All - Leep Calendar

Chowder is a cross between a stew and a soup, essentially made of vegetables and fish stewed in a cauldron. "Calderia" is Latin for a "place for warming things." "Jowter" is old English for a "fish peddler," and it is believed that this is the origin of the word "chowder." The first chowder recipes originated in France and England, among the coastal fishing villages. The custom was to have a cauldron simmering in the house, awaiting the fishing ships' return to port. A portion of each man's catch would be tossed into the pot, and the resulting chowder was served to the community to celebrate the ship's safe return. Clams were easy to harvest without embarking on a ship, making them ideal for chowder, especially in bad weather. Of course, clams could only be collected at certain times of the year. A staple of the working class, when clams were unavailable, the chowder was made from haddock, cod, and other local fish. Later, chowder recipes included other meats like ham, bacon, and poultry. Clam chowder became a favorite with East Coast Americans, especially on Fridays, due to a Christian custom of only eating fish on Fridays.

Africa

Jan

Granola Bar Day, Ntl.: January 21

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Granula, as it was initially called, originated in an 1863 mental health institution, the Jackson Sanitarium, and was popularized by Dr. James Caleb Jackson of Dansville, New York, to improve digestion. The name was later changed to granola by the Kellogg company to avoid a legal dispute when Kellogg began creating a similar baked cereal. Granola is baked, and muesli, which is similar, is the raw form of granola. By the early 20th century, granola slipped from favor. But oats and muesli were already being used to create cereal bars called "flapjacks" in the United Kingdom and muesli bars in Oceania. These were considered desserts and very similar to today's mass-produced bars. The flower children of the 1960s would revive it, pimping it with dried fruits and nuts. The ancient food, now marketed as a health food and a popular alternative to fast food on the go, was set to explode onto the market. The addition of the granola bar (basically a cookie in bar form and marketed as healthy) soon entered the snack and breakfast market during the mid-1970s to early 1980s. Today they are one of the most popular adult "sweets" and are often used as meal replacements.

Africa

Jan

Hugging Day, Ntl.: January 21

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Kevin Zaborney created National Hugging Day in 1986. Zaborney chose this day because he felt people are generally tired and in low spirits between Christmas/New Year and Valentine's Day, surmising a hug would cheer us up.

Africa

Jan

Hyaluronic Acid Day, Ntl: January 21

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Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the human body and is recognized for its role in skincare and medical treatments. It boosts the ability of skin to retain moisture, making it a key ingredient in many cosmetic and skincare products. Knowledge of hyaluronic acid dates back to the 1930s when Karl Meyer and John Palmer first isolated it from bovine eyes. The men discovered that this substance, composed of sugar molecules, had an extraordinary capacity to bind to water, making it a groundbreaking discovery in biochemistry. Its ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water makes it ideal for cosmetics and moisturizing products, including lotions, serums, and other skincare products. In the human body, hyaluronic acid is found in the highest concentrations in the skin, connective tissues, and eyes. Its primary function is to retain water, which helps keep tissues well-lubricated and moist. Unfortunately, the body's ability to create it decreases with age, resulting in dry skin and wrinkles. Beyond skincare, hyaluronic acid is used in certain eye surgeries, including cataract removal, corneal transplantation, retinal detachment repair, and natural fluids replacements. Additionally, it's common in injectable fillers used in cosmetic surgery, often to reduce wrinkles or add volume in some regions of the face. Hyaluronic Acid Day was created by L'Oréal's brand La Roche Posay in 2022 to raise awareness of its importance in healthy skin care and to promote products containing it.

Africa

Jan

Puppy Day, Ntl., Hug Your: January 21

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A day set aside to demonstrate your love and affection for dogs. This event first ran in 2019.

Africa

Jan

Squirrel Day: January 21

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Squirrel Day, or Squirrel Appreciation Day, expresses our love for the little, nut-eating rascals. Squirrels are an essential part of the ecosystem and provide hours of joy to those lucky enough to watch them go about their day. This event was created in 2001 by Christy Hargrove of the Wild North Carolina Nature Center.

Africa

Jan

Sweatpants Day, Intl.: January 21

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Sweatpants Day appeared on the internet around 2009. It is an unofficial event with no sponsor. Still, sweatpants are worth celebrating. Here is where they came from. ACTIVEWEAR & SWEATPANTS, A BRIEF HISTORY The origin of activewear, or clothing specifically designed for exercise and physical activity, spans centuries to ancient civilizations, including the Chinese, Europeans, and Romans. Each of these cultures played a role in the evolution of clothing tailored to the demands of physical exertion. CHINA Physical fitness was highly valued in China throughout its dynasties, particularly concerning martial arts—clothing for these activities needed to be flexible and durable. The traditional attire, often made from silk or other natural fibers, was designed to allow a full range of motion while maintaining the wearer's comfort. ROMANS The Romans also highly valued physical training, especially for their soldiers. Their exercise attire was practical and functional, often consisting of tunics and simple garments that facilitated movement and provided comfort and support during vigorous activities. EUROPE The concept of a dedicated clothing line for exercise, as we understand it today, emerged much later. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, tailors designed specific garments to increase performance in particular sports and physical activities. Swimwear is the first, with Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman, who popularized the one-piece swimsuit in the early 20th century. French tennis player René Lacoste was one of the earliest athletes to demand clothes that increased performance. In the 1920s, Lacoste, known for his prowess on the tennis court, created a short-sleeved, loosely-knitted piqué cotton shirt, a significant departure from the long-sleeved shirts players wore at the time. This shirt, which featured the now-iconic crocodile logo, was designed to provide greater comfort and mobility during the game. SWEATPANT DEBUT The "sweatpant" or "tracksuit" first appeared in the 1920s and is primarily attributed to Émile Camuset, the founder of the French sportswear brand Le Coq Sportif. Camuset, driven by his passion for sports and a keen understanding of athletes' needs, designed his garments to offer comfort and functionality during physical activities. Originally, sweatpants were simple, loose-fitting trousers made from a thick, soft fabric known as jersey, which was comfortable and helped maintain muscle warmth. Athletes wore these over their competition shorts while warming up. The tracksuit, which typically consists of two pieces - a jacket and matching pants - emerged around the same time. These sports fashion statements were lightweight and comfortable outfits that athletes could wear before and after competitions, during training, or while warming up. The tracksuit's versatility and comfort soon led to its adoption in various sports and physical activities. YOGA PANTS Yoga pants emerged as a distinct category within workout clothing around the late 1990s, driven by the increasing popularity of yoga in Western countries and the demand for more suitable and comfortable attire for the practice. They often looked like crop pajama bottoms with drawstring waistbands as yoga enthusiasts sought comfortable, functional, fitted, and flexible clothing to allow for the full range of motion required in yoga poses. The modern yoga pant is skin tight, resembling the tights worn in Renaissance Europe by men. These snug-fitting, flexible leggings offer comfort with a wide elastic waistband. Materials generally include a blend of cotton, lycra, and nylon fabrics that are stretchable and moisture-wicking. Today, sweatpants, tracksuits, and yoga pants are staples in sports, casual, leisure, and streetwear. The versatility and comfort of each have made them a favored choice for working out or simply hanging out in comfort wherever you may be.

Africa

Jan

Close-up Photographer of the Year Competition: January 22 (est)

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The Close-Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) Photography Awards, established in 2018, is an annual celebration of close-up, macro, and micro photography. The awards promote the often-overlooked intricate details of our world, promoting a unique form of photographic artistry. By emphasizing the smaller scales of life and the universe, the CUPOTY encourages photographers to explore and capture the beauty and complexity of details not visible to the naked eye. This prestigious competition draws entries from photographers around the globe, eager to demonstrate their skills in capturing the minute details of their subjects. The competition is divided into several categories, including animals, plants, insects, and an open category, allowing for a diverse range of subjects and creative approaches. The CUPOTY awards occur annually, with the entry period typically opening in the year's first quarter. Winners are announced later in the year, often in the last quarter, showcasing an array of stunning images that highlight the marvels of the microscopic world. Winning entries showcase technical proficiency and artistic vision and reveal the extraordinary details of ordinary objects. Through these awards, the CUPOTY not only honors the skills of photographers but also educates and inspires the public about the wonders of the world seen through a close-up lens. This event has rapidly gained recognition and prestige, becoming a significant date in the photography community's calendar. CURRENT CATEGORIES ANIMALS BUTTERFLIES & DRAGONFLIES FUNGI HUMAN-MADE INSECTS INTIMATE LANDSCAPE INVERTEBRATE PORTRAIT MICRO PLANTS UNDERWATER YOUNG The CUPOTY contest accepts submissions through early July. The competition welcomed participants worldwide, regardless of age, and accepted images taken with any camera, phone, or microscope. The contest included various categories such as Animals, Insects, Butterflies & Dragonflies, and more, along with a Young CUPOTY award for entrants aged 17 or under.

Africa

Jan

Answer Your Cat's Question Day: January 22

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Have a talkative cat? Today's the day you speak back and answer his or her question—another crazy holiday from Wellcat.

Africa

Jan

Blonde Brownie Day, Ntl.: January 22

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National Blonde Brownie Day recognizes the blonde brownie, the first brownie ever included in a cookbook, The Boston Cooking-School Cookbook by Fanny Merrit Farmer, in 1896. This book changed the way American families cook. It was written in a teaching format rather than simply recipes. The day chosen for Blond Brownie Day may coincide with the book's release date. We are unable to confirm that. It was in 1898 that the words chocolate and brownie would finally appear together in an advertisement in the Kansas City Journal, and in 1899 before a chocolate brownie recipe would be published. Blonde brownies contain zero chocolate and are cookies baked in a pan and cut into rectangles. Today we often do this with chocolate chip cookie dough to shorten the time it takes to cook the cookies one sheet at a time. Technically, these pan chocolate chip cookies would be brownies. What differentiates a brownie from cookies and cake is the density of the finished product. Cookies tend to be flat and dense. Cake is high and light. Brownies are high and dense.

Africa

Jan

Polka Dot Day, Ntl.: January 22

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National Polka Dot Day celebrates the fabric pattern of dots on a solid background. The term "polka dot" first appeared in Godey's Lady's Book in 1857, describing the pattern on a muslin scarf as "for light summer wear, surrounded by a scalloped edge, embroidered in rows of round polka dots." The word "polka" is a descriptor for Polish women. The pattern of dots on fabric hit its height in the 1930s and 1940s following its debut in Minnie Mouse's dress in 1926. Other popular culture references to the pattern include Marilyn Monroe's 1951 bikini, The song by Brian Hyland, "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," and the Marvel comic hero Polka Dot Man. For more on the history of polka dots, see https://www.thehairpin.com/2013/06/a-brief-history-of-polka-dots.

Africa

Jan

Roe-v-Wade Day (1973): January 22

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January 22, 1973, saw the landmark decision by the United States Court on Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. This ruling made abortion legal in the United States and gave women the choice of having a child if pregnant or ending the pregnancy. The ruling passed seven to two, upholding a right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment, extending it to a woman's decision to have an abortion. It was a tricky decision because it needed to balance the state's two legitimate interests—protecting women's health and protecting the potentiality of human life. The court decided that a woman has a right to abort a pregnancy until fetal viability. Viability is defined as "potentially able to live outside of the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid." Today this is translated to 23 or 24 weeks, with medical advances making headway to shorten that period even further. Update: In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, forcing over half the women in the United States to live in states where the procedure is either banned or extremely limited. American cities and states will not know the full ramifications of this regression in women's rights for several years. Over the next decade, if it remains struck down, expect universities in states with bans to see a reduction in students applying and attending. Employers in these states will have difficulty attracting young workers, thus forcing a decline in home values and, therefore, the tax base. Reduced taxes impact other public services as younger workers seek states that protect their rights and place the value of a woman's life before the unborn. Those of childbearing age, particularly the educated and those with means, will choose to live where they can control their lives over locations where they cannot.

Africa

Jan

Saint Vincent's Day: January 22

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If the sun is shining today, viticulturists (winegrowers) rejoice. Legend states that if the sun is shining on Saint Vincent's Day, that year's grapes will yield excellent wine. Saint Vincent of Saragossa, a Spanish deacon, is the patron saint of viticulturists. Martyred for his faith on this day in 304 AD, January 22 is his feast day in the Roman Catholic tradition. Orthodox Christians celebrate it on November 11.

Africa

Jan

Sanctity of Human Life Day (1973): January 22

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Sanctity of Human Life Day in the United States symbolizes the sacredness of human life and is meant to fight for the lives of the unborn and against abortion. Today is the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court ruling in the United States legalizing abortion. Sanctity of Human Life Day originated with President Reagan in 1984.

Africa

Jan

Ukrainian Day (UA)(1918): January 22

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On January 22, 1918, Ukraine proclaimed its independence from Russia. Freedom would last until 1921, when the Soviet Union took control of the country. In 1991 it regained its independence again. Beginning in February 2014, the region of Crimea fell under Russian occupation again. Russia invaded Ukraine again in February 2022. That war continues, with several eastern provinces currently occupied by Russia.

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