All - Leep Calendar

The National Day of Prayer is held annually. The current National Day of Prayer was created in 1952; however, throughout American history there have been many official National Days of Prayer. It is non-denominational and not specific to any religion. Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Jews and people from all faiths participate. In recent years atheist groups have created an alternative to this day, known as the National Day of Reason. The constitutionality of the day is regularly challenged on 1st Amendment grounds. Prayer has played an important role in the American story and in shaping our Nation's leaders. President Abraham Lincoln once said, "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day." The late Coretta Scott King recounted a particularly difficult night, during the Montgomery bus boycott, when her husband, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., received a threatening phone call and prayed at the kitchen table, saying, "Lord, I have nothing left. I have nothing left. I have come to the point where I can't face it alone." Dr. King said, in that moment of prayer, he was filled with a sense of comfort and resolve, which his wife credited as a turning point in the civil rights movement.

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May

Beverage Day, Ntl.: May 6

06:20 AM | -

National Beverage Day occurs each year in May. It is likely this event first ran in the early twentieth century (1921) as part of a promotion by a bottling plant Re-Ly-On Bottler during Prohibition to assure the public of the safety of bottled drinks. At the time, food born diseases were common in unpasteurized beverages. Alcohol would kill many bacteria, but was now illegal. The creation of then Bottled Carbonated Beverage Day, (later shortened to Beverage Day) espousing the virtues of carbonation in eliminating bacteria, was the focus of the campaign. In 1925 the association representing commercial bottlers chose the first Wednesday of May for their annual campaign. Today National Beverage Day is a day about celebrating what we drink from water and soda to milk, juice and even beer. Several restaurants around the United States and Canada do mark this day by offering free drinks with meal purchases. On National Beverage Day, it doesn’t hurt to ask wherever you dine today if they’re offering any free beverages. NOTE: The traditional date for this event is the 1st Wednesday of May each year. Sometime in the last 30 years, people began marking it on May 6th. There is no historical context, patent or organization sponsoring the event to tie it May 6th.

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May

Foreign Service Workers Day: May 6

06:20 AM | -

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), co-founders of the Senate Foreign Service Caucus, are introducing a resolution designating May 1, 2020 as “United States Foreign Service Day” in recognition of the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Service of the United States and honoring the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty. Foreign Service Day has been celebrated on the first Friday in May for generations; 2020 marks 96 years since the establishment of the Foreign Service in 1924. The Foreign Service, comprising 16,000 U.S. personnel, plus 75,000 locally-engaged personnel who serve at embassies and consulates overseas, are members of the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agriculture, the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Agency for Global Media. “Across the globe, American Foreign Service Officers work tirelessly to protect and promote our country’s best interests. As we’ve faced new challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, you’ve worked overtime to help Americans abroad and to bring many home. Your efforts are vital to our nation, and I’m proud to recognize your hard work and immense contributions in celebration of the 96th Foreign Service Day,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I’d like to salute the members of the Foreign Service on the occasion of the 96th anniversary of the founding of this crucial diplomatic corps,” said Senator Sullivan. “Your day-in and day-out work—engaging governments, businesses and individuals around the world—strengthens our national security, assists our citizens, and promotes U.S. interests abroad. Additionally, at an unprecedented time for our country, your relentless efforts in assisting thousands of our citizens, including Alaskans, to return home is one more example of the invaluable contributions of our Foreign Service.”

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May

International No Diet Day: May 6

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Sponsored by ISAA, the International Size Acceptance Association, International No Diet Day promotes size acceptance and seeks to end weight-based discrimination throughout the world by means of advocacy and visible, lawful actions. International No Diet Day was created by British citizen Mary Evans Young in 1992. Young was the director of Diet Breakers in the UK and saw a need for women especially, not to be ashamed of their bodies. It quickly became an International sensation with annual observances in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Israel, Denmark and Brazil. The symbol of this event is a light blue ribbon. Today restaurants around the world observe this day by focusing on health, good tasting food that satisfies and doesn’t mean diet. It’s about enjoying food and your body, no matter the size or shape. The National Organization for Women also sponsors International Love Your Body Day in October.

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May

Iris Festival (BE): May 6-8

06:20 AM | -

The Brussels Capital Region celebrates Iris Day (May 8) each year at the beginning of May with a festival. The Iris Festival occurs over a weekend and includes free concerts and activities. The iris is associated with faith, wisdom, friendship, hope, valor, compliments, promises of love, and wisdom. This is the perfect flower to give someone you are newly dating, a college graduate, someone returning from military duty and special friends.

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May

Joseph Brackett Day (1797): May 6

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Joseph Brackett was a leader in the Shaker religious community. An author and song writer, he is best known for his song 'Simple Gifts'. Today is the anniversary of his birth May 6, 1797.

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May

Management Accounting Day, Intl.: May 6

06:20 AM | -

My degree is in business and marketing. However, I disliked accounting so much, I spent years trying to figure out how to get a business degree without taking it. Calling a debt a credit and a credit a debit, that made no sense to me. Calculus I understood. Accounting, that was a foreign language. Needless to say, I finally did have to buckle down and take three semesters of accounting and one of finance to achieve my ultimately desired degree, Bachelor of Science in Business and Marketing. And I actually did fair in the courses, getting As and Bs. But, to this day I thank God for people that love accounting, the checks and balances, the neat little columns that need to add up. I thank God for them, so I don’t have to do it. We should all do what we enjoy, no? Today is about showing our appreciation for the men and women who tackle the balance sheets, produce our financial statements and help us make sure we stay black rather than red. Today we honor the Management Accounting Professionals throughout the world. Thank you! Business wouldn’t survive without you! This event first ran in 2012.

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May

Military Spouses Day: May 6

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Military Spouse Appreciation Day occurs on the Friday prior to Mother’s Day in the United States. Military Spouses are an invaluable asset to the efforts to secure and safeguard the United States. They support their soldiers, seamen and marines though missions, deployments, reintegration and resets. It’s one of the hardest jobs in the world, given spouses can often be away for months or years at a time, and due to security reasons, their whereabouts are unknown. A spouse never knows if the last time they see their spouse, that will truly be the last time. Local events in military communities include cooking, fashion shows, workshops, sporting events and family entertainment. See your branch’s local MWR for an itinerary. This event was first acknowledged by President Reagan in 1984.

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May

No Homework Day: May 6

06:20 AM | -

No Homework Day is a national event created by wacky holiday inventors Wellcat. It’s kind of the kick off to summer, right before finals, when students can say to their teachers and professors one day each year. “Not tonight, It’s National No Homework Day.” Of course this means you might get double the homework on the next school day! Enjoy!

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May

Nurses Week, Ntl.: May 6-12

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National Nurses Week is a week long program ending on May 12th, Florence Nightingale's birthday, each year. The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. Each of ANA's state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community. The ANA supports and encourages National Nurses Week recognition programs through the state and district nurses associations, other specialty nursing organizations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions.

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May

Public Gardens Week, Ntl.: May 6-15

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In 2019 National Public Gardens Day became a week long celebration. According to the American Public Gardens Association, the definition of a public garden is: “A public garden is an institution that maintains collections of plants for the purposes of public education and enjoyment, in addition to research, conservation, and higher learning. It must be open to the public and the garden's resources and accommodations must be made to all visitors. Public gardens are staffed by professionals trained in their given areas of expertise and maintain active plant records systems.” Public gardens enhance life, especially in urban environments. This day is about raising awareness on the benefits of public gardens and encouraging people to take assist in the preservation of these public treasures.

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May

Registered Nurses Recognition Day, Ntl.: May 6

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National Registered Nurses Recognition Day marks the first day of National Nurses Week. The event was established in 1996 by the American Nurses Association to highlight the tireless commitment 365 days a year RNs devote to their patients and jobs. Each day of National Nurses Week highlights a different specialization within the career path.

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May

School Lunch Hero Day, Ntl: May 6

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Between preparing healthy food, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile, school nutrition professionals have a lot on their plate. To celebrate their hard work and commitment, schools throughout the United States celebrate School Lunch Hero Day in May. First run in 2013, this event was designated by The School Nutrition Association and Jarrett Krosoczka, author of the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series. School Lunch Hero Day provides an opportunity for parents, students, school staff and communities to thank those who provide healthy meals to 30 million of America’s students each school day. All across the school district, school nutrition professionals will be honored with thanks, cards, and recognition from students, school staff, parents, and the community.

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May

Space Day: May 6

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Space Day is dedicated to the achievements of Earth's space exploration programs. It also seeks to raise awareness on benefits and opportunities that come the space program and promote the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to young people and inspire them to dream big and pursue a STEM career. This event began as a grassroots initiative in 1997.

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May

Starlight Day (AU): May 6

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Starlight Day in Australia is a national fundraising initiative of the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Starlight provides services to seriously ill children that help them enjoy life and forget about their illnesses, if even for only a couple of hours. To participate, sign up on the organization’s website.

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