All - Leep Calendar

International Palestinian Land Day protests the seizure and annexation of Palestinian land to create the state of Israel in 1947, 1948, 1967, and 1981 up through today. This awareness event began in 1976. Palestinian Land Day calls for Palestinian refugees' return to the land taken from them by force. Every year on this day, a "Global March to Jerusalem" is organized, where non-violent activists arrive in Israel's neighboring Arab countries and march peacefully to Jerusalem. THE GREAT MARCH OF RETURN In 2018, Palestinian Land Day kicked off a six-week campaign of unarmed protests called The Great March of Return on the Gaza border to protest the then 11-year siege, 50 years of occupation, and the inability to return to their lands, confiscated by the state of Israel in 1947, 1948, 1967 and 1981. For the next six weeks, Israeli snipers using high-powered, long-range rifles would kill over 120 civilians, including children, medics, and journalists, while wounding another 13,000 from a position of safety on the Israeli side of the barrier. Medical and first responders were amazed at how many of these "unintended" executions were head or heart shots— nearly all—leading one to believe the IDF is, without a doubt, the most unlucky army in the world. That goes against their mantra of being the best trained, most accurate, and above all, "the most moral army in the world." Yeah, right. One Israeli soldier received a minor injury during this time. It was an unarmed protest. The Israeli government praised its snipers' bravery and moral righteousness in killing Palestinians in their version of shooting fish in a barrel. When the world cried "BS!" Israel blamed Hamas for the deaths. The blame was a red herring, and multiple NGOs proved Hamas was not involved in the planning, nor was it involved in carrying out the protest. Rather, the march was a grassroots action organized by students and unemployed youth, which due to the siege of Gaza by Israel, numbers well over half a million people. Gaza's population remains trapped in an area the size of Manhattan, New York, and numbers over two million souls, 70 percent of whom are under thirty. The Great March of Return protest continued for over a year until COVID-19 forced its end. The most moral army in the world continued its killing spree and blame game until it, too, was benched by COVID. The occupation and siege of Gaza continue today.

Africa

Mar

Pakistan Day, (PK)(1940/1956): March 23

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Pakistan Day (formerly Republic Day) in Pakistan marks two anniversaries: March 23, 1940, when the All-India-Muslim League ratified the resolution to carve out an Islamic country from India. The second is March 23, 1956, when Pakistan declared its republic. Pakistan Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Mar

Pack Your Lunch Day: March 10

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Pack Your Lunch Day is an opportunity to eat something nutritious and save money. There are many easy ways to bring lunch to work. Pack dinner leftovers right after eating, thus saving time or excuses in the morning. Bring something delicious cold, saving the worry of figuring out how to reheat it. Use rice wraps to make low-calorie burritos. However, you choose to celebrate, enjoy your lunch!

Africa

Mar

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (UK): March

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Ovarian Cancer Action of the United Kingdom hosts Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month each March. The goal is to reach women in the UK with the tools and knowledge each needs to know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. Currently, only 20 percent of women in the UK can name the symptoms of ovarian cancer. These are: Persistent stomach pain Persistent bloating Difficulty eating/feeling full more quickly Needing to urinate more frequently The campaign also seeks to promote early diagnosis of cancer. If caught in the early stages of ovarian cancer, a woman has a 90 percent chance of surviving for more than five years, but this reduces to 22 percent when diagnosed in the later stages. The month also encourages women to explore their family history of ovarian cancer and discover if they’re at risk. Women who inherit a faulty gene known as the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a 35-60 percent of developing ovarian cancer.

Africa

Mar

Ostara (Alban Eilir): March 20

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OSTARA Spring is Here At the spring equinox, Pagans, Wiccans, and Druids celebrate Ostara, also known in Druid traditions as Alban Eilir. The holiday marks the balance and renewal, marking the moment when day and night share equal length before the sun’s growing power tips the scales toward warmer days. Ostara is considered a pivotal point in the “Wheel of the Year,” a cyclical calendar of eight festivals observed by many contemporary Pagan groups around the globe. Detailed accounts of historical Ostara rituals remain vague. Celebrants draw inspiration from folklore about the Germanic spring goddess Eostre, who they believe is linked to the season’s themes of fertility and rebirth. Today, customs vary but often feature sunrise ceremonies, decorating eggs as symbols of new life, spring cleaning for invigoration, and feasting seasonal foods. Druid practitioners may refer to the celebration as Alban Eilir—“Light of the Earth”—emphasizing nature’s reawakening as plumage returns and animals emerge from winter’s hibernation. For adherents, Ostara offers a chance to honor the changing rhythms of the earth, a time of personal growth, and flourishing landscapes promising warmer seasons ahead.

Africa

Mar

Oral Health Day, World: March 20

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Celebrated annually on March 20, World Oral Health Day was initiated with the FDI World Dental Federation to raise global awareness of the prevention and control of oral diseases. Resources available to the media include a press release featuring critical findings from a worldwide survey in ten countries revealing how parents worldwide cared for their children’s oral health growing up.

Africa

Mar

Organize Your Home Office Day: March 10

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Organize Your Home Office Day by Lisa Kanarek is the second Tuesday of March and is set aside as the day to organize your home office. Get rid of old files. Run a deep virus scan on your computer. Clean off your desk, and get that to-do list done!

Africa

Mar

Optimism Month, Ntl.: March

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National Optimism Month occurs in March each year. Its purpose is to encourage people to look at their life and see the glass half-full. Optimists tend to have greater prosperity and happiness than people who look at the negative side of life. Optimism in the face of adversity often serves as the best medicine. This observance month originated with a husband and wife relationship expert team and authors, Dr. Michael and Mary Ann Mercer.

Africa

Mar

Omizutori Water Drawing Festival (JP): March 1-14

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This Buddhist Festival in Japan occurs each year between March 1 and 14, culminating with water drawing at the Todaiji Temple. Each night, believers carry giant torches to the balcony of Nigatsudo and shower onlookers in embers. This shower is believed to ensure all those below experience a safe year. In addition to the torches, on the 12th and 13th, priests draw water from a well that flows once a year and distribute this water. The waters are believed to restore health to the sick and afflicted. The spectacle is accompanied by horns and bells and goes into the early hours of the morning. Omizutori Water Drawing Festival is one of Japan's most popular Buddhist festivals.

Africa

Mar

Old Year's Day: March 25

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In 1751, England and the American colonies moved to the Gregorian calendar. Up until that time, the new year began on March 25 each year. As of 1752, January 1 became New Year's Day.

Africa

Mar

Old Stuff Day: March 2

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Old Stuff Day is an ode to bloggers and a chance to dust off old content and bring it back into the light. It was created by blogger and gamer Warhammer 39,999 (Rob) in 2011. “I started this holiday in the thought that I could bring out some of my older stuff and maybe breathe a little life into it.” —Warhammer 39,999

Africa

Mar

OK Day (1839): March 23

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"Okay," often abbreviated as "OK," is one of the most universally recognized and used words globally. Its journey from obscure to global acceptance touches upon linguistic evolution, cultural integration, and the nuances of non-verbal communication across different societies. The etymology of "okay" first appeared on March 23, 1839, in the Boston Morning Herald as an editing abbreviation of "oll korrect," a deliberate misspelling of "all correct." This usage was part of a broader fad for playful abbreviations and misspellings. The term gained popularity and became cemented in American English during the 1840 presidential campaign of Martin Van Buren. His nickname, "Old Kinderhook," after his hometown in New York, was shortened by his supporters to "OK Club," which helped to popularize the term. From its American origins, "okay" began spreading across the globe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, facilitated by the expansion of American influence and the rise of English as a global lingua franca. Its simplicity, versatility, and ease of pronunciation made it an attractive addition to other languages, often retaining its positive affirmation meaning. Today, "okay" is understood and used in nearly every prominent language, serving as a testament to its remarkable adaptability and universal appeal. However, the word's journey has not been without controversy, particularly regarding the associated "OK" hand gesture, where the thumb and forefinger form a circle while the other fingers remain extended. This gesture, widely recognized as a symbol for "okay" or "all is well," has different meanings and interpretations worldwide. In some cultures, it is a positive sign of agreement or satisfaction. In others, like Brazil, it means "asshole" and can have offensive connotations or be considered a vulgar gesture. Furthermore, with the rise of MAGA and Christian nationalism in North America, the "OK" hand sign has been co-opted by white supremacists as a symbol of hate, leading to a reevaluation of its use and meaning. The three fingers lifted or pointed down symbolize KKK in their circles, the abbreviation of the hate group Ku Klux Klan. Because of this, the use of the gesture is diminishing. Today, learn more about the history behind the word OK or call a loved one, a friend, or a family member you haven't heard from in a while and ask them if they are OK. "Okay" and its associated gestures underscore the dynamic nature of language and communication. They reflect how words and symbols can transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries and the complexities inherent in their interpretation.

Africa

Mar

Oil, National Day of (IR)(1951): March 20

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On March 15, 1951, the government of Iran nationalized the country's oil fields, making it the nation's property. The British were given one week to leave. National Day of Oil is a national holiday in Iran and can occur on the 19th or 20th, depending on the year.

Africa

Mar

Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day: March 11

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Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day occurs in March and celebrates this popular treat dating back to the Middle Ages. Originally this recipe consisted of only flour and water. Today, people substitute oat flour and whole oats for flour and add ingredients like butter, eggs, honey, or milk. Oatmeal was food for horses and the plant itself, a weed, and it was the Scottish first cooked it and ate it as porridge. The slightly sweet taste of oatmeal quickly catapult it into a favorite. Russia, Canada, the United States, Finland, and Poland are the world’s top producers of oats. To this day, livestock consumes the majority of oats. However, the versatility of oats and their health benefits, including being high in fiber, low fat, and vitamins, have made them a breakfast favorite and an excellent alternative to wheat.

Africa

Mar

Oatmeal Cookie Day, Lacy, Ntl: March 18

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Happy Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day. There are two standards for oatmeal cookies: the thick round cookies and the thin Florentine wafers known as Lacy Oatmeal Cookies. These crispy wafers are often seen in ice cream parlors decorating a sundae. However, they're good if you need to nip a craving. Oatmeal entered the American diet in the early nineteenth century. Cookies or "oat cakes" quickly followed.

Africa