All - Leep Calendar

Native Americans first used baking soda, soda ash, or bicarbonate of soda as a leavening agent for bread. 1835 marked the first time a pre-packaged version of baking soda went on sale, dubbed Royal Baking Powder. It was a combination of baking soda and cream of tartar. Once introduced to moisture, these two chemicals release CO2, causing the bread to rise. The first recipes published using baking soda for soda bread appeared in Ireland in "The Southern Planter," published in 1843. Yeast was often challenging, and baking soda became a much less expensive substitute. December 30 is dubbed 'bicarbonate of soda day' due to another use of baking soda: as an antacid. With all the eating and drinking during the holidays, some will inevitably overeat and overdrink, causing tummy trouble. A teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a cup of water often suffices as the perfect antacid.

Africa

Dec

Falling Needles Family Fest: December 30

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Did you celebrate Christmas this year? Did you have a real Christmas tree? If the answer to these questions is YES, consider celebrating National Falling Needles Family Fest! Gather your family, friends, coworkers, or any group of people, and make it a point to collect all the scattered needles from the Christmas tree over some food, drinks, and much laughter! It’s a great way to top off the season and clean the carpet at the same time from the folks at Wellcat.

Africa

Dec

Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute: December 30

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The Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute is observed two days before the beginning of the new calendar year. The symbolism derives from the idea that we all vow or make New Year's Resolutions at the beginning of each year. Today is an extra incentive for those who have yet to reach all their goals to do something about it before the year ends.

Africa

Dec

Moon-1st Quarter: December 30

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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 1st quarter typically occurs seven days after the new moon.

Africa

Dec

No Interruptions Day: December 30

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It's the last day of the year and a time to get as much done as possible. No Interruptions Day seeks to give you an excuse to bury yourself in work or cut off distractions at home.

Africa

Dec

Orange Bowl: December 30

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First played in January 1935, the Orange Bowl continues as a football tradition. It's the annual college football bowl game played at New Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It's a part of the College Football Playoffs, which include the Sugar Bowl and the Sun Bowl. The Orange Bowl is the second-oldest bowl game in the country; The Rose Bowl is the oldest.

Africa

Dec

Rizal Day, (PH)(1896): December 30

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Intellectual and revolutionary Dr. Jose Rizal was a hero of the Philippine revolution. He was martyred on this day, December 30, 1896, and executed by firing squad. His death anniversary is a national holiday in the Philippines.

Africa

Dec

Champagne Day, Intl.: December 31

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International Champagne Day is celebrated every year on New Year's Eve. Champagne is the traditional beverage used for toasting in the New Year. Champagne is a region of France, and only sparkling wines from this region are permitted to be called Champagne. The beverage was invented in the 1600s by Pierre Pérignon, a Benedictine monk of the Abby of Hautvillers. One of his duties at the Abby was to care for the wine cellars. Today we know him as Dom Pérignon. The original nickname of Champagne was 'Mad Wine,' so dubbed by Pérignon. The bubbles for which it is now known were not desirable, and they were downright aggravating to Pérignon, who was trying to produce good white wine! Good white wines don't have bubbles. In 1670 the monk developed the méthode champenoise. Pérignon spent 47 years caring for the wines of the Abby and, in that time, developed many of the pressing and fermenting processes still used today. Champagne would later become the preferred beverage of the elite and the universal symbol of congratulations and celebration. International Champagne Day is an unofficial event with no sponsor.

Africa

Dec

Fiesta Bowl (US-AZ): December 31

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The Fiesta Bowl is an American college football game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Fiesta Bowl was first played in 1971.

Africa

Dec

Make Up Your Mind Day: December 31

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While the last day of the year is a time for celebration and parties, it should also be a time for reflection. It is an excellent time for serious decisions about life, family, and career—no more excuses. Make up your mind!

Africa

Dec

New Year's Eve: December 31

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Today is the last day of the year. Common traditions include attending parties, eating particular foods, making resolutions for the New Year, and watching fireworks displays. The earliest recorded festivities in honor of a new year’s arrival date back some 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. Julius Caesar instituted January 1 as the first day of the year, partly to honor the month’s namesake—Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, whose two faces allowed him to look back into the past and forward into the future.

Africa

Dec

Peach Bowl (US-GA): December 31

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The Peach Bowl is an American college football game played annually in Georgia, and Chick-fil-A currently sponsors it. The Peach Bowl was first played in 1971.

Africa

Dec

Unlucky Day: December 31

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December 31, which is 13 backward, has been dubbed the Unluckiest Day of the year by someone—after Friday the 13th, of course. Unluckiest Day is an unofficial event with no sponsor.

Africa

Dec

Bingo Month, Ntl. (1929): December

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International Bingo Month marks the anniversary of the promotion of the modern game of bingo (the one now associated with church basements), in December 1929, by toy salesman Edwin S. Lowe. First seen at a carnival, the game became an answer for creating income at the onset of the Great Depression. It was a hit! The original name was 'Beano.' It became bingo due to mispronunciation. Initially, players used beans to cover the numbers called. Today we use stamps. Lowe used two methods, one with twelve cards and one with 24 cards, charging $1 and $2, respectively. But Lowe wasn't the originator of bingo. The game was first played in 1530s Italy and was a lottery called Lo Giuoco del Lotto d'Italia. Over the centuries, it spread throughout Europe and morphed into several different formats, from educational to gambling. Today it is often associated with fundraising and senior citizens. No matter what you call it, bingo is beloved by millions worldwide.

Africa

Dec

Calendar Awareness Month, Intl.: December

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International Calendar Awareness Month seeks to remind us of changes to our current calendar over the years and educate us about the different calendars used by various cultures worldwide. Pope Gregory XIII created the Gregorian Calendar in 1582, but it was universally implemented in 1752. The Gregorian calendar has 365 days, with one leap year every four years to account for the 365.25 days it takes the sun to rotate around the earth. The birth of Christ is the demarcation point for BC "Before Christ" and AD "Anno Domini," meaning "The year of our Lord." Non-Christian societies refer to the periods as BCE "Before the Common Era" and CE "Common Era." Regardless of which designation, the same demarcation point, the birth of Jesus Christ is universal. We use both markers in LEEP Calendar. Prior to 1752, the world used the Julian Calendar, which the Roman Empire adopted in 45 BC by Julius Caesar. He was the first to create Leap years and designate January 1 as the first of the year, but the timing was off by one day every 128 years. When the Roman Empire fell, the first of the year moved back to March and, in some cases, Christmas. By the Middle Ages, the extra day every 128 years caused issues with Christian holidays and the harvest. The equinoxes marking the changes in the seasons were falling ten days too early. Pope Gregory XIII decreed a new calendar for all of Christendom. England and its colonies, Protestant and ever the rebel, continued on the Julian Calendar under Queen Elizabeth I, while the rest of Europe transitioned to the new Gregorian Calendar. Eventually, this became problematic, leaving England out of step with its trading partners. An act of parliament in England officially approved the Gregorian Calendar in 1750, and the change was implemented in stages during 1752 and established January 1 as New Year's Day. Every civilization has operated on a calendar. Other calendars in use today often follow religious observances and mark their years according to when that specific faith came into being or by the position of the moon, stars, and sun. Examples of this include: 1) The Islamic calendar (Hijra) begins in 622 CE to mark the Prophet Mohammed's journey between Mecca and Medina. 2) The Hebrew Calendar begins October 6, 3761 BCE. 3) The Hindu calendar begins January 23, 3102 BCE. 4) The Buddhist calendar initiates on May 13, 544 BCE, or March 11, 545 BCE. There is some discrepancy within the faith. 5) The Sikhs mark time from March 14, 1469 CE. 6) The Chinese Calendar begins in 2637 BCE. Live in countries where the above religions are the dominant faith? You'll find events, holidays, and legal documents often have the faith calendar date rather than, or in addition to, the Gregorian calendar date. Following a religious calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar can be advantageous. On average, faith calendars are shorter than the Gregorian calendar, allowing for shorter billing cycles per year. The shortage often translates to a 13th month of pay for employees working under religious calendars. In Islamic countries, where the Hijra calendar is the official government calendar, you'll see this. It is also why Islamic observances move every year 11 days earlier.

Africa