All - Leep Calendar

Holocaust Victims' Day remembers the horrific events of the 1930s through the mid-1940s in Europe, including summary killings, imprisonment, discrimination, and other state-supported acts of terror that began as early as 1933. Holocaust Victims' Day marks the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by Russian soldiers on January 27, 1945, and is observed in memory of the over 12 million victims who perished. The Holocaust is one of the most significant manmade tragedies in recent history in scale and brutality. Victims were targeted based on their faith, physical or mental challenges, political views, color, and sexual orientation. Many were imprisoned and used as slave labor, and others were murdered, died of disease, or starved in purpose-built concentration camps. People targeted by the Nazi regime for imprisonment and extermination included those of the Jewish faith, Catholic faith, Romani (Gypsies), the mentally ill, disabled, communists, persons of color, and homosexuals. Political prisoners were generally communists or thought leaders and intellectuals, irrespective of faith, including teachers, artists, writers, journalists, clergy, lawyers, politicians, and business owners. For example, when Nazi Germany conquered Poland six weeks after invading in 1939, only three percent of the intellectual class remained alive. Anyone who could lead or form resistance was murdered. The largest demographic targeted and murdered were those of the Jewish faith; in totality, 25% of the world's Jewish population perished under Nazism. Though a smaller population, 25% of the world's Romani population was exterminated during the Holocaust as well. Using a network of concentration camps connected by trains to imprison and enslave people by demographic was not a Nazi invention. The tactic was first deployed during the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1917, resulting in over one million deaths. Officers of the German army were allies of the Ottomans in WWI and participated in the slaughter. Sixteen years later, they perfected the system during WWII. Holocaust Victims' Day honors all the victims, regardless of faith, race, health, or sexual orientation, and urges society to learn from the circumstances leading up to and causing this international tragedy.

Africa

Jan

Multicultural Children's Book Day: January 27

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Multicultural Children's Book Day seeks to raise awareness of the diversity in children's literature, allowing all kids to see themselves in books. The Multicultural Children's Book Day mission is to put diverse children's books on shelves and into the hands of children and families across the country. As of 2020, an ideological war rages regarding children's books in the United States. Part of that war silences voices that do not fit a specific racial or theological narrative. The three books in the header, LEEP highly recommends. Doris Pilkington Garimara's "Follow the Rabbit-proof Fence" focuses on the Aboriginal experience of three orphans in 20th-century Australia. There is also a film, "Rabbit-proof Fence," an Australian film from 2002. Erika L. Sánchez's delightful comedic take on growing up as a Mexican-American girl, "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter," takes on the stereotypes within her community and outside of it. And finally, Golbarg Bashi's "P is for Palestine" is a fantastic book that shares the experience of Christian and Muslim children growing up under occupation through the alphabet. Did we mention that "P is for Palestine" continues to be banned by groups interested in maintaining the political status quo? These political interests are TERRIFIED of this book because it humanizes and teaches culture. Who knew children's stories and the alphabet were so powerful? This event first ran in 2014.

Africa

Jan

Preschool Fitness Day, Ntl.: January 27

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National Preschool Fitness Day occurs on the last Friday of January. It's a day that promotes physical fitness, education, and healthy eating among children. The early childhood years of three to five are critical in the development of the human body. Poor fitness and eating habits during this period contribute to most illnesses we develop later in our lives. On National Preschool Fitness Day, we are encouraged to spread the word about the importance of sound fitness and eating habits with their children and communities.

Africa

Jan

Punch-the-Clock Day: January 27

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Punch the Clock Day can be celebrated in one of two ways, by supervisors who love the Workman's Time Recorder, patent number 452,894, granted on May 26, 1891, to Willard Le Grand Bundy. Or by employees ruled by this early form of Big Brother, who are encouraged to punch the time clock tyrant with a well-placed left hook. However you choose to celebrate today, one thing is sure. For better or worse, the Workman's Time Recorder did revolutionize the workplace.

Africa

Jan

Ratha Saptami (H): January 27

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Ratha Saptami is a Hindu observance celebrating the sun god's birth that falls on the sunami or seventh day in the Shukla Paksha (bright half) in the Hindu month Magha. The day is symbolic of the change of season. For Indian farmers, it is a promising start to the next growing season. PLEASE NOTE: We use the Indian civil calendar, the official holiday calendar in India. The Hindu faith has many calendars, each specific to different regions and tribes, with dates and celebrations marked by differing positions of the sun, moon, and stars. Names of months and holidays and the corresponding dates in the Gregorian Calendar may vary widely from one calendar to the next. Determine the proper calendar before attending local events.

Africa

Jan

Thomas Crapper Day (1910): January 27

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Thomas Crapper Day honors Thomas Crapper, an English plumber born in Yorkshire in 1837, who died on January 27, 1910. Crapper is errantly credited with inventing the modern flushing toilet; he did not—but he is the key reason outhouses fell out of favor and homes have WCs. The first flush toilet was created in 1596 by Sir John Harington, the godson of Queen Elizabeth I, for the palace. The first patent for a version that contained the water went to Alexander Cumming of England in 1775. In the 1880s, Crapper expanded on Cumming's "S-shaped" plumbing patent with the ballcock, the float inside the tank that allows water to regulate its level. Once Prince Albert took him on as royal plumber, he began mass-producing the commode under his company "Thomas Crapper & Co." His invention remained largely a European convenience until American soldiers returned via England in 1918 after WWI experienced it. Referred to as the "porcelain throne," models often bore the brand name "Crapper," thus Thomas' association with the privy. Crapper spent his life advocating for sanitation and increasing accessibility to it for the general public. He is the first to support toilets in the homes of every man, not just the aristocracy. Over his life, he received nine patents, with three related to the humble toilet. Unless you've traveled through rural Asia or Africa, where the western toilet is often non-existent (or replaced with in-the-floor squat pots—as a woman, do not get me started), you've probably never appreciated it. Or what a messy and uncomfortable process doing one's business once was and can still be in some parts of the world.

Africa

Jan

X Games, Winter (US-CO): January 27-29

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Inaugurated in 1995 as a summer sporting event, the X or Extreme Sports Games expanded to include winter sports in 1997 and feature events including freestyle skiing and snowboarding as well as a focus on environment and eco-friendly initiatives.

Africa

Jan

Bhishma Ashtami (H): January 28

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Bhishma Ashtami occurs on the eighth day of Shukla Paksha during the month of Magha. It marks the day Bhishma of Mahabharata (Ganga Putr Bhism), the supreme commander of Hindu forces, was killed. Mahabharata is one of the Hindu faith's foundational historical books/stories. The other is the Rāmāyaṇa Fasting and various rituals are performed on this day to safeguard the soul of Bhishma. PLEASE NOTE: We use the Indian civil calendar, the official holiday calendar in India. The Hindu faith has many calendars, each specific to different regions and tribes, with dates and celebrations marked by differing positions of the sun, moon, and stars. Names of months and holidays and the corresponding dates in the Gregorian Calendar may vary widely from one calendar to the next. Determine the proper calendar before attending local events.

Africa

Jan

Blueberry Pancake Day: January 28

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Blueberries are native to the United States, but they’ve only been part of the American diet for the past 100 years. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, low in calories, and blend well with several flavors, including oats, salads, and pancakes! Blueberry pancakes substitute blueberry syrup with whole blueberries for maple syrup, providing a feast for your senses in color, smell, and taste. Or, blueberries can be baked inside the pancake batter for a tart and sweet treat. Blueberry Pancake Day is your excuse to enjoy this all-American flapjack version of a breakfast favorite.

Africa

Jan

Cordova Iceworm Festival (US-AK): January 28 - February 4

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Throughout the glaciers and ice in northern climates, worms thrive. They're an essential part of the ecosystem and enjoy freezing temperatures. Each year, the city of Cordova, Alaska, hosts the Cordova Iceworm Festival to welcome the little worms' emergence before the spring thaw. The tradition started with a single-day event in 1961. Today, festivities cover an entire week. PLEASE NOTE: Treat all televised and venue-specific events (sporting, concerts, trade shows, etc.) as estimated. Several factors can cause an event to move dates at the last minute, including weather, strikes, natural disasters, political upheaval, conflicting programming, pandemics, and current events. Because of this, always verify the event with the promotor before committing resources. LEEP often estimates dates based on the previous year's schedules, as the final dates are only a few months, weeks, or days before the event. If the date is known to be estimated, you will see an (est) following the date in the title.

Africa

Jan

Data Privacy & Protection Day (US/EU)(1981): January 28

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Data Privacy & Protection Day aims to raise awareness and promote healthy privacy and protection practices. Sponsored by several organizations throughout the country, Data Privacy and Protection Day is an educational initiative that focuses on businesses and schools/universities. This date marks the anniversary of the creation of the first data privacy directive on January 28, 1981.

Africa

Jan

Idiotarod, (Multiple Dates/Cities): January 28*

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Urban Idiotarods or—Idiot-a-rod—are urban shopping cart races that receive their name from the Iditarod, the 1,000-mile dog-sledding race in Alaska. The storied Iditarod wasn't amused and sued, so it became the Idiotarodorama NYC in New York City. Idiotarods are a funny tradition in which five "idiots" are harassed to a grocery shopping cart/trolley and run through the streets of a city. Sabotage is permitted and encouraged, prompting people to trip each other, throw items and topple obstacles. The event is quite amusing. The first Idiotarod took place in San Francisco in 1994. Still, today you can take part in an Idiotarod in Ann Arbor, Asheville, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Iowa City, New York City, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, Los Angeles, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Washington, D.C., with new cities added every year. The actual date in each city may vary. The date posted is for the New York City event. Image by Erin of Oregon City from the 2008 Idiotarod in Portland, Oregon, via https://www.flickr.com/people/49096113@N00

Africa

Jan

Kazoo Day, Ntl. (1852): January 28

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National Kazoo Day celebrates an instrument created during the nineteenth century in the United States. Celebrated on January 28th (or on the fourth Thursday in January), National Kazoo Day was founded by Chaplin Willard Rahn of the Joyful Noise Kazoo Band located at the Homewood Retirement Home in Williamsport, Maryland. The campaign to make the kazoo the national musical instrument of the United States continues to this day. The kazoo is an American musical instrument first developed in the 1840s and introduced to the world in 1852 by Alabama Vest and Thaddeus Von Clegg, a German clockmaker, during the Georgia State Fair. Often referred to as the Down South Submarine, the kazoo creates music via vibrations through the instrument. Changing the humming style of the musician changes the vibration. On this day, kazoo enthusiasts would be delighted to know that kazoos go on sale. It is also when kazoo players meet up, play and share their music.

Africa

Jan

Moon—First Quarter: January 28

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The first quarter moon occurs when the moon is one-half illuminated by the sun. Each day forward increases the amount of the moon you can see. The first quarter typically occurs seven days after the New Moon.

Africa

Jan

Pediatrician Day, Ntl.: January 28

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National Pediatrician Day honors the medical doctors who care for children. Annually on January 28.

Africa