All - Leep Calendar

The Friday of Memorial weekend is also known as Don't Fry in the Sun Day. The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention promotes the day to educate the public about the dangers of sun overexposure and skin cancer.

Africa

May

Donate a Day's Wages to Charity Day: May 13

06:20 AM | -

The second Wednesday of May is Donate a Day’s Wages to Charity Day. This event allows people to be more charitable by donating their day’s wage or a day of work to their charity of choice. It was created in 2001.

Africa

May

Donkey Day, Intl.: May 8

06:20 AM | -

International Donkey Day came about through the internationally known (27 countries) Donkey Sanctuary, founded in 1969 by Dr. Elizabeth Svendsen in the United Kingdom. The organization's mission is to provide a permanent home for rescue donkeys and mules experiencing ill health, maltreatment, abuse, and poor living conditions. They also offer support for donkey and mule owners with services and information. International Donkey Day focuses on the need to care for these sturdy and essential work animals, educate the public, further research, and encourage people to sponsor or adopt donkeys and mules in the nation of their choice. Donkey Sanctuary recommends observing this day by: a) Become a donkey ambassador! Learn about these amazing animals and share them with family and friends. b) Be a responsible owner: donkeys live about 30 years and form strong attachments. Donkey parents are long-term parents. c) Pay attention if you ride or see work donkeys. Are they well cared for, happy and safe? d) Spend quality time with donkeys today! e) Become a sponsor, adopt, donate, and help support donkeys. Happy International Donkey Day!

Africa

May

Donkey Week (UK): May 4-10

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Donkey Week in the UK falls during International Donkey Day, May 8. This event highlights the importance of donkeys. During this time, people can cuddle, touch and enjoy the company of donkeys. There are also talks and presentations by guest speakers, wildlife walks, and other social events.

Africa

May

Donkey Welfare Day (KE): May 17

06:20 AM | -

Donkey Welfare Day is observed in Kenya each year on May 17. It celebrates the contribution to Kenyan life and agriculture by the 1.8 million donkeys. These hardworking animals are essential to transportation, farming, and commerce. The purpose of the day, as outlined by its sponsor, is: a) Distributing advice and information on donkey welfare, management, and husbandry to owners and users; b) Providing veterinary treatment to donkeys in need; c) Sharing ideas about donkey welfare; d) Engaging participants, including the general public, groups, and local councils encouraging local county officials to adopt welfare-friendly by-laws; e) Promoting a positive image of donkeys in society through local and national media. Most festivities occur in the Kenyan counties of Kisumu, Nyandarua, Kajiado, Nakuru, and Kitui.

Africa

May

Doughnut Week, The Children’s Trust National (UK): May 16-24

06:20 AM | -

National Doughnut Week is held annually in the United Kingdom as a fundraiser for The Children's Trust, a charity for children with brain injury and neuro disability. Bakers and confectioners throughout the country hold events in-store and create special doughnuts for this week. Proceeds go to The Children's Trust.

Africa

May

Drinking Water Week: May 3-9

06:20 AM | -

Tap water (sweet water) provides safe drinking water, sanitation and supports industrial, agricultural, medical, and recreational activities. Life expectancy rates are directly attributed to improved water quality, which removes many water-borne diseases, including typhoid fever. It also drastically improves sanitation. Tap water in most American communities is some of the safest drinking water supplies in the world. However, places like Flint, Michigan, have shown that there is room for improvement even in America. For over 40 years, the American Water Works Association has celebrated Drinking Water Week, the first full week in May each year.

Africa

May

Ducasse de Mons, Doudou (BE)(1349): May 27-June 2

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Ducasse de Mons (Doudou) is an eight-day festival running Sunday through Sunday, including a Friday night concert, festivities, the procession, Car d'Or, and the fight between Saint George and the dragon Sunday afternoon. On June 2, 1349, Mons, Belgium, managed to defeat the Black Plague when the entire town transported the shrine of Waltrude to the village of Casteau. The villagers considered it a miracle and now celebrate the abolishment of the plague every year on Trinity Sunday since 1352. The Ducasse de Mons is the celebration of that event. Each year a procession carries Waltrude's Shrine through the town, beginning with a torchlight handover on Saturday night. The following morning, the shrine lands in a gold horse-drawn wagon (Car d'Or), which needs to climb a very steep cobblestone hill (Rampe Sainte-Waudru) in one try if the town's good fortune continues for another year. Since the horses cannot do this alone, hundreds of onlookers assist the cart over the hill. Once it crests the hill, legend says the town will be free from significant disasters for another year. The festival concludes with the battle between Saint George and the dragon, the Lumeçon, in the central town square of Mons. Dogs, devils, dragons, and saints, you have to see to believe. Header Image: Daniel71953 at fr.Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Africa

May

East Meets West Day (1869): May 10

06:20 AM | -

East meets West Day commemorates the anniversary of the opening of the United State’s first transcontinental rail system. The First Transcontinental Railroad was built between 1863 and 1869 by three private companies over public lands that connected the eastern U.S. rail network with the Pacific coast. The railroad opened for traffic on May 10, 1869. The coast-to-coast railroad connection revolutionized the settlement and economy of America. It aligned the western states and territories with the northern Union states and made transporting passengers and goods coast-to-coast considerably quicker and less expensive.

Africa

May

Eat More Fruits and Veggies Day: May 21

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Two-thirds of adults and 3/4 of children need more fruits and vegetables. To change that, Dole has set aside Eat More Fruits & Veggies Day each year to raise awareness and educate the public on the importance of a healthy diet.

Africa

May

Eat What You Want Day: May 11

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Eat What You Want Day is a Wellcat Holiday. The meaning is exactly what it says: Eat whatever you want today. Banana Split for Breakfast? Go for it! Pancakes for dinner? Knock yourself out. A ten-course meal? Enjoy! Celebrate this day by eating whatever you want.

Africa

May

Egg Month: May

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National Egg Month focuses on the versatility of the egg. Eggs have a vital role to play in providing nutrients to people around the world. Eggs are one of nature’s highest-quality protein sources and contain many critical life ingredients. The proteins within eggs contribute to the development of the brain and muscles. Eggs are believed to be vital in disease prevention and contribute to general well-being.

Africa

May

Eid al-Adha (M): May 26/27

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Eid al-Adha is one of the two religious holidays observed by Muslims worldwide. It commemorates the obedience of Abraham to God when He commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael at Mount Moriah. But, the angel Jibra’il (Gabrial) stopped him at the last minute. Eid al-Adha is a significant holiday in Islamic majority nations and often lasts five days. The celebration begins with a prayer and then with a sermon. Eid al-Adha is part of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Also called the Feast of Sacrifice, it is on this day that Muslims buy udhiya or asqurbani, usually a goat or a sheep, for the sacrifice. The animal is killed, and the meat is divided into three parts. One part is given to relatives, the second to neighbors, and the family keeps the third. If you are Christian or Jewish, you’re probably doing a double-take at those mentioned above. Rest assured, the above is not a typo. In Islam, it is Ishmael portrayed in the story. In Christianity and Judaism, it is Isaac. The importance of this goes to lineage and the prophet Mohammed. Jesus is descended from Abraham through Isaac. Mohammed from Abraham through Ishmael. Isaac and Ishmael have the same father but different mothers. The story of the sacrifice, which Eid al-Adha celebrates, is one of the key departure points of the three faiths of the Book. How Jesus Christ is defined, and the resurrection is another. The Jewish faith believes Jesus was simply a rabbi (teacher), nothing more. The Muslims believe He was a prophet but was not killed on the cross; instead, God replaced Him with another man before He died, which means He was not resurrected. Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah promised to Abraham and the Israelites and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. He was sacrificed on the cross and resurrected three days later. All three faiths follow the first five books of the Old Testament. Each, however, has its different interpretations of it. Eid al-Adha is an example of an event interpreted differently by the three faiths, and it is celebrated in Islam, but not Christianity or Judaism.

Africa

May

Ekadanta Sankashti (H): May 5

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In the Hindu faith, Chaturthi celebrates Lord Ganesha. Sankashti Chaturthi (Ekadanta Sankashti) occurs 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

May

Electrical Safety Month, Ntl.: May

06:20 AM | -

National Electrical Safety Month seeks to raise awareness of electrical hazards in the home, at work, at school, and when at play. It focuses on educating people about prevention. Sponsored by EFSI, National Electrical Safety Month is an opportunity to learn more about electricity and the safety measures you can take to prevent unfortunate incidents.

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