All - Leep Calendar

Children's Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. It occurs in May and November each year. Children's Book Week originated in the belief that children's books and literacy are life-changers. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children's books. He proposed creating a Children's Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians. Mathiews enlisted two important allies: Frederic G. Melcher, the visionary editor of Publishers Weekly, and Anne Carroll Moore, the Superintendent of Children's Works at the New York Public Library and a major figure in the library world. With the help of Melcher and Moore, in 1916, the American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association sponsored a Good Book Week with the Boy Scouts of America. In 1944, the newly-established Children's Book Council assumed responsibility for administering Children's Book Week. In 2008, Children’s Book Week moved from November to May. In 2019 it appears to have moved back to November. At that time, administration of Children’s Book Week, including planning official events and creating original materials, was transferred to Every Child a Reader -- a 501 (c)(3) literacy non-profit dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children -- and the Children's Book Council became a CBW anchor sponsor. Children's Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, commemorative events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes -- wherever young readers and books connect! Children's Book Week is administered by Every Child A Reader, a 501(c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children. The Children's Book Council, the national non-profit trade association for children's book publishers, is an anchor sponsor.

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May

Deaf Awareness Week (UK): May 2-8

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Deaf Awareness Week (DAW) is a unique UK awareness campaign with multiple sponsors. It aims to turn up the volume on deafness and the various tools available to those living with it. The week highlights the contributions and achievements of the organizations involved. Localized events can be found on the DAW calendar.

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May

Dying Matters Awareness Week (UK): May 2 - 6

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Created in 2009, Dying Matters Awareness Week is spearheaded by the National Council for Palliative Care. Few things are certain in life, but two are for sure. Every human being on this planet is born and every human being will die. The fact is we only get one chance to have our dying wishes met, which is why it’s so vital to talk, plan and make arrangements for the end of life. That’s why the theme of Dying Matters Awareness Week is 'Dying Matters: You only die once'.

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May

Eid al-Fitr (M): May 2/3

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Eid al-Fitr (the festival of breaking of fast) is one of the most important holiday in Islam. This three day event celebrates the end of the month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from food, water, tobacco, sex and a number of other cultural activities from sunrise to sunset for 28 days. Observing the fast during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Eid al Fitr marks the end of the fast and is a family celebration equivalent in festivities to Christmas in Christianity or Chinese New Year in China. Gifts are exchanged and huge feasts are prepared that can last for up to three days. Fireworks grace the night sky. In the Islamic world, companies, schools and governments close for up to a week. Governments and companies often grant bonuses of up to two months pay to their Muslim employees. Vacations and family trips abroad are common at this time.

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May

Fall Labour Day (AU-NT, QLD): May 2

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Labour Day is an Australian national holiday, but when it occurs is a bit complicated. Each territory designates its own day to celebrate this holiday. This is the day Queensland and the Northern Territory mark it. The day is an international celebration of organized labour, which began with protests in North America during the late 19th Century. A conference of American and Canadian unions set May 1, 1886 as a day of action in support of an 8-hour day. In Chicago, a crowd of 80,000 workers were attacked by the police, who gunned down 6 workers. During a subsequent protest demonstration, 11 more workers were killed. Another 7 workers were arrested of whom 4 were hanged; a 5th killed himself as not to be hung and 2 others were imprisoned for life. Two years later, Australian workers rallied in support British dockworkers during the ‘Dockers Strike’ of 1888. Of $48,000 contributed from overseas, more than $30,000 was sent by Australia workers. In 1891, Queensland those determined to break the Shearers Union employed non-union scabs to take their place. Business owners and the Queensland government sent in police and armed troops to arrest strikers and put them in jail. Eventually International May Day was established to recognize labour everywhere, though it was only partly heeded due to ideological splits in the trade union movement. May Day since has gathered in strength in Australia and is now part of worldwide celebrations.

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May

Gardening Week, Ntl. (UK): May 2-8

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National Gardening Week was launched in 2011 by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and aims to become the country’s biggest celebration of gardening in the United Kingdom. Thousands of people, gardens, charities, retailers, culture and heritage organizations and groups have get involved each year. The United State’s Gardening Week is in June.

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May

Heart Week (AU): May 2-8

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Heart Week in Australia focuses on the health profession and Australian public. It seeks to promote conversations centered on heart health and reducing the risk of heart disease.

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May

Iyyar (J): May 2-30

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All Hebrew calendar months begin and end at sundown. LEEP Calendar marks Jewish months beginning the first full day. Observant people of the faith will begin marking the month sundown the day prior. Iyyar (translates to ‘blossoming’) is the eighth month of the Jewish calendar. Iyyar generally falls within April and May. Holidays include four relating to the state of Israel and two related to the faith. POLITICAL/SECULAR HOLIDAYS IN IYYAR 4th: Yom Hazikaron = Israeli Memorial Day, marking the anniversary of the survival of Maimonides from a storm in 1165 AD. This day always precedes Yom HaAtzmaut and will move its date earlier or later if the actual date falls on a Saturday. 5th: Yom HaAtzmaut = Creation of Israel in 1948. This day will move its date earlier or later if the actual date falls on a Saturday. 10th: Herzl Day = Anniversary of the creator of Zionism, Theodore Herzl’s, birth. 28th: Yom Yirushalayim = Jerusalem day marking the 1967 military capture of East Jerusalem and its transfer to Israeli control. Israelis refer to this as the ‘reunification of Jerusalem’. The non-Jewish population refers to it as the ‘occupation of East Jerusalem’. RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES IN IYYAR 14th: Pesach Sheini = The second Passover 18th: Lag Ba'Omer = Marks the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in. He is associated with the sect of Judaism which practices mysticism, is guided by kabbalah and instructed in the Zohar.

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May

Melanoma Monday: May 2

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As a way to raise awareness of melanoma and other types of skin cancer, and to encourage early detection through self-exams, the American Academy of Dermatology designates the first Monday in May as Melanoma Monday®. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Current estimates are that one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is the most common cancer for adults between the ages of 25 and 30.

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May

Mental Health Awareness Week (CA): May 2-8

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During CMHA Mental Health Week, Canadians take the time to reflect on their mental health. Canadians are speaking up on the for need psychotherapy, counseling and community-based mental health services and programs in addition to acknowledging the issues that go along with mental illness and the need for respect and housing for those suffering, regardless of income. National Mental Health Week in Canada has been a weekly occurrence since 1951.

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May

Met Gala (US-NY): May 2

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Did you get an invite? Me neither. This is the premier "Page Six" event in New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit. The formal event is a who's who of celebrities, politicians, and socialites. It is the foremost "fashion" show of the year. Funds raised from the event benefit the Costume Institute.

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May

Osama bin Laden Killed (2011): May 2

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Today is the 10th anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden. Below is the official White House Statement on the event. 11:35 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory -- hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction. And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts. On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family. We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda -- an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies. Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government, which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot. Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world. And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network. Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice. Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body. For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda. Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must –- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad. As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity. Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people. Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates. The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded. So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done. Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice. We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day. Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores. And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people. The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place. Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America. END 11:44 P.M. EDT

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May

Parkash (S)(1653): May 2

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Guru Arjan Dev Ji, who first militarized the Sikhs, was born on this day in 1653.

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May

Pet Week, Ntl.: May 1 - 7

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The first full week of each May in the U.S. is National Pet Week. The focus of this week is planning. Pet parents are urged to bring their pets in for a routine check-ups and develop daily routines that focus on the health and well-being of the animal. Of course, it is also a time to treat pets too, with a new toy, biscuit or favorite activity. Whatever you choose to do, make National Pet week your opportunity to end procrastination and focus on the well-being of your non-human friends.

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May

Puppy Mill Action Week: May 2-8

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There is a difference between a commercial breeder, which follows humane laws and treats animals with respect in a clean and healthy environment, and Puppy Mills, which are unregulated and warehouse animals in the interest of profit over wellbeing. Puppy Mills are a global problem. Female dogs are often forced to reproduce over and over again, then discarded when they can no longer reproduce. Their litters are either offered for sale as pets to pet stores and purebred enthusiasts, or in some Asian cultures including South Korea, as meat for the dinner table during Bok Nal or 'dog eating days' in a soup called bosintang. Over 2.5 million dogs a year are slaughtered in South Korea alone for this dish. Cats are also eaten and farmed in several Asian countries. These animals are kept in inhumane conditions that are overcrowded, dirty, and in the case of South Korea, often tortured because of a belief that it 'makes the meat taste better'. A recent rescue in South Korea included 'nearly 200 Chihuahuas, corgis, huskies, jindos, Yorkshire terriers, poodles, Pomeranians, shih tzus, and French bulldogs from a squalid breeding facility in Hongseong that housed pups under heat lamps in disused tyres.' Read the full press release: https://www.hsi.org/news-media/dog-meat-farm-rescue-021419 Puppy Mills in the West, though they aren't raising dogs for eating, are just as horrific. Missouri followed by Ohio are the top two states for puppy mills. Puppy Mill dogs are often stacked in wire cages, several to a cage, with no access to exercise and often in filthy conditions. National Puppy Mill Action Week is dedicated to ending this practice and insuring that all dogs born and bred receive the care and protection they deserve.

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