All - Leep Calendar

National Roof Over Your Head Day is a simple day with a simple message—remember how lucky you are if you have a roof over your head and help those less fortunate than you.

Africa

Dec

Rosa Parks Day (1955): December 1

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On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Louise Parks became known as "The Mother of Modern Day Civil Rights Movement" when she refused to surrender her seat to a white male passenger on a bus. At the time, racial segregation was strictly enforced by law in many areas of the US. This simple act was courageous and dangerous. Born in 1913, Rosa Parks was 42 years old and firmly defended her right to a seat on the bus.

Africa

Dec

Sachertorte Day : December 5

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One of the first days of the most holiday-packed month of the year, today is Sachertorte Day. Invented by Austrian Franz Sacher in 1832 for Prince Wenzel von Metternich in Vienna, Sachertorte is a rich, dense chocolate cake that has become synonymous with the city and is usually served with apricot jam.

Africa

Dec

Safe Driving Week, Ntl. (CA): December 1-7

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National Safe Driving Week occurs during the first week of December and promotes car safety, winter preparation, and driving in inclement weather during the holidays. The event brings up the dangers of unsafe driving practices, such as speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and not wearing seatbelts.

Africa

Dec

Saint Andrew's Day Holiday (C)(UK)(60AD): December 1

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Saint Andrew's Day in Scotland commemorates the martyrdom of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, who was crucified on an X-shaped cross on November 30, 60AD. Scotland flies the Saltire flag on public buildings. The ceilidh, a traditional dance, is performed in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dumfries. Saint Andrew was the younger brother of Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He was born in Bethesda on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and he died in Patras, Greece. MARRIAGE WISHES For a young woman wishing to marry, this day holds special meaning. At midnight on November 30, hopeful brides pray for a future husband, peeling an apple as a continuous ribbon, then throwing it over her shoulder. The position of the peel when it lands determines the first letter of her future husband's name. Then she pours liquid candle wax into a bucket of water. As it cools, its form tells her of her future husband's profession. Scots proposed Saint Andrew's Day be a bank holiday in 2003. The St. Andrew's Day Bank Holiday Act of 2007 passed on November 29, 2006, and was given Royal Assent by the Crown on January 15, 2007. As of 2007, it is an annual bank holiday in Scotland. If November 30 falls on a weekend, the following Monday is the official state holiday. WHY SO MANY FEAST DAYS? Have you ever noticed that there seem to be feast days for just about everything in the Catholic and Orthodox Christian faiths? There is a reason for that. The church granted feast days to allow all subjects of the Crown to take a day off. As most worked six days a week, feast days provided a break that landowners and nobility couldn't deny. If they tried, they were going against the church, and that you did not do. In medieval times, there were approximately 60 feast days a year. Add this to 52 Sundays, Christmas, and Easter, and workers received a minimum of 114 days off a year. Contrast that to today. The average American gets 104 weekend days and seven national holidays off work. That's three days less than the commoners of the Dark Ages, just in case you're feeling a little overworked.

Africa

Dec

Saint Nicholas Day (343 AD): December 6

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December 6 is Saint Nicholas Day. Acknowledged by nearly all Christian denominations, this day celebrates the life of Saint Nicholas (March 15, 270 - December 6, 343 AD). Known as Nikolaos of Myra, a Greek, he was the Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (Demre, Turkey). For western Christian denominations, he is the inspiration for Santa Claus, and for Orthodox Christians, he is much more. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, and students.

Africa

Dec

Salesperson's Day, Ntl.: December 5

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National Salesperson's Day in the United States celebrates an essential building block of a successful economy, sales. Salespeople are responsible for getting goods and services into the hands of the people who need them. They can be found in stores, helping people find what they need. They often are the public face of companies, going out and prospecting for new and servicing existing customers. Top sales professionals earn very high salaries, often based on a percentage of what they sell. Their service is essential. Without them, most goods and services would never find a way into the hands of the people and companies that need them. Always the first Friday in December, this is a day to honor the efforts of these men and women. This event first ran in 2000 and was created by the author and the president of Best@Selling, Maura Schreier-Fleming.

Africa

Dec

Sangria Day: December 20

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Sangria Day is yet another event without a sponsor that appeared on the Internet and is now widely accepted. Strangely, December was chosen rather than the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere. It's more of a summer drink, though it is popular in lieu of punch at holiday parties. Logic is not the Internet's strong suit. Sangria, the popular fruity wine-based beverage, has a history that dates back centuries, with its roots intertwined with the rich tapestry of Spanish culture and cuisine. The beverage's Sangria creation mirrors the early traditions of fruit-infused wines in the Iberian Peninsula. Adding fruits and spices to wine has been prevalent for millennia, seen in various cultures as a way to enhance the flavor of wine and make it more palatable. Sangria is believed to have originated with the Romans, who planted vineyards across the Iberian Peninsula around 200 BC. The Romans would fortify their wine with fruits, herbs, and spices for taste and as a method of sanitizing the drinking water. The term "Sangria" is derived from the Spanish word "sangre," meaning blood, pointing to the deep red color of the drink, which is a mixture of red wine, chopped fruits including oranges, lemons, berries, apples, or peaches, and often a touch of brandy or another spirit, sweetened with sugar and sometimes flavored with spices. Sangria's popularity grew over the centuries, becoming a Spanish and Portuguese cuisine staple. However, it gained international acclaim after its introduction to a broader audience at the 1964 New York World's Fair. The Spanish Pavilion served Sangria as a refreshing example of a typical Spanish drink, capturing the palates and imaginations of visitors from across the globe. Since then, Sangria has evolved, with many regional variations and interpretations. While red wine remains the traditional base, white wine (Sangria Blanca) and even cava (Spanish sparkling wine) versions have become popular. The choice of fruits, spirits, and sweeteners varies widely, allowing for diverse flavors and styles.

Africa

Dec

Sankashti Chaturthi (H): December 7

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In the Hindu faith, Chaturthi is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Sankashti Chaturthi (Sankata Chaturthi) is observed on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha (the dark lunar phase or the waning phase of the moon). If this Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday, it is called Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi. Devotees observe strict fasting during daylight until darshan (the sight of the moon). Prayers precede the breaking of the fast to Lord Ganesha. 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

Dec

Santa Barbara's Day (C): December 4

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Santa Barbara's Day has a special meaning for all the young women hoping to marry. The legend goes that if a single girl or woman puts a branch of a cherry tree in water on this day, and it blooms by Christmas, she will wed next year.

Africa

Dec

Santa Lucia Day (SE): December 13

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Like Saint Sebastian, Santa Lucia (Lucy) was persecuted and executed for her faith in pre-Christian Rome in 304 AD at 19. She is considered the bearer of light and the patron saint of authors, salesmen, laborers, and peasants. One of eight venerated women in Christianity, she is celebrated in Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox communities. Sweden and other Christian countries celebrate her feast day on December 13 each year.

Africa

Dec

Santa's List Day: December 4

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Santa's List Day is the traditional day for children to write letters to Santa Claus and tell him what they would like for Christmas. Legend says it is also the day Santa makes his Naughty and Nice lists. Nice children, the legend goes, get presents on Christmas morning, and naughty children get a lump of coal.

Africa

Dec

Saturnalia: December 17-23

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Saturnalia is a festival, which originated in ancient Rome, and celebrates the god of agriculture, Saturnalia. It is partly due to this pagan celebration that the Christian holiday of Christmas occurs on December 25.

Africa

Dec

Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression (SADD) Awareness Month: December

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December is the Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression (SADD) Awareness Month. It's a month that raises awareness about and educates people about SADD. It's much more than winter blues or autumn tiredness. SADD is real and common. It is a severe type of depression characterized by low energy, depressed mood, hopelessness, irritability or anxiety, poor concentration, social withdrawal, changes in your sleep and appetite, a loss of interest in previously favorite activities, etc. Symptoms manifest as the days become shorter and the nights longer. It is especially prevalent in regions without sufficient sunshine during the fall and winter months, like the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Russia, and Northern European countries.

Africa

Dec

Sharps Injury Prevention and Awareness Month, Intl.: December

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International Sharps Injury Prevention & Awareness Month seeks to reduce the number of accidental needle and sharp object injuries that happen everywhere, especially in healthcare organizations. The International Sharps Injury Prevention Society (ISIPS) provides safety-engineered products and services.

Africa