All - Leep Calendar

Robert's Rules Day marks the anniversary of the birth of American General Henry M. Robert on May 2, 1837. He was the author of Robert's Rules of Order, a guide to running efficient meetings, organizations, and groups. He passed away on May 11, 1923.

Africa

May

Rogation Sunday (C): May 3

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Rogation Sunday is traditionally marked the fifth Sunday after Easter and three days before the anniversary of the final Ascension of Christ to Heaven in the Christian faith. The tradition was first practiced in the fifth century by monks in France and included singing the liturgy and fasting. The word rogation means "asking" from the Latin "rogatio."

Africa

May

Romani Resistance Day, Intl. (1944): May 16

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It was on this day, May 16, 1944, that the Romani people of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, starving and gaunt, rose against their Nazi captors and resisted, refusing to go to the gas chambers without a fight. Most people are aware of the Nazi Holocaust and what happened to millions in Europe because of it. The coverage of the Jewish victims, who constituted half of those killed and persecuted, has been well documented. But who was the other half? The Nazis targeted groups they deemed unfit to their social ideals, including over 75,000 mentally ill and disabled, people of color, 2.5 million Catholics and Poles, homosexuals, and the Romani. The Romani are sometimes referred to as Gypsies, Travelers, or Roma. Like the Jewish population of Europe, the Romani lost 550,000 people, 25 percent of their total population. And yet, they are rarely mentioned. The Roma wore black triangles on their sleeves instead of yellow stars. Romani were rounded up, starved, and executed, often digging their graves. With the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, more has been revealed about the Romani holocaust experience. Researchers believe the number of Romani killed may exceed three times what they initially thought. August 2 is International Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day draws particular attention to the Roma survivors struggling with persecution and prejudice in many parts of Europe and America.

Africa

May

Romantic Comedy Day (1941): May 19

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On May 19, 1941, Nora Ephron was born. Nora Ephron was an American journalist, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, director, and blogger best known for her romantic comedies. She was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Writing on the films "Silkwood," "When Harry Met Sally," and "Sleepless in Seattle." Nora died on June 26, 2012, but her birthday is known as Romantic Comedy Day.

Africa

May

Running of the Balls (US-TN): May

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The Running of the Balls in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States, is an annual month-long fundraiser by Outdoor Gravity Park for charity in May and September. Teams sign up during these months to be chased downhill by a giant manned zorb. One team member rolls down a hill inside a giant transparent inflated ball called a zorb, chasing, knocking, and running over friends and family. It's like the running of the bulls without the horns and injuries, with all proceeds going to support the local food bank. Zorbing traces its origins back to New Zealand, where entrepreneurs Dwane van der Sluis and Andrew Akers launched it as a commercial venture in 1995 after watching hamster balls. They sought a new adrenaline-charged activity that included a unique way to appreciate New Zealand's hilly landscapes. "Zorbing" soon became the generic term for this spherical thrill ride. It involves using an inflatable, transparent, double-sectioned ball, also known as a zorb, with one ball inside the other. The air between the two balls acts as a shock absorber for the rider, cushioning them as they tumble head over heels down a hill. The sport expanded rapidly in New Zealand, followed by international interest. By the early 2000s, zorbing locations emerged in various adventure tourism hotspots worldwide, including Europe, the United States, Australia, and Asia. A water-based version called hydro-zorbing soon appeared. In this rendition, a bucket of water is added to the inner orb, creating a human washing machine experience as the rider sloshes around during the descent. Zorbing has since moved into soccer, bowling, and other sports, with comedic results. The Guinness World Records acknowledged zorbing's popularity in 2006 by noting the longest Zorb ride ever recorded. Steve Camp of Canada rolled down a hill in a zorb for an impressive 570 meters (1,870 ft).

Africa

May

Rural Life Sunday (C)(US/CA): May 17

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On Rural Life Sunday, the Christian community celebrates and affirms the people and communities around the globe who grow our food and raise the livestock that feeds and clothe us. Prayers to protect and preserve the prosperity of these essential people to global health and well-being are featured. It occurs on the sixth Sunday after Easter.

Africa

May

Safe Boating Week, (US/CA) Ntl.: May 16-22

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North American Safe Boating Campaign is a yearlong effort in the United States and Canada focused on spreading the message of boating safety and the critical importance of always wearing a life jacket every time on the water. In addition, the campaign also reminds boaters of the importance of boating safely, such as taking a boating safety course, never boating under the influence, and knowing navigational rules. The annual campaign kicks off the weekend before Memorial Day with National Safe Boating Week and continues throughout the year. This event has also received presidential support and proclamation nearly every year since 1958.

Africa

May

Sagarmatha Day (NP)(1953): May 29

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On May 29th, Nepal celebrates Mount Everest Day, also known as Sagarmatha Day, to honor the first successful ascent of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. On this day in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa climber from Nepal, became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The day is celebrated to honor the achievement of Hillary and Norgay, as well as to acknowledge the efforts and sacrifices of the numerous climbers, Sherpas, and support staff who have been part of Everest expeditions over the years. Mount Everest Day is also an occasion to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the mountain's fragile environment and promoting sustainable tourism in the region. Celebrations on Mount Everest Day may include special events, workshops, discussions, and cultural programs related to mountaineering, the history of Everest expeditions, and the significance of the mountain for Nepal and its people. The day serves as a reminder of the challenges and triumphs associated with scaling the world's highest peak and the role of mountaineering in Nepal's history and culture.

Africa

May

Saint Augustine, Feast of (UK)(604 AD): May 26

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The Feast of St. Augustine marks the death of Archbishop Augustine, the first archbishop of Canterbury as of 597 AD. Augustine is responsible for bringing Christianity to England and converting it from pagan faiths. His feast day occurs on the anniversary of his death, May 26, 604. 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; workers received at least 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

May

Saint Efisio, Festival of (IT): May 1-4

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Believed to be a miracle, in the 1650s, the city of Cagliari in Sardinia, Italy, somehow managed to escape the plague sweeping Europe. Locals believe it was the intervention of Saint Efisio. The city vowed to honor the third-century saint in 1656. Since 1657, the city has held a festival during the first days of May, including a parade covering 65 km, period costumes, music, and entertainment, to commemorate the event. Image: By Giova81 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3954324

Africa

May

Saint Joan of Arc Feast Day (1431): May 30

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Joan of Arc was a teenage girl who led a French army against the English, who were invading. She is said to have visions from God and thus inspired an entire army of men to follow, not just a woman, but a young girl into battle. She was captured, tried for heresy, and burned alive in 1431. In 1456, she was proclaimed innocent, and in 1920, she was canonized as a saint. Her feast day falls on the anniversary of her death, May 30, 1431. She was only nineteen. 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

May

Salad Month, Ntl.: May

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National Salad Month (NSM) celebrates creative salad recipes and encourages consumers to eat more leafy greens. Created in May 1992 in response to a Gallup Poll that revealed three out of four people eat a tossed salad at least every other day, a research study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that salad eaters tend to have higher intakes of essential nutrients, including vitamins C, E and folate. The latest recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest eating more fruits and vegetables and prompted the release of the MyPlate icon that depicts filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Eating a salad daily with your favorite dressing is an easy way to meet this guideline and increase your intake of crucial nutrients. Research by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that eating vegetables with added fat, such as full-fat salad dressings, actually promotes the absorption of lycopene, alpha, and beta carotenes, all of which aid in the fight against cancer and heart disease. The healthy oils in many salad dressings help the body better absorb essential nutrients. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans also recommends increased use of oils to replace solid fats where possible. Additionally, the majority of salad dressings are free of trans fats. To find creative salad recipe ideas and information about the healthfulness of consuming salads with your favorite dressing, visit www.saladaday.org or www.dressings-sauces.org.

Africa

May

Sally Ride Day (1951): May 26

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On May 26, Americans celebrated the birth of Sally Ride, a female astronaut with NASA and the first woman to fly in space. Sally Ride was an esteemed NASA Astronaut born in 1951 in Los Angeles, California. She was a Mission Specialist on STS-7, launched on June 18, 1983, and STS 41-G. She crewed STS 61-M, but NASA canceled the mission training in January 1986 after the space shuttle Challenger accident. A prominent advocate for improved science education, Dr. Ride has initiated education projects to increase students' interest in science and has written five science books for children - To Space and Back; Voyager, The Third Planet; The Mystery of Mars and Exploring Our Solar System. Today celebrates what one woman and all women can achieve in science and technology.

Africa

May

Salt Awareness Week, World: May 11-17

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Salt Awareness Week seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of overeating salt, no matter your age. Children who consume too much salt set themselves up for problems later in life, including an increased risk of stroke and heart disease. Use this week to learn about the effects of salt on your health and seek healthier alternatives. The dates of this event vary widely from year to year and generally fall in somewhere between February and May, with the actual date set during the fourth quarter.

Africa

May

San Isidro Day (C): May 15

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Saint Isidro (1082-1172AD) is the patron saint of Madrid and the patron saint of farmers. Each year in Hispanic nations, including Mexico and Spain, festivities are held on the day leading up to this feast. In Madrid it is called the Pradera del Santo. The miracle San Isidro performed was to pound the parched earth and bring forth a gushing spring. During the festivities, a lot of water (and food) is consumed. 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; workers received at least 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, in case you're feeling overworked.

Africa