All - Leep Calendar

Here is one of those curious holidays created by Thomas and Ruth Roy from Wellcat Holidays & Herbs—Slugs Return from Capistrano Day. In typical Wellcat fashion, this day is a parody of the Swallows Return to Capistrano Day. Swallows Day is celebrated with a big festival and a parade, to celebrate the swallows' return, even though there are almost no swallows left in Capistrano. Slugs on the other hand - there's plenty of them. And Thomas and Ruth decided that "speciesism" is not OK, and slugs should also have their holiday. Because, why not?

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May

Smile Month, Ntl. (UK): May 15-June 15

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National Smile Month is the United Kingdom’s longest-running oral health campaign. Together with thousands of individuals and organizations, National Smile Month promotes three key messages: 1) Brush your teeth last thing at night and on at least one other occasion with fluoride toothpaste; 2) Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks; 3) Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend. National Smile Month aims to improve oral health in the United Kingdom. Hundreds of events and activities throughout the country educate and engage local communities on the importance of a healthy mouth. It was created in 1976.

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May

Solidarity with Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Week of: May 25-31

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The United Nations General Assembly champions The Week of Solidarity with Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories. This annual awareness campaign calls attention to the plight of people who lack self-governance, often due to decolonization. As of 2024, 17 territories continue to lack any form of self-governance. During this week, member States of the United Nations are encouraged to provide moral and material assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories. For a list of these locations, see https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/nsgt.

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May

Sorry Day—Apology Day, Ntl. (AU)(1997): May 26

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National Sorry Day marks and remembers the mistreatment of Australia’s aboriginal people by the crown and government throughout history. May 26, 1997, is the anniversary of the delivery of the report “Bringing Them Home: a Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families” to the Australian Parliament. A year later, on May 26, 1998, the first Sorry Day was observed in Australia. However, a decade later, a public apology from the highest office would occur. On February 13, 2007, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia made the first public apology on behalf of the government to the indigenous people of Australia and its territories.

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May

Space Day: May 3

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INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SPACE EXPLORATION: NATIONAL SPACE DAY Space Day celebrates the achievements of Earth's space exploration programs and raises awareness of the program's benefits and opportunities. It also promotes STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to 4th and 5th graders, hoping to inspire children to dream big and pursue a STEM career. Here are the key details about National Space Day: HISTORY National Space Day began in 1997. The Lockheed Martin Corporation created it as a one-day event to inspire young people to pursue careers in science and technology. National Space Day is celebrated on the first Friday of May each year. Space Workforce 2030, a confederation of organizations, joined forces to guide Space Week. Its aim is to build a diverse and inclusive space workforce to further its objectives of inspiring and preparing the next generation of space professionals. This involvement emphasizes collaborative efforts to enhance educational outreach and industry engagement. Space Workforce 2030 aims to address the growing need for a skilled workforce in the space industry by fostering interest and providing educational resources. SPACE WEEK OBJECTIVES Inspire Interest in STEM—±Encourage students to develop an interest in STEM subjects. Promote Space Exploration—Raise awareness about the importance and excitement of space exploration. Career Awareness—Inform students about various career opportunities in the space industry. Educational Outreach—Provide educational resources and activities related to space and technology. HOW TO PARTICIPATE TEACHERS Lesson Plans and Activities—Access to space-themed lesson plans, experiments, and activities. Guest Speakers—Opportunities to invite space industry professionals for talks or virtual interactions. Field Trips—Organize field trips to local observatories, planetariums, or science centers. Projects and Competitions—Encourage participation in space-related projects or science fairs. STUDENTS Interactive Activities—Engage in hands-on activities like model rocket building, stargazing, and space simulations. Research Projects—Undertake research projects on various space missions or astronomical phenomena. Competitions—Participate in space-themed competitions or challenges. Space Camps—Enroll in space camps or workshops to deepen their understanding of space science and technology. National Space Day is a valuable opportunity for educators and students alike to celebrate and explore the vast possibilities of space exploration, fostering a new generation of innovators and explorers.

Africa

May

Speak in Full Sentences Day—No Texting Day: May 31

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Speak in Full Sentences Day, or No Texting Day urges people to communicate properly. Whether speaking or writing, try to use language as intended and refrain from using abbreviations, emojis, and other shortcuts to good communication. The creator of this event is unknown. However, it's been around for a few years and precedes the Trump Twitter administration.

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May

Specially-abled Pets Day, Ntl.: May 3

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The National Specially-abled Pets Day began with the animal advocate, author, and pet expert Colleen Paige to educate people about caring for disabled pets. On this day, animal-loving organizations and people encourage adopting disabled pets and donating to the organizations that care for or foster them.

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May

Spinal Health Week (AU): May 26-June 1

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Spinal Health Week in Australia seeks to raise awareness of severe spine issues and how best to prevent and treat them. With so many of us spending most of our time sitting at desks, spine problems are at a record high in the developed world, Australia included. This week educates people on preventing spine problems for good.

Africa

May

Spiritual Literacy Month: May

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Spiritual Literacy Month celebrates the common meeting point of all faiths: charity, tolerance, and belief. It's a month to explore faith and learn about the shared spirituality of humanity, annually in May.

Africa

May

Star Wars Day: May 4

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Star Wars Day is a play on words from the famous film series that premiered in 1977. "May the Fourth be with you" is derived from the classic saying in the film "May the Force be with you." It's a day when social media and the rest of the Internet explode with this greeting from one Star Wars fan to another.

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May

Starlight Day (AU): May 2

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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, even for only a few hours. To participate, sign up on the organization’s website.

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May

Stars and Stripes Forever Day (1897): May 14

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On May 14, 1897, complimenting the unveiling of a statue of George Washington in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the patriotic song "Stars and Stripes Forever" was first performed in public. The music was composed by John Philip Sousa.

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May

Stay Up All Night, Night: May 10

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Held on the Saturday prior to Mother’s Day, Stay up All Night, Night challenges people to stay up all night, relive their childhood and watch the sunrise.

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May

Stock Exchange Holiday (NYSE Closed): May 26

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Stock Market holidays are days when the American stock exchange is closed, and no trading occurs.

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May

Straw Hat Day (1916): May 15

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Straw Hat Day has occurrs in May at Ivy League schools each year since 1916. It is an Ivy League tradition that began at the University of Pennsylvania. Straw Hat Day is the official ushering of the summer wardrobe and a bit of rebellion against the status quo. The traditions of Straw Hat Day are incorporated into the present-day passing of the class from graduating seniors to the junior class at the University of Pennsylvania. The day continues to stand on its own, while at Penn, "Hey Day" is often celebrated at the end of April or in the first week of May. According to the University's site, this is what it is all about: "For many years prior to the origination of Hey Day in 1916, the principal spring celebration for undergraduates was Straw Hat Day. Straw Hat Day was the second Saturday of each May, the special event of the day being a baseball game with Princeton. Today it occurs annually on May 15. At the time, there was strict observance of the tradition that a higher education deserves appropriate dress. Thus, when students went to baseball games, they generally wore tailored suits, shirts with collars and neckties, garters, and hats. On Straw Hat Day, felt hats were laid aside, and the students appeared in straw hats. Straw Hat Day was so widely accepted in Philadelphia that no one in the city dared wear a straw hat before this day.

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