All - Leep Calendar

Christmas Eve is also National Eggnog Day, but what makes up the milky concoction anyway? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says eggnog is a drink made of eggs, sugar, milk, or cream and often includes liquor. Eggnog has been linked to the holidays since the 1700s. At that time, immigrants brought the beverage to North America.

Africa

Dec

Independence Day, (LY)(1951): December 24

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Independence Day in Libya marks the anniversary of December 24, 1951, when the nation gained independence from Italy. Independence Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Dec

King's College Christmas Carols & Festival of Nine Lessons (UK): December 24

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Held annually at Cambridge's Kings College in England, the Kings College Christmas Carols & Festival of Nine Lessons has been a Christmas Eve tradition since 1918 and a live broadcast since 1928. Each year the carols and readings change, with millions of people around the world tuning in via radio, internet, and television.

Africa

Dec

A'phabet Day: December 25

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A'phabet Day occurs on Christmas and can provide a little amusement for the family. Try to make it through a conversation without using the letter 'L.' It's a lot harder than it sounds. Just writing this, we used eight. A'phabet Day originated with Robert Birch, who passed away on July 25, 2005. If you love playing with words, his obituary is masterful: http://users.erols.com/jbirch/rlb/memorial.htm.

Africa

Dec

Christmas Day (C): December 25

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Christmas Day is the second most important day in the Christian calendar, second only to Easter. It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ sometime between 1 BC and 1 AD. (There is no year "0"). Christians believe Jesus Christ is the son of God, the messiah promised to the Israelites (and later the Hebrews), and He is the world's savior. Christmas means "The mass of Christ." Christmas is observed by over 2 billion people each year. Some denominations observe it on December 25, and others choose January 7, the day after the Epiphany, or March 25, when the angel told the Virgin Mary that she would have the messiah. Emperor Constantine was the first to declare December 25 as the day set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in 336 AD, and Pope Julius I confirmed the date a few years later. In reality, it is believed that Jesus was born in the early spring as The Bible story of the nativity details the census, the reason the family traveled to Bethlehem, in some detail. The actual date of His birth is not included in scripture.

Africa

Dec

Constitution Day, (TW)(1946): December 25

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Constitution Day in Taiwan marks the anniversary of December 25, 1946, when the nation adopted its Constitution. Constitution Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Dec

Pumpkin Pie Day, Ntl.: December 25

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Pumpkin pie is the traditional dessert in the United States for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Therefore someone decided that Christmas Day should also be pumpkin pie day.

Africa

Dec

Boxing Day (UK/AU/ZA/CA): December 26

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Boxing Day in the Commonwealth countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and South Africa, is a day of thanks and sharing. The tradition of Boxing Day began during the Victorian era in England. The day after Christmas, the gentry granted the day off to their servants, presenting each with a box of gifts to take home to their families. For those who provided services over the year, including doormen, delivery people, and salon workers, tips are given. Traditionally, Boxing Day is the second day of Christmastide (The 12 days from Christmas to Epiphany). In the countries mentioned above, Boxing Day is a bank holiday. There is also a legend tying Boxing Day to Christmas originating in the tenth century with the Duke of Bohemia, Wenceslas—the same as the Christmas song. Wenceslas, the legend goes, once helped a poor man passing through his kingdom by giving him food and wine in boxes (prior to Franzia, of course!) The traditions of Boxing Day continue today, and the holiday continues throughout the Commonwealth as a uniquely British holiday.

Africa

Dec

Candy Cane Day, Ntl.: December 26

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National Candy Cane Day occurs on the second day of Christmastide. It celebrates the birth of Christ and the shepherd’s crook-shaped candy that has become synonymous with the event, the candy cane. The candy cane was created in 1670 by the choirmaster of the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. Today, the Cologne Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Africa

Dec

Goodwill, Day of (ZA)(1994): December 26

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Goodwill Day in South Africa is known as Boxing Day in the rest of the Commonwealth Countries. In 1994, with the end of apartheid, the government chose to rename the day to sever its ties with its colonial past. Goodwill Day is an official holiday in South Africa.

Africa

Dec

Independence Day, (SI)(1990): December 26

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Independence Day in Slovenia marks the anniversary of December 26, 1990, when the nation announced its separation from the Yugoslav Union. Independence Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Dec

Junkanoo (BS): December 26

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Lucky you if you are privileged to spend Christmas in the Bahamas because the day after, December 26, is the Junkanoo Festival. Think of rolling Christmas, Mardi Gras, and African celebrations into one big, musical colorful celebration. That's Junkanoo!

Africa

Dec

Martyrdom Sahibzada Fateh Singh (S)(1705): December 26

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Martyrdom Sahibzada Fateh Singh marks the death of the Younger Sahibzadas brother, Sahibzada Fateh Singh. He was five years old when he was executed for refusing to renounce his Sikh faith, and his brother, just eight, was executed five days prior. The brothers were two of four sons born to Guru Gobind Singh.

Africa

Dec

Mummer's Day (C)(IE): December 26

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Mummer's Day, or the Feast of Saint Stephen, marks the Christian faith's first martyr (or protomartyr). In several Christian countries, his feast day is a public holiday. In Ireland, Saint Stephen's day is referred to as 'Lá Fhéile Stiofáin' or 'Lá a Dreoilín,' meaning the Day of the Wren or Wren's Day. Irish celebrants doan old clothes and straw hats, traveling door to door with fake wrens dancing, singing, and playing music in celebration. Depending upon the specific region of the country, these colorful well-wishers earn the name Wrenboys or Mummers. Saint Stephen's Day is popular for visiting family members and gathering in large groups.

Africa

Dec

Proclamation Day (AU)(1836): December 26

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Proclamation Day in Australia celebrates the establishment of Australia as a British province. Captain John Hindmarsh proclaimed Australia adjacent to the Old Gum Tree on December 28, 1836. Today, Proclamation Day is celebrated on the first working day after Christmas and can fall on December 26 or 27, depending upon year.

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