All - Leep Calendar

First run in 2015, National Bobblehead Day is a celebration of this enduring German toy created in the 1700s based upon Asian (China and Japan) string dolls of the time. Their heads are enormous and dance above small bodies, bobbing back and forth. Originally they were made of porcelain, and today, they're plastic. In the 1990s, these whimsical moving dolls entered sports marketing via Alexander Malcolm, who was looking for a promotional toy to market the San Francisco Giants. He produced nearly 50 million bobbleheads and built a global company that creates bobbleheads of various sports and cultural figures. Today many of these promotional items are coveted collector's items.

Africa

Jan

Bodhi Day (B)(CN)(532 BC): January 13

06:20 AM | -

Bodhi Day celebrates the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. Japan celebrates this event annually on December 8th. People following the Chinese religious calendar celebrate it on the 8th day of the 12th lunar (as opposed to solar) month in the Chinese Calendar. This day is the anniversary of his becoming the Buddha. A common misconception is that Siddhartha Gautama was born in India. He was born in Nepal, and the tiny Himalayan country takes great pride in this fact!

Africa

Jan

Bonza Bottler Day™, Intl: January 1

06:20 AM | -

When the number of the month matches the number of the day, that's Bonza Bottler Day. It is a play on numbers. There are twelve Bonza Bottler Days a year. This event began in 1985. Bonza is Australian for "Super." Bottler is slang for "something excellent."

Africa

Jan

Book Blitz Month, Ntl.: January

06:20 AM | -

January is National Book Blitz Month, a national campaign designed to promote reading and facilitate the relationship between authors and the media. Libraries often support the event by recommending their favorite books. It is an excellent time for librarians, media specialists, and teachers to promote reading and introduce students to new authors.

Africa

Jan

Bootlegger's Day, Ntl.(1899/1920): January 17

06:20 AM | -

Bootleggers are smugglers, sometimes distillers, who bring in alcoholic beverages where they are either taxed or prohibited. National Bootlegger's Day marks two special anniversaries on January 17. The birthday of bootlegger Al Capone: January 17, 1899 18th Amendment (Prohibition) goes into effect: January 17, 1920 The term 'bootlegger' refers to the flask smugglers used to hide in the top of their boots. In the age of the Old West, bootleggers smuggled liquor to Native Americans. With the advent of prohibition in the 1920s, it took on a whole new meaning.

Africa

Jan

Braille Day, World (1809): January 4

06:20 AM | -

Promoted by multiple organizations, including the World Blind Union, World Braille Day celebrates the birthday of Louis Braille on January 4, 1809. Braille was a Frenchman who lost his sight at a very early age. Braille learned to read using the Haüy system using Latin letters embossed on thick paper or leather. The Haüy system was complex and didn't allow for writing. Frustrated, Braille came up with a new code when he was only 15. Touch made this system of dots in small rectangular blocks far easier to read. More importantly, it allowed for writing. Today Braille's original code exists in several variations that accommodate different languages. His new language revolutionized communication for millions of people and opened up a world of learning, opportunity, and independence.

Africa

Jan

Braille Literacy Month, Ntl. (1809): January

06:20 AM | -

January is the National Braille Literacy Month in the U.S., and it marks the anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille on January 4, 1809. Inventing the Braille code at the age of 15, Braille has changed the lives of millions of people by giving those without sight the means to read and write. Even in today’s day and age of digital information, with audiobooks and recording Braille is used across the globe. National Braille Literacy Month is supported by several organizations servicing the blind.

Africa

Jan

Break-up Day, Intl.: January 20

06:20 AM | -

International Break-up Day marks the single day each year when more romantic couples will split than any other. On January 20th, the holiday season was over for three weeks, and Valentine's Day's next significant stressor on relationships was still three weeks off. Why do romantic relationships break up? Money, different views on children, substance abuse, mental and physical illness, all of these issues can play into the end of a relationship. However, the most common themes contributing to "Hit the Road, Jack (or Jill)" include communication breakdown, infidelity, and divergent life paths. COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN—At the core of many relationship failures is the erosion of communication. When couples struggle to effectively express their needs, desires, and concerns, misunderstandings and frustrations lead to emotional distance and isolation. The inability to resolve conflicts through healthy dialogue often exacerbates minor issues, transforming them into insurmountable barriers. INFIDELITY—Another common catalyst for the end of romantic partnerships is infidelity. Acts of betrayal, whether physical or emotional, shatter the foundation of trust and mutual respect. The ensuing feelings of hurt, anger, and disillusionment are often too profound to overcome, leading many couples to part ways. Infidelity not only damages the immediate bond but can also leave lasting emotional scars, affecting individuals' ability to trust in future relationships. DIVERGENT LIFE PATHS—Relationships also commonly end due to partners growing apart and pursuing different life paths due to personal goals, career aspirations, or fundamental values. As individuals evolve, their needs and visions for the future may no longer align, leading to a natural drift. Divergent break-ups are particularly common in relationships that begin at a young age, where personal growth and changes in identity are most significant. When the shared path that once united a couple diverges, the relationship often reaches its natural conclusion. Though these are the most common reasons, each relationship has its complexities. Terminating a romantic partnership is frequently a culmination of various factors interwoven in the intricate dynamics of human relationships. International Break-up Day is an opportunity to take stock of your relationship, identify areas that need work, and recommit. It is also a day for honesty. Is your relationship a positive influence in your life or a negative? If negative, it may be time to move on.

Africa

Jan

Breast Pumping Day, World: January 27

06:20 AM | -

World Breast Pumping Day, created in 2017, raises awareness and support for breast pumping, a vital aspect of many new mothers' lives. The day is rooted in the desire to normalize breast pumping and provide education about breast pumping, support breastfeeding mothers, and advocate for the necessary accommodations in workplaces and public spaces for pumping. Breast pumps have become an essential tool for new mothers for various reasons. They allow mothers to maintain their milk supply and ensure their babies have access to breast milk even if the mother returns to work after childbirth. Pumping is also essential for premature or hospitalized infants needing the best nutrition and for mothers who face difficulties with direct breastfeeding, latching problems, or who have an oversupply of milk due to miscarriage, the child's death, or other reasons. Using one also allows other caregivers to participate in feeding the baby, promoting bonding. Breast milk is considered the best food for infants due to its comprehensive nutritional benefits and its role in supporting the immune system. By enabling mothers to pump and store breast milk, breast pumps contribute to the continued health and well-being of the baby. World Breast Pumping Day serves as an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of breast milk and the role of breast pumping in supporting breastfeeding goals. It also highlights the need for societal support and infrastructure, such as lactation rooms and pumping breaks at work, to assist pumping mothers.

Africa

Jan

Breckenridge Snow Sculpture Championships, Intl. (US-CO): January 24-29

06:20 AM | -

Organized by Breckenridge Brewery, the Breckenridge Snow Sculpture Championships is an annual event in which teams worldwide compete in sculpting giant figures from 20 tons of ice. Attendees witness the fantastic skill and speed of the sculptors and see their majestic works. 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

Jan

Bubble Bath Day: January 8

06:20 AM | -

Bubble Bath Day is an unofficial holiday that celebrates the sexy fun that is a bubble bath. With a loved one or by yourself, with a glass of wine on the side and maybe even a good book, bubble baths are a great experience, especially after a long day of work or when it’s cold outside.

Africa

Jan

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day: January 27

06:20 AM | -

Jim Webster created Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day over a decade ago to celebrate his affinity for the crackle and pop associated with the shipping material created by the Sealed Air Corporation, bubble wrap. This invention was trademarked in 1957 and introduced to the public in 1960. This event puts the fun into the workweek. Therefore it always occurs on the last Monday in January and provides the perfect excuse to stomp on some bubble wrap and annoy your coworkers. Happy Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day!

Africa

Jan

Buffet Day, Ntl.: January 2

06:20 AM | -

National Buffet Day celebrates the Swedish dining invention of the 16th century, initially referred to as a "smorgasbord." A smorgasbord, or buffet, is a meal designed to accompany pre-dinner drinks like schnapps, where the guests walk around and choose what they want. Today, buffet meals often include all the courses and are especially useful in serving multiple guests simultaneously.

Africa

Jan

Bug Busting Day, Ntl. (UK): January 31

06:20 AM | -

National Bug Busting Day occurs three times per year in the United Kingdom: January, June, and October. It is a concentrated effort to stem the tide of lice infections within schools and the general population. Through the registered charity Community Hygiene Concern, the government teaches parents, educators, and pharmacists how to detect and stop the spread of head lice and provides affordable Bug Busting kits. Community Bug Busting Days were started by the late Dr. RJ Donaldson, affectionately known as Paddy. Dr. Donaldson demonstrated in the 1970s that an intensive detection/treatment campaign dramatically cut the prevalence of head lice. He was the tireless mentor of the Bug Busting Days organized by Community Hygiene Concern, taking a personal interest from 1986 in our development of wet detection methods in preference to less effective dry or damp methods. Today Bug Busting Days are organized in partnership with the Department of Health. Lice are a big problem in schools. Once they infect an individual, these parasites can be very difficult to get rid of. The following are some facts: The eggs of head lice usually take seven to ten days to hatch. Combing dry or damp hair with a fine-tooth comb is not a reliable way to detect lice. Metal combs are not suitable for louse detection because these combs are primarily nit combs. Lice caught between the tightly spaced teeth remain unnoticed against the metal and can be combed back into the hair unharmed at subsequent strokes. No studies prove that wet head lice grasp hairs more tightly, thus hampering their removal with a fine-tooth comb. Head-to-head contact is not necessary to catch lice—close contact is enough. Head lice are a community problem. Approximately 20% of head lice cases occur in people over 16 or under four years old.

Africa

Jan

Burns Night Supper (UK) (1759): January 25

06:20 AM | -

Burns Night Supper is celebrated every year on January 25 in Scotland and among poetry lovers worldwide. On this night, people honor the life, art, and satire of Robert Burns, considered one of the greatest poets and bards ever produced in Scotland. Burns was born on January 25, 1759, and died on July 21, 1796, at age 37. His closest friends organized the first Burns Night Supper six years after his death in 1802. They gathered, read his poems, sang his songs, ate haggis, and drank to his memory. Lovers of Burns' poetry have been doing the same every year. His most famous works include the following: Auld Lang Syne (The New Year's Song) To a Mouse (Which inspired Steinbeck's title of "Mice and Men") And the collection "Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect." Oh, and if you ever take the citizenship test for the United Kingdom, you will do well to know who Robert Burns is. Yes, you will be tested!

Africa