Confederate Memorial Day is celebrated in most of the former states of The Confederacy on different days of the year. In some cases like Georgia, it is no longer referred to as Confederate Memorial Day, rather as 'state holiday'. It is an official state holiday in most and honors the men who died fighting for The Confederacy during the American Civil War, 1861-1865. Dates are as follows: Alabama, Georgia: 4th Monday in April Mississippi: Last Monday in April Florida: April 26; Tennessee, Kentucky & Louisiana: June 3, Jefferson Davis's birthday 1808 North & South Carolina: May 10, Anniversary of the death of General "Stonewall" Jackson in 1863 Texas: January 19, Birthday of Robert E. Lee 1807; Due to the 400 year legacy of slavery (ending in 1865) and state supported racial segregation (ending in 1964), this event is highly contentious and seen as a celebration of racism by many critics. Detractors insist this plays into existing racism and celebrates white supremacy and slavery. Proponents for the observance month insist that the Confederacy played a part in shaping who we are and the ramifications as well as contributions continue today. To deny a portion of our past, good and bad, is selective censorship. This month can also be used to explore the unspoken but oft felt prejudices and perceived reality that political correctness squelches. Whether you side with the detractors or the proponents, the best way to acknowledge this month is to spend some time reading the actual Constitution of the United States and learning history. History, not social studies. A great place to start is with Howard Zinn’s Peoples’ History of the United States, which some states, including Arizona, have tried to ban from their schools. Why? Because it is a history of the American people, not the leaders and looks at the nation from the perspective of the 99%, the immigrants, migrant workers, women, religious minorities, slaves, the common man."

Africa

Jan

Cordova Iceworm Festival (US-AK): January 25 - February 1

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Throughout the glaciers and ice in northern climates, worms thrive. They're an essential part of the ecosystem and actually enjoy being frozen. Each year over the first weekend of February the city of Cordova Alaska hosts the Cordova Iceworm Festival to welcome the little worms first emergence prior to the spring thaw. The tradition started with a single day event in 1961 and festivities today cover an entire week.

Africa

Jan

Corn Chip Day, Ntl.: January 29

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National Corn Chip Day is a day to acknowledge and honor fried or baked cornmeal, divided into bite-sized pieces, usually sold in bags and eaten either alone or with a dip. Since 1932, people have been indulging in corn chips. It started when C.E. "Elmer" Doolin bought a bag of fried corn chips and realized he'd discovered gold. Doolin sold his mother's wedding ring and purchased the recipe. He immediately began manufacturing them under the name 'Frito'. Ever since that day, we've been enjoying corn chips.

Africa

Jan

Craft Year 2020 (CA): 2020

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Craft Year is a special project led by the CCF/FCMA in partnership with all of the Provincial and Territorial Crafts Councils and our Affiliate Members across the nation. A year-long festival of contemporary fine craft, Craft Year promotes events from all over the country. It is a platform to highlight Canadian craft activity at the local, regional, national and international levels.

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Jan

Cream Puff Day, (Profiterole) Ntl.: January 2

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National Cream Puff Day celebrates cream puffs! The cream puff, or the ‘Profiterole’ in French, is a pastry ball filled a sweet filling such as whipped cream, custard, pastry cream or ice cream. The word first appeared in 1604. In 1851, Cream Puff first appeared on an American menu.

Africa

Jan

Creativation, Phoenix (US-AZ): January 16-20

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Creativation is the largest and longest running creative industries event featuring hands-on education, innovative product launches, trendspotting, influencer appearances, order writing and networking opportunities for thousands of creative businesses from around the world.

Africa

Jan

Creativity Month, Intl.: January

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For one month each year the world celebrates International Creativity Month, a month to remind individuals and organizations around the globe to capitalize on the power of creativity. Unleashing creativity is vital for the personal and business success in this age of accelerating change. January, the first month of the year, provides an opportunity to take a fresh approach to problem-solving and renew confidence in our creative capabilities. International Creativity Month was founded by Randall Munson and is celebrated around the world annually in the month of January. Take advantage of International Creativity Month to refocus your attention to creatively improve your business and personal activities.

Africa

Jan

Crime Stoppers Month (CA): January

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Canadian Crime Stoppers Month honors Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers is a civilian, non-profit, charitable organization that forges alliances between community activists, the police department and media in an effort to reduce crime and keep neighborhoods safe. This month is about raising awareness of Crime Stoppers, recruiting citizen volunteers and educating the community about best practices in safety and security. It is supported by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Africa

Jan

Croissant Day, Ntl.: January 30

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National Croissant Day celebrates the airy pastry called the croissant. Croissants' first appear in 1683 in Austria, so the legend goes. At that time, the Ottoman Empire besieged Vienna, Austria. The Austrians won the siege and are said to have celebrated their victory over the Islamic empire with crescent shaped pastries in honor of their victory. Why a crescent? It’s the symbol of Islam…or is it? Here’s the problem with that legend. The crescent and star were not associated with Islam until the late 1700s when the Ottoman Empire emblazoned their flag with the symbol. Prior to that, there was no universal symbol for Islam like the cross or fish in Christianity. The Star of David, likewise, is not an ancient symbol for Judaism. It was adopted by the Zionist movement at the turn of the last century and represents a political movement, not a faith. The star and crescent symbol can be found on artifacts dating back to the Bronze age. It is on Roman coins, within the symbols of the Knights Templar and various Christian iconography. So if the legend about 17th century bakers in Austria is incorrect, where did croissants come from? Croissants are the children of a 13th century bread called the Kipferi, which is a crusted yeast bread baked in a 3/4 circle. The baking style required to make a croissant incorporates layers of yeast bread with butter folded on top of each other, then twisted. This technique first appeared on the scene in the late 1830s in France at Austrian baker August Zang’s Pastry shop in Paris, the Boulangerie Viennoise. The Austrian took his light layered creation and folded its ends toward each other forming the now iconic crescent shape of this delicious bread. By 1869, the croissant made its way to breakfast tables throughout France and had become a staple. The puff pastry received one more boost in popularity when Charles Dickens included a mention of it within his periodical All the Year Round in 1872. Now you know the brief history of one of the world’s favorite breads, the croissant and the origins of religious trademarks. With today being Croissant Day, why not indulge in one yourself!

Africa

Jan

Cuckoo Dancing Week: January 11-17

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Cuckoo Dance Week is a tribute to the comedy team of Laurel and Hardy. Their theme song was called 'The Dance of the Cuckoos'. It's a week to rediscover the joy of the comic team. It is celebrated in the seven days leading up to Oliver Hardy's birthday, January 18, 1892. Created by William T. Rabe, who has since passed away.

Africa

Jan

Cucumber (Gherkin), Intl. Year of: 2020

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2020 is the Year of the Cucumber

Cucumbers, (or gherkins in Britain) are a favored vegetable the world over. You'll find them in the salads of the Middle East, in dainty sandwiches and of course pickled.

There are 11 major varieties of cucumber-one even looks like a lemon but isn't. Use this year to discover new flavors and new ways to use this vegetable in your diet.

Major varieties of cucumber include:

Armenian
Diva
English
Telegraph
Green
Muncher
Burpless
Homemade Pickle Cucumbers
Lemon Cucumbers
Marketmore
86 Parisian
Gherkin Persian
Suyo Long

Image courtesy of Fleuroselect Home Garden Association

Africa

Jan

Cuddle Up Day: January 6

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National Cuddle Up Day is your day to put the non-cuddling types in your life on notice, and get them to step up their game. Or, you could just cuddle up with a blanket on the porch, before a fire, or wherever else your cuddle IQ takes you. Cuddling is an act of such complete closeness and intimacy, that even sex seems non-romantic and non-intimate compared to it. Cuddling is something that's customary for most mammals and birds. At a primal, deep level it provides us with comfort and joy. Cuddling displays and build trust and affection. The act of cuddling releases feel good hormones including Oxytocin and others in the brain. Cuddling makes us happier and relieves stress.

Africa

Jan

Curmudgeon's Day (1880): January 29

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Curmudgeon's Day celebrates the anniversary of the birth of satirist, actor and writer William Claude Dukenfield, better known as WC Fields, who was born on this day in 1880. He was famous for his portrayal of pessimistic, aggressive and suspicious-natured men, better known as curmudgeons.

Africa

Jan

Curried Chicken Day, Ntl: January 12

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The Tamil word 'kari' is the origin of the word 'curry' in English. This southeast Asia/Indian spice includes a blend of spices, usually cumin, turmeric, coriander and often peppers in a base of coconut milk or stock. It's mixed with meat, in this case chicken and served over rice or with naan bread. There are many different combinations of curry. Curried Chicken Day is your opportunity to discover them. This is an unofficial event with no sponsor.

Africa

Jan

Customer, Get to Know Your Customer Day Q1: January 16

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A day set aside each quarter of the year to work on your customer journey, marketing, sales funnel and customer service policies and find additional ways to increase customer loyalty through appreciation. The Loyalty Formula: Loyalty = Great Service + Confidence "Customer Loyalty is about the next time – every time. Every day. All of the time. All year long!" -Shep Hyken

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