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February is "Vegan Cuisine Month," focusing on the eating part of veganism. There are already multiple vegan-inspired events throughout the calendar, including November, Vegan Days, Love a Vegan Day, Vegan Leather Day (synthetic pleather), and others. The American Vegan Society decided that more was needed and added another month to promote their unique lifestyle. Unlike vegetarianism or pescetarianism, veganism is a lifestyle that reaches into all areas of your life, including what you wear, how you bathe, what you eat, and even your entertainment choices. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "GO VEGAN?" Vegan is an ultra-austere form of vegetarianism, requiring drastic lifestyle changes and staunch adherence. The idea began in 1944 with British woodworker Donald Watson (1911-2005), who coined the term "vegan," defined its parameters, and founded the Vegan Society. Unlike vegetarianism, with its roots in ancient religions, veganism is agnostic and tied to the fringes of the animal rights movement. Avowed vegans refrain from eating, using, working with, wearing, or enjoying human activities with animals. There is significant heavy lifting and abstinence if one wants to be vegan rather than vegetarian. Fortunately, veganism was created after internal combustion, so using transportation is allowed. GENERAL VEGAN GUIDELINES 1) No eating meat, poultry, game, dairy, fish, eggs, honey, gelatin, or aioli (mayonnaise). 2) No clothing, products, or home furnishings made from animals, including leather, fur, wool, ivory, bone, shells, or silk. 3) No products tested on animals; no services using animals, including transportation. 4) No attending, participating, or watching entertainment that uses animals, including film, television, circuses, aquariums, zoos, races, sports, rodeos, hunting, and wild animal parks. 5) No animal husbandry. 6) Most vegans, but not all, are antivaccine and anti-medication due to the necessity of testing new drugs and vaccines on animals first. 7) Extreme vegans reject having pets, though the pet issue is unsettled and debated in the community. WHAT IS A VEGETARIAN? In contrast, most vegetarians eat animal products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs. The key is that vegetarians don't eat dead animals. Honey is a staple, often replacing sugar in recipes. Vegetarians will wear silk, wool, and leather, visit zoos, enjoy films with animals, and support humane farming and ranching. Vegetarians, as a group, do not have issues with medication, and many happily have pets. Pescatarians are a hybrid between omnivores (most global humans who eat plant and animal-based diets) and vegetarians. Pescatarians eat fish but do not eat beef, lamb, pork, game, or poultry. Vegan Cuisine Month is another month in the calendar to try vegan foods and sample the lifestyle. It is fitting, perhaps, as The American Vegan Society was founded in 1960 by Freya Dinshah, the author of "The Vegan Kitchen," the first vegan cookbook in the United States.

Africa

Feb

Vegan Lipstick Day, Ntl.: February 28

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Lipstick brand CakeLipps created Vegan Lipstick Day on the birthday of the founder's grandmother. It promotes lipsticks made without animal-derived ingredients or by-products, highlighting the shift towards more ethical and sustainable practices in the cosmetics industry. The concept of a product being "vegan" implies that it contains no animal-derived ingredients. Traditional lipsticks often contain ingredients like beeswax, lanolin (from wool), and carmine (a red pigment from cochineal insects), which are not vegan. Vegan lipsticks, on the other hand, utilize alternative ingredients derived from plants or synthetic sources. These may include natural oils, waxes from plants like candelilla or carnauba, and synthetic dyes. Vegan Lipstick Day aims to raise awareness about these alternatives and encourage consumers to consider vegan options. The day is not only about abstaining from animal-based ingredients but also often intersects with cruelty-free practices, meaning the products and their ingredients are not tested on animals. The celebration of Vegan Lipstick Day involves various activities and initiatives by cosmetic brands, beauty influencers, and consumers. Cosmetic brands may launch new vegan products, offer special promotions, or host events to educate consumers about vegan options. Beauty influencers often take to social media to showcase vegan lipsticks, share information about different brands, and discuss the benefits of choosing vegan products. The significance of Vegan Lipstick Day extends beyond the realm of cosmetics. It reflects a growing consumer consciousness about their choices' ethical and environmental impact. As demand for vegan and cruelty-free products increases, more cosmetic brands adapt their formulations and practices, leading to greater innovation and variety in the market. Vegan Lipstick Day is a celebration of ethical beauty choices. It serves as a reminder that fashion and ethics can coexist and that small changes in consumer habits can contribute to broader animal welfare and sustainability efforts.

Africa

Feb

Vet Girls Rise, Ntl.: February 19

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Created in 2019 to honor female veterans of the US military, Vet Girls Rise highlights the accomplishments and contributions of women to military service.

Africa

Feb

Pistachio Day, World: February 26

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World Pistachio Day celebrates one of the world’s oldest nuts, the pistachio. Pistachios originated in the Middle East and are mentioned in the Old Testament (Genesis 43:11). In Persia (Iran), pistachio trade and ownership of pistachio groves meant riches and high status. Legend has it that pistachios were a favorite of the Queen of Sheba, who demanded all her land’s production for herself and her court. Through the conquests of Alexander the Great (334-323 BC), the nut reached Greece. Later, under the rule of the Roman Emperor Tiberius (First century AD), the nut was introduced into Italy and Spain. During the 1880s, imported pistachios were prevalent in the US, especially with Middle Eastern immigrants. The pistachio received further distribution through vending machines installed in underground train stations, bars, restaurants, and other familiar locations. “A dozen for a nickel” soon developed into a familiar slogan. The first commercial crop of pistachios produced in the United States was harvested in 1976. California comprises 98.5% of the total US production, representing more than $1.16 billion to the California economy and more than $15 million to the states of Arizona and New Mexico.

Africa

Feb

Pizza Day, Ntl.: February 9

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Fourteen percent of all restaurants in the US are either Italian or serve pizza. It is one of the world's most common and beloved foods, which began as a street food, sold from a cart in Naples, Italy, circa 1738. According to the US Census Bureau, for the fiscal year ending in September 2019, pizza restaurant sales totaled $46,337,969,390 for the year. That is a lot of pizza! Pizza Dat is an unofficial event with no sponsor.

Africa

Feb

Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month: February

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Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month inspires children and adults to become the best that they can be. This event is exceptionally well suited for K-12 and a great team-building exercise in the office.

Africa

Feb

Plimsoll Day (1824): February 10

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Plimsoll Day marks the birth of Samuel Plimsoll in 1824. Plimsoll was a member of the British Parliament and an advocate for sailors' safety. His work created Plimsoll's bill, which ended the practice of overloading ships, a hazard that increased the danger of capsizing and impeded the ability to navigate vessels safely. The bill passed in 1876 and instituted the Plimsoll Line, the mark you see on cargo ships to mark at which point the boat has reached total capacity. By 1894, the line was standardized based on volume and weight.

Africa

Feb

Plum Pudding Day (Electrons 1897): February 12

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Plum Pudding Day honors the anniversary of the creation of the model of the atom in 1897 by physicist JJ Thomson, referred to as the Plum Pudding Model. Thomson received the Nobel Prize in 1906 for this invention. Prior to Thomson's discovery, the existence of negatively charged particles was unknown. He is credited with discovering and identifying the electron and discovering the first subatomic particle. Thomson is credited with finding evidence of isotopes in stable (non-radioactive) elements in 1913. Through his exploration into the composition of canal rays (positive ions), he invented the mass spectrometer. Another "Plum Pudding Day" in November, the Sunday before Advent, celebrates the Christmas pudding. That event is called "Stir-it-Up Sunday" in the United Kingdom.

Africa

Feb

Pluto Discovered (1930): February 18

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Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930. Percival Lowell inspired the search for it, a man ridiculed for his belief in Martians. The discovery is explained by astronomer and author Ken Croswell in an interview with EarthSky. ____________ “In 1929, Lowell Observatory hired a young man Kansan, Clyde Tombaugh. And he implemented a search for Pluto. Tombaugh was using a telescope that took photographic plates of the sky. During the day, he would examine those photographic plates for a moving object. The word ‘planet’ actually means ‘wanderer,’ something that moves night-to-night in the way that stars don’t. On February 18, 1930, a little after 4 p.m. Mountain Time, he saw Pluto for the very first time. And his first words to himself were, ‘That’s it!’ The discovery of Pluto was inspired by Percival Lowell and is a testimony to the hard work that Clyde Tombaugh put into searching millions of stars to find this tiny, faint object in space.” ______________ Excerpt from How was Pluto discovered? by EarthSky Magazine. Edited for clarity. Read the full article at: http://earthsky.org/space/how-was-Pluto-discovered.

Africa

Feb

Polar Bear Day, Intl.: February 27

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International Polar Bear Day raises awareness of the plight of the polar bear. Activities of acknowledgment include: Turning down the heat at schools and offices to "live like a polar bear" for a day. Teaching a segment on polar bears. Visiting the polar bear exhibit at your local zoo. Climate change and industrial enterprises in the arctic circle have had a devastating effect on the natural habitat of the polar bear. The sea ice is disappearing, and many polar bears become stranded or starve. International Polar Bear Day is an effort to affect change, save the polar bear, and bring awareness to human activities impact on the environment. As of 2023, less than 26,000 polar bears remain on earth.

Africa

Feb

Poop Day, Ntl.: February 9

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Howdy! We're working on the description for this event. It's one of over two thousand events added to the calendar this year. We have verified it is an authentic event and have included the organization behind it for our members. In the meantime, we wanted to make sure you were able to include it in your search for events this month and in this category. We appreciate your patience!

Africa

Feb

Pork Rind Day: February 8

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Pork Rind Day is an unofficial event dedicated to the crispy, savory snack known as pork rinds, and it coincides with the Super Bowl. Pork rinds are a snack made from fried or roasted pork skin. They are known for their crunchy texture and savory flavor and can be a stand-alone snack or used as a garnish in various dishes. Pork rinds are popular in various cuisines around the world, and different names in different regions know them. The history of pork rinds dates back centuries, with the snack having roots in various global culinary traditions. In Spain and Latin American countries, they are known as "chicharrones" and are often enjoyed with lime juice and hot sauce. In the United Kingdom, a similar snack is called "pork scratchings." In the United States, pork rinds became popular in the South. The popularity of pork rinds can be attributed to their unique texture and flavor and their high protein and low carbohydrate content, making them appealing to those on certain low-carb diets.

Africa

Feb

Potato Lovers Month: February

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Potato Lovers Month, initiated by the Washington State Potato Commission, is celebrated in February yearly. This observance began in 1987 following a declaration by Governor Gardener. The month highlights the significance of potatoes in Washington, where the potato industry supports nearly 36,000 jobs and contributes $7.4 billion to the economy. Washington Potato Growers provides more than 30 billion servings of potatoes globally. This celebration emphasizes the nutritional benefits of potatoes, including their high content of essential vitamins and minerals, and honors the 99% of Washington's family-owned potato farms. Potatoes have been essential to cuisine due to their versatility and nutritional value for nearly 7,000 years. Native to the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia, they were the first to cultivate them. Explorers brought them to Europe during the sixteenth century, and pilgrims brought them to North America in 1621. Potatoes became an essential food source during the great migration west along the Oregon Trail. The advent of irrigation in the high desert plateaus of the Northwest lent well to their growth. In Skagit County, Washington, the first recorded crop of cultivated potatoes was planted in 1853 by entrepreneurial farmers. The region is now known for premium red, yellow/gold, white, and blue potatoes and has been a significant potato producer since market shifts in the late 1980s. Today, potatoes are Skagit County's top monetary crop, generating about $60 million in annual sales.

Africa

Feb

Premio Lo Nuestro: February 19

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Premio lo Nuestro, established in 2003, is the Central and South American music awards broadcast on Univision. It honors the song of the year, new solo act or group of the year, established group of the year in pop/rock, female and male artists of the year, and the year's album in the Latino music industry. PLEASE NOTE: Treat all televised and venue-specific events (sporting, concerts, trade shows, etc.) as estimated. Several factors can cause an event to move dates at the last minute, including weather, strikes, natural disasters, political upheaval, conflicting programming, pandemics, and current events. Because of this, always verify the event with the promotor before committing resources. LEEP often estimates dates based on the previous year's schedules, as the final dates are only a few months, weeks, or days before the event. If the date is known to be estimated, you will see an (est) following the date in the title.

Africa

Feb

Prenatal Infection Prevention Month, Intl.: February

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International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month raises awareness and provides information on preventing disease transmission from mother to child. This event has a specific focus on HBV and HIV. In Thailand, for example, all infants receive standard HBV immune globulin (HBIG) injections and HBV vaccine series beginning right after birth. Despite these standard treatments, 10% to 12% of infants born to HBV-infected mothers with high virus levels become infected. Researchers are currently studying the effects of several experimental therapies administered to pregnant women with high levels of HBV (“e-Antigen positive”) and testing infant HBIG injections and HBV vaccine series designed to prevent HBV infection in infants.

Africa