All - Leep Calendar

Shabbat Ha Chodesh is the Saturday that precedes the Hebrew month of Nisan and the Passover celebration. Shabbat is "Sabbath" or "Saturday" in Hebrew. On the first day of Nisan, the first commandment on how to "sanctify the new moon" is given by God. The Jewish Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. PLEASE NOTE: All Hebrew calendar months and celebrations begin and end at sundown. LEEP Calendar marks Jewish months and events on their first full day. Observant people of the faith will observe the beginning at sunset the day prior.

Africa

Mar

Shabbat Parah (J): March 21/22

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Shabbat Parah happens on the Saturday after Purim. It marks the start of the preparations for Passover and is an essential Shabbat, initiating a purification ritual involving a red heifer (parah adumah in Hebrew). Rabbis call it the greatest of mysteries by making all that's impure pure and the pure, impure. The Jewish Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday.

Africa

Mar

Shabbat Zachor (J): March 7/8

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Shabbat Zachor, “The Sabbath of Remembrance,” is marked beginning at sundown on the Friday before the Jewish holiday of Purim. The traditional Sabbath meal is served, and Deuteronomy 25:17-19 is read, recounting the attack by the Amalek against the Hebrew people.

Africa

Mar

Shakahola Cult Massacre (KE)(2023): March 21 (est)

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March 21, 2023, is the assumed anniversary of the beginning of the Shakahola Cult Massacre. The actual date is yet to be determined. The Shakahola Cult Massacre is the largest religious cult suicide since Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple led 909 of his followers in Guyana to drink cyanide-laced Flavor-aid in 1978. To date (July 2023), 419 bodies have been exhumed, and 613 people remain unaccounted for. Should all be found dead, Shakahola cult suicide victims will exceed Jonestown by over 100 people. Unlike Jonestown, the Malindi Cult adult members chose their death through starvation, which can take weeks. The actual date of the first suicide is yet to be determined, though autopsies point to fasting commencing mid-early March. As the massacre was prompted by loosely Christian religious teachings, March 21, the Spring Equinox, is a probable date. April 7, Good Friday (the day Jesus Christ was tortured) was too late, and the beginning of the six-week Christian fast of Lent on Ash Wednesday, February 22, fell too early. The world discovered the shocking event in April 2023, when a man reported missing his wife and daughter after joining Paul Nthenge Mackenzie's Good News International Ministries community in Kilifi County, Kenya. According to eyewitness testimonies, Mackenzie instructed his followers to fast and sequester from the outside world, threatening death to those who changed their minds or took too long to die. Police investigating the community found emaciated bodies and shallow graves but were able to rescue fifteen members; four died on the way to the hospital. By May 10, 2023, 133 deaths were documented, primarily children and women, with evidence of starvation, strangulation, suffocation, and blunt trauma as causes of death. A total of ninety-one starving survivors emerged and were rescued, with 65 facing suicide charges, a crime in Kenya, in court. Mackenzie allegedly used William Branham's End of Days Theology to brainwash his followers, convincing them that starvation would lead to a quicker journey to be with Jesus. Police suspected forced organ harvesting from some bodies, but the Interior Cabinet Secretary denied these claims as political speculation. Autopsies have ruled out organ harvesting for 112 of the recovered bodies. Ultimately, 36 suspects were arrested, with one dying during a hunger strike in custody. Mackenzie, his third wife Rhoda Mumbua Maweu, and 16 others face terrorism-related charges. Update: On February 6, 2024, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie was charged with 191 counts of murder in a Kenyan court.

Africa

Mar

Shakespeare Week (UK): March 24-30 (est)

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William Shakespeare Week in the United Kingdom is an education focus on the life and works of one of history's most famous writers. Throughout English schools, children are encouraged to read the works of Shakespeare and learn from the style he used.

Africa

Mar

Shangsi Festival (CN): March 31

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The third day of the third lunar month in China is the Shangsi Festival. Also known as the Double Third Festival, it's an ancient Chinese celebration during which people picnic, harvest orchids, and commune with family. It's a day for going into cleansing rituals that aim to prevent disease and bad luck. In Korea, this day is called Samjinnal or Sangsa, and the Japanese refer to this day as Hinamatsuri.

Africa

Mar

Shawwal (M): March 31 - April 28

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Shawwal is the tenth month in the Islamic calendar and translates to "lift" or "carry." The first day of this month is Eid al-Fitr. If you travel in Muslim-majority countries or Buddhist-majority countries with large Muslim populations, please note that Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are national holidays. Government and businesses are typically closed for one to two weeks. Some nations that usually serve alcohol will suspend alcohol sales for a portion or the duration of the holiday as well.

Africa

Mar

She's Funny That Way Day (2003): March 31

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Men may be amusing, but women are downright hilarious. Today is set aside each year by teacher and author Brenda Meridith to highlight the whimsical humor of women. Take this chance to write down five things about your favorite female that make you laugh and share them with her. It marks the anniversary of the 2003 release of her novel 'She's Funny That Way.'

Africa

Mar

Sheetala Ashtami, Basoda Puja (H): March 22

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Sheetala Ashtami follows Holi. Hindus worshipping Sheetala believe that by observing vrat and paying homage to the goddess, she will protect them from deadly diseases. In Hindu mythology, Sheetla Mata is commonly called the goddess of smallpox. Devotees prepare food the day before Sheetla Asthami, bringing food to the temple to perform the goddess's puja (acts of devotion). PLEASE NOTE: We use the Indian civil calendar, the official holiday calendar in India. The Hindu faith has many calendars, each specific to different regions and tribes, with dates and celebrations marked by differing positions of the sun, moon, and stars. Names of months and holidays and the corresponding dates in the Gregorian Calendar may vary widely from one calendar to the next. Determine the proper calendar before attending local events.

Africa

Mar

Shouter Baptist Liberation Day (TT)(1951): March 30

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In 1917 the nation of Trinidad and Tobago passed a law prohibiting the activities of the Shouter Baptist Faith. On March 30, 1951, the law preventing religious freedom was repealed. Shouter Liberation Day is a public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago.

Africa

Mar

Shrove Tuesday (C): March 4

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Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day, Fat Tuesday) was initially a day of repentance and reflection (1 Corinthians 9:27), marking the end of Epiphany and the upcoming season of Lent. It is part of the Carnaval celebration and the final day of debauchery, festivities, and merry-making before 40 days of sacrifice and fasting begin. Up through the Middle Ages, it was prohibited for Christians to eat meats, fats, eggs, milk, and fish during the season of Lent. Families purged the larder so nothing would spoil. In some countries, this day is called Pancake Day, and Christians eat pancakes to mark the day. Shrove is the past tense of the verb "shrive," which means "to present oneself for confession, penance, and absolution." Due to these customs, Shrove Tuesday also became known as Fat Tuesday.

Africa

Mar

Shrovetide Pancake Race (UK/US-KS): March 4

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Talk about tradition! The Shrovetide Pancake Race began in 1445 AD! This race is only open to women sixteen years of age, who dress in traditional housewife attire (dress, apron, and scarf), toss a pancake in a pan, running from the market to the church. The winner is rewarded with a kiss. Always on Shrove Tuesday, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent, in Olney, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. Across the pond, The Shrovetide Pancake Race occurs in Liberal, Kansas. The two towns compete annually for the fastest time, and the Liberal event began in 1950. Why pancakes? Up through the Middle Ages, it was prohibited for Christians to eat meats, fats, eggs, milk, and fish during the season of Lent. Families purged the larder so nothing would spoil. In some countries, this day is called Pancake Day, and Christians eat pancakes to mark the day. Shrove is the past tense of the verb "shrive," which means "to present oneself for confession, penance, and absolution." Due to these customs, Shrove Tuesday also became known as Fat Tuesday.

Africa

Mar

Sikh New Year (1644): March 14

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Today is the first day of the Sikh Calendar and its New Year, referred to as the Nanakshahi calendar (named after Guru Nanak, Sikh's founder, who was born in 1469). Nanakshahi New Year commences on March 14 each year, coinciding with Guru Har Rai becoming the seventh Guru of the Sikhs in 1644 and the Hola Mohalla festival. The Sikh Calendar is relatively new. Though the faith has been around for over 1000 years and is the fifth-largest religion in the world, today's calendar was created in the latter part of the twentieth century.

Africa

Mar

Simplify-Your-Life Day™, Ntl.: March 3

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It's time to eliminate the things bogging you down and chuck the waste. What can you go without? What will make your life simpler? Simplify-Your-Life Day began in 2011 and is your opportunity to redefine your life.

Africa

Mar

Sing with Your Child Month: March

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Music, especially singing, is something every child can do. Sing with Your Child Month encourages parents to bring in the fun of music and sing with their children. The event champion has an application you can use that makes this easy.

Africa