola by the Kellogg company to avoid a legal dispute when Kellogg began creating a similar baked cereal. Granola is baked, and muesli, which is similar, is the raw form of granola. By the early 20th century, granola slipped from favor. But oats and muesli were already being used to create cereal bars called "flapjacks" in the United Kingdom and muesli bars in Oceania. These were considered desserts and very similar to today's mass-produced bars. The flower children of the 1960s would revive it, pimping it with dried fruits and nuts. The ancient food, now marketed as a health food and a popular alternative to fast food on the go, was set to explode onto the market. The addition of the granola bar (basically a cookie in bar form and marketed as healthy) soon entered the snack and breakfast market during the mid-1970s to early 1980s. Today they are one of the most popular adult "sweets" and are often used as meal replacements.

Africa

Jan

Hugging Day, Ntl.: January 21

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Kevin Zaborney created National Hugging Day in 1986. Zaborney chose this day because he felt people are generally tired and in low spirits between Christmas/New Year and Valentine's Day, surmising a hug would cheer us up.

Africa

Jan

Moon—New: January 21

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The new moon occurs when the moon and the sun have the same elliptical longitude when the moon is at its closest point to the sun in its orbit. From earth, we usually cannot see it. The new moon is considered the first phase.

Africa

Jan

Point in Time Count: January 21-31

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The Point-in-Time (PIT) is an annual count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness during the last ten days of January in the United States. HUD requires that Continuums of Care conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on a single night. In 2023, the New York Times did an excellent feature story on the count, following census takers throughout communities across the US. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/03/business/economy/us-homeless-population-count.html

Africa

Jan

Proxigean Tide: January 21

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The Proxigean Tide occurs when the moon is in its new moon or full moon phase and closest to the Earth. The gravitational forces between the Earth and the moon create an extremely high tide, and it is not unusual for increased flooding to occur across the planet.

Africa

Jan

Puppy, Hug Your Puppy Day, Ntl.: January 21

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A day set aside to demonstrate your love and affection for dogs. This event first ran in 2019.

Africa

Jan

Spring Festival Holiday (CN): January 21 - 27

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THE SPRING FESTIVAL The dates shown are for the official national holiday. The Spring Festival, a major holiday, is the name for the 15 days between Chinese New Year's Eve and the Festival of Lanterns. It is revered like Christmas in the west or the Eid holidays in the Islamic world. Nationally, it is a whole week's celebration. During the Spring Festival, gifts and red packets of money in even number denominations are exchanged. Families travel to be together; holiday foods are prepared on Chinese New Year's Eve. That night's feast is the "reunion dinner" and the most important holiday meal. Retailers go crazy with specials leading up to and during the festivities. Activities culminate on the 15th day with the Lantern Festival, marking the end of the annual Chinese New Year Celebration. For organizations with business interests in China, block out the week leading up to and the first seven days of the Spring Festival. Getting anyone to pay much attention will be challenging, and celebration is the theme. Each day of the Spring Festival has a different activity. Day one is the welcoming of the deities with firecrackers, dragon dancing, and a vegetarian diet. On day two, married daughters visit their parents. Day three is Red Mouth Day, and paper is burned, symbolizing the destruction of wrath. It is considered very unlucky to visit or have guests on this day. Day four features dinners hosted by employers. Businesses go back to work. Day five features birthday celebrations for the god of wealth. Firecrackers light the sky, ensuring his favor, good fortune, and prosperity in the year ahead. Day six is a day of rest. Day seven is the universal birthday, where everyone becomes one year older, regardless of their actual birthday. Buddhists will avoid meeting people, and non-Buddhists will eat a raw fish salad to promote wealth and prosperity in the year ahead. Day eight focuses on family dinners, with companies hosting lunch or dinner to celebrate the birth of the Jade Emperor. In the hours leading up to midnight, burning incense and food offerings make their way to the shrines of the Jade Emperor. Should a family fail to make offerings, the kitchen god reports their lack of adherence to the Jade Emperor. Day nine is a day for prayers and offerings to the Jade Emperor. Days ten through twelve host parties for the Jade Emperor. Day 13 is vegetarian, a day designed to cleanse the stomach. Prayers, offerings, and tributes to the Chinese god of war, General Guan Yu of the Han Dynasty, take center stage. Day 14 is open. The final day features the Shangyuan Festival of Lanterns. People eat traditional Chinese foods like rice dumplings, rice ball soup, and candies. Traditionally, families stroll the town carrying colorful lanterns.

Africa

Jan

Squirrel Day: January 21

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Squirrel Day, or Squirrel Appreciation Day, expresses our love for the little, nut-eating rascals. Squirrels are an essential part of the ecosystem and provide hours of joy to those lucky enough to watch them go about their day. This event was created in 2001 by Christy Hargrove of the Wild North Carolina Nature Center.

Africa

Jan

Use Your Gift Card Day, Ntl.: January 21

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Initiated in 2020, National Use Your Gift Card Day encourages people who received gift cards over the holidays and previous to get out and redeem the total amount. Each year, over $500 million in gift card expenditures go unused, which is 2% of the nearly $26 billion spent on gift cards. Put that money where it belongs: in your gift rather than the issuer's pocket. Redeem!

Africa