All - Leep Calendar

International Zebra Day celebrates Zebras. Zebras are the striped equids of Africa and are one of the most beloved animals on the planet. There are 3 primary categories: mountain, plains and maneless and a total of 11 subspecies. Every Zebra's stripe pattern is unique to it. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-many-types-of-zebras-are-there.html Image (C) Laura D Lewis; Nairobi National Park, 2015

Africa

Jan

Zehnder's Snowfest (US-MI): January 22-27

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Snow sculptures, ice carvings, fireworks, petting zoo and children's activities the Zehnder's Snowfest hosts a World Class Double and Single Block Snow Sculpting Championships, State of Michigan Snow Sculpting Competition, High School Snow Sculpting Competition, 100-Block Ice Carving Exhibition, U.S. National Collegiate Ice Carving Competition and far more for the art and snow enthusiast.

Africa

Jan

Years of COVID-19: 2020-2021

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No one over the age of five years old in 2020, anywhere in the world, will forget 2020, the year of COVID-19. This global pandemic, believed to have originated in China, spread quickly throughout the world. Some countries, like China, New Zealand and Germany, acted quickly and minimized the effects of the first round (which we are still in on July 3, 2020 as we write this). Other countries, particularly those trending toward anti-science or headed by an authoritarian executive branch, including the United States, Brazil and India, became epicenters with exponential growth. From less than ten cases in late December, 2019 to over 11 million cases and over 500,000 deaths worldwide by July 3, 2020, the Coronavirus has disrupted lives and economies, exposed racial tensions, healthcare inadequacies and political divides. It has shown the world who the true leaders are, and who they are not. Its end is as yet unknown. What is known? The world will not look or feel the same going forward. COVID-19 is a watershed moment in history. What will come next, we will have to wait and see. COVID-19 is shorthand for Novel Coronavirus first detected in 2019. Other versions of Coronavirus previously detected include MERS and SARS. Coronavirus and COVID-19 are the only two internationally recognized names for this disease. Update December 29, 2020 The United States continues to be the epicenter of the virus with 20 million infected in the US alone by year's end and more than 340,000 dead. Year end totals show over 82 million infected globally with 1.8 million deaths. The good news is at least 2 vaccines have been approved for emergency use, and are being administered to frontline workers and those most at risk. Several others are due to be approved in the coming weeks. Scientists and health workers believe it will require the balance of 2021 to vaccinate enough people, meaning 2021 will also be the year of COVID-19. Header Images: Waiting to enter Costco during COVID-19, Laura Lewis Young man in mask, Kebs Visuals Vaccine, Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels Nurse, EVG Culture from Pexels Don't Panic, Markus Spiske from Pexels Zoom Meeting, Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels Crying broken heart, Burak Kostak from Pexels

Africa

Jan

Sugar Awareness Week (UK): January 20-26

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Many experts believe sugar should be classified as a drug. It affects your mind, and your body. The challenge during Sugar Awareness Week is to abstain from sugar for five days and take note of how your body reacts. Annually in the fall for the United Kingdom, and January for the United States.

Africa

Jan

Liberation Day, (CU)(1899/1959): January 1

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Liberation Day in Cuba marks the anniversary of January 1, 1959, the day the government of Batista was overthrown by rebels headed by Fidel Castro. It also marks the January 1, 1899 anniversary of the end of Spanish rule over the island. This is a national holiday.

Africa

Jan

Independence Day, (HT)(1804): January 1

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Independence Day in Haiti marks the anniversary of January 1, 1804, the day the people declared their independence from France. This is a national holiday.

Africa

Jan

New Years Celebration (RU): January 1-2

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Es Novim Godom! Russians bring in the new year in style with a two day national holiday. Hey, it's a big country! One day is not enough. Traditions include family gatherings, dancing, special foods to mark the new year and the erection of the annual New Year's Tree in homes and public buildings throughout the nation. This tradition grew out of the communist ban on Christmas trees, and was first held in 1935.

Africa

Jan

Independence Day, (SU)(1956): January 1

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Independence Day in Sudan marks the anniversary of January 1, 1956, the day the nation was proclaimed independent of the Anglo-Egyptian condominium created in 1899. This is a national holiday.

Africa

Jan

Foundation Days, (TW)(1912): January 1-2

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Foundation Days in Taiwan marks the anniversary of January 1, 1912, the day the Republic of China was created. This is a public holiday.

Africa

Jan

Kakizome (JP): January 2

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The Japanese have a tradition every new year, one that greats the change of calendar with Kakizome, or the first writing of the year in Japanese Calligraphy. These can be poetry, words of wisdom, hopes or dreams. The tradition of writing on the second day of the new year symbolizes a return to work.

Africa

Jan

Independence Day, (MM)(1948): January 4

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Independence Day in Myanmar marks the anniversary of January 4, 1948, the day then Burma was granted independence from Britain. This is a national holiday.

Africa

Jan

Christmas (AM)(C): January 6

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Christmastide, or the 12 days of Christmas, lasts from Christmas through Epiphany, January 6. The Armenian Christian Church celebrates Christmas on the last day of Christmastide, instead of the first.

Africa

Jan

Rotating Earth Day (1851): January 8

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Physicist Jean Foucault had a theory, actually a lot of them he would go on to prove. But, on January 8, 1851, he put one of those theories to test. He believed the earth, being spherical, rotated on an axis. It is this axis that caused day and night, and contributed to the seasons. Using a device he designed called the Foucault pendulum, he was able to prove the earth did rotate on an axis from his home in Paris, France. Rotating Earth Day marks that anniversary.

Africa

Jan

Revolution Day, (TZ)(1963/1964): January 12

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Revolution Day in Tanzania marks the anniversary of January 12, 1963, the day then Zanzibar became independent under a Sultan. It didn't last long. On January 12, 1964, the sultan was overthrown and the areas of Zanzibar and Tanganyika combined to create the new nation. This is a national holiday.

Africa