All - Leep Calendar

Egypt's Eid el-Hob, known as "Love Day" in English, is a unique celebration of love and affection, somewhat akin to Valentine's Day in Western cultures. Celebrated on November 4th each year, this day has carved out its own identity and significance within the rich tapestry of Egyptian culture. Eid el-Hob began in the 1950s and is the brainchild of journalist Mustafa Amin; he proposed the idea in his column in the newspaper Akhbar El Yom. Amin received inspiration after witnessing a heart-wrenching scene of a funeral procession where a young widow was grieving her husband. Seeing her grief, he advocated for a day that celebrated love, a natural counterbalance to the sadness and loss that is an inevitable part of life. Unlike Valentine's Day, which often focuses on romantic love, Egypt's Eid el-Hob encompasses a broader spectrum. It's a day to express affection and appreciation towards romantic partners and friends, family members, and even colleagues. This inclusive approach to celebrating love reflects Egyptian culture's communal and family-oriented aspects. Customs and celebrations vary, but people typically exchange gifts, flowers, and cards to show affection. The event has gained more commercial traction in recent years, with shops and businesses displaying love-themed decorations and offering special promotions. Despite the increasing commercialization, the essence of the day remains focused on genuine expressions of love and kindness. The celebration of Eid el-Hob in Egypt also sheds light on the country's evolving social and cultural norms. In a society where public displays of affection are not the norm and where conservative views on relationships often prevail, Eid el-Hob offers a platform for more open expressions of love and affection, albeit in a culturally respectful manner. The significance of Eid el-Hob in Egyptian culture extends beyond the act of giving gifts. It's a time for reflection on the importance of love in all its forms, be it romantic, familial, or platonic. It's a day that promotes values of kindness, compassion, and understanding, deeply embedded in Egypt's social fabric. Egypt's Eid el-Hob is a culturally significant event that reflects the nation's unique perspective on love and relationships. It's a day that embraces a wide array of expressions of affection, highlighting Egyptian society's communal and inclusive nature. While it shares similarities with Valentine's Day, its origins and broader scope of celebration set it apart, making it a distinct and meaningful occasion in the Egyptian calendar. ____________ عيد الحب في مصر، المعروف بـ"يوم الحب" باللغة الإنجليزية، هو احتفال فريد بالحب والعاطفة، يشبه إلى حد ما عيد الحب في الثقافات الغربية. يُحتفل به في الرابع من نوفمبر من كل عام، وقد صاغ هذا اليوم هويته وأهميته الخاصة ضمن النسيج الثقافي الغني في مصر. بدأ عيد الحب في خمسينيات القرن الماضي وهو من بنات أفكار الصحفي مصطفى أمين؛ حيث اقترح الفكرة في عموده بجريدة أخبار اليوم. استوحى أمين الإلهام بعد مشاهدته موكب جنازة مؤلم حيث كانت أرملة شابة تنوح على زوجها. وبعد رؤيته لحزنها، دعا إلى يوم يحتفل بالحب، كتوازن طبيعي للحزن والخسارة التي تعتبر جزءًا لا يتجزأ من الحياة. على عكس عيد الحب، الذي يركز في الغالب على الحب الرومانسي، يشمل عيد الحب في مصر طيفًا أوسع. إنه يوم للتعبير عن العاطفة والتقدير للشركاء الرومانسيين والأصدقاء وأفراد الأسرة وحتى الزملاء. هذا النهج الشمولي في الاحتفال بالحب يعكس جوانب المج تمع والتوجه الأسري في الثقافة المصرية. تختلف العادات والاحتفالات، لكن الناس عادة ما يتبادلون الهدايا والزهور والبطاقات لإظهار المودة. اكتسب الحدث جاذبية تجارية أكبر في السنوات الأخيرة، حيث تقوم المحلات والشركات بعرض زينة تحمل طابع الحب وتقديم عروض ترويجية خاصة. على الرغم من الزيادة في التجارة، تبقى جوهر اليوم مركزًا على التعبيرات الصادقة للحب واللطف. يسلط الاحتفال بعيد الحب في مصر الضوء أيضًا على التطورات الاجتماعية والثقافية في البلاد. في مجتمع لا تعتبر فيه المظاهر العلنية للمودة شائعة وحيث تسود الآراء المحافظة حول العلاقات، يوفر عيد الحب منصة لتعبيرات أكثر انفتاحًا عن الحب والعاطفة، ولكن بطريقة تحترم الثق افة المصرية. تتجاوز أهمية عيد الحب في الثقافة المصرية مجرد تبادل الهدايا. إنه وقت للتفكير في أهمية الحب بجميع أشكاله، سواء كان رومانسيًا أو أسريًا أو بلاتونيًا. إنه يوم يعزز قيم اللطف والتعاطف والتفهم، والتي هي جزء لا يتجزأ من النسيج الاجتماعي في مصر. عيد الحب في مصر هو حدث ذو أهمية ثقافية يعكس وجهة نظر الأمة المتميزة عن الحب والعلاقات. إنه يوم يحتضن مجموعة واسعة من تعبيرات المودة، مسلطًا الضوء على طبيعة المجتمع المصري الشمولية والجماعية. بينما يشترك في بعض الأوجه مع عيد الحب، فإن أصوله ونطاق احتفاله الأوسع يجعلانه مناسبة مميزة وذات مغزى في التقويم المصري.

Africa

Nov

Embrace Chaos Day: November 9

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Created by best-selling author Bob Miglani, Embrace the Chaos Day seeks to remind people to let go of stress, cease attempting to control everything, and go with the flow. "Embrace the Chaos" is the title of Miglani's second book.

Africa

Nov

Emmy Awards, Intl.: November 24 (est)

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The International Emmy Awards honors television films and programs produced outside the US and is presented by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This awards program aims to promote culture and understanding and expose the American public to the television programs created and produced in various parts of the world. The need for these awards became apparent when the three largest television networks professed disinterest in showing foreign-produced programs. Because of this, the co-founder of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Ralph Baruch, decided that having an Emmy award for such shows would foster interest. The first award ceremony was held in the Plaza Hotel, New York City, in 1973, with more than 200 guests in attendance. 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 unknown until 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

Nov

End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, International Day to (1993/1998): November 2

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Observed annually, UNESCO's International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists addresses the critical safety issue for journalists worldwide. The day draws global attention to the urgency of protecting journalists against attacks, threats, and violence and ending the widespread impunity for such crimes. It marks the anniversary of the induction of the OAS Special Rapporteurship to the office of the United Nations Special Procedure in 1993 and 1998. The origin of this observance dates back to November 2013, when the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day in response to a resolution by UNESCO. The resolution was a reaction to the growing number of attacks on journalists and media workers and the alarming fact that the vast majority of these crimes go unpunished. This impunity endangers journalists and undermines the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information for societies at large. The purpose of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists is to raise awareness of the need to ensure a safe and accessible environment for journalists to perform their work without fear of violence or repression. It serves as a day to remember those who have lost their lives and to call on governments worldwide to take decisive action to protect journalists and bring perpetrators to justice. A GRIM RECORD REACHED OF JOURNALISTS MURDERED A particularly gruesome example underscoring this day's importance is the Gaza Strip in the Autumn of 2023. The massacre and deliberate targeting of journalists continue as of this writing. The current revenge bombing of Gaza for a deadly incursion into Isreal from the blockaded region by armed militants on October 7, 2023, has already killed more journalists and media workers in three weeks than any conflict or event in history. From October 7 to November 12, 2023, Palestine surpassed Mexico as the deadliest place to be a journalist. More than 40 journalists were murdered by Israeli Occupation Forces while doing their job in the ongoing unprecedented bombardment and ethnic cleansing of the civilians of the besieged region. In several instances, journalists were targeted and assassinated by Israeli snipers. This slaughter extends to their families and associates, hundreds of whom have also been killed with precision bombs and targeting, often preceded by taunting and threats delivered through cellular phones and media by Occupation Forces. These alarming numbers highlight the extreme dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones, reporting on cartels, when reporting on corrupt corporations, or while covering fascistic authoritarian governments. The numbers illustrate the critical need for effective measures to ensure the safety and security of media workers. The loss of these journalists not only represents a tragic human toll and war crimes but also a significant blow to the right to information and freedom of the press. CONCLUSION The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists includes global events and campaigns, including vigils, demonstrations, and discussions to highlight the issue and advocate for change. Media organizations, NGOs, and international bodies often support these events to promote press freedom and protect journalists. It is a vital observance that brings to the forefront the ongoing risks and challenges faced by journalists worldwide and is a reminder of the importance of safeguarding the rights and safety of journalists, who play a crucial role in maintaining the free flow of information in societies.

Africa

Nov

Entrepreneurs’ Day, National: November 18

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National Entrepreneurs' Day celebrates the entrepreneurs who are the foundation of the US House Resolution 401 aims to make the third Tuesday of every November National Entrepreneurs' Day. National Entrepreneurs' Day will become an official US holiday if the resolution is adopted.

Africa

Nov

Entrepreneurship Day, Global Women's: November 17

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First held in 2014, International Women's Entrepreneurship Day [WED] convenes at the United Nations in New York City and focuses on discussions about critical issues affecting women and men worldwide will take the lead. Women worldwide have historically been underpaid, undervalued, underrepresented, underfunded – and underestimated—and still are," says WED founder & entrepreneur Wendy Diamond. "Women-owned businesses are set to increase by 90% in the next five years. We need to change the status quo because lifting women creates economic opportunity and vitality locally and globally. Women's Entrepreneurship Day empowers women and their businesses to amplify and enhance key 21st-century leadership skills, such as cooperation, communication, and compassion commonly associated with women at home and in the workplace. WED Global Ambassadors operate on every continent, representing women in Australia, Ghana, Kenya, Norway, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Uganda, and over 140 countries. "Statistics show that when women are provided with economic opportunity, 90 cents on the dollar goes back to their families," says Founder Wendy Diamond. Encouraging and empowering more women to enter business will have an incredibly positive financial and social impact on global communities. Female entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, innovators, and job creators remain the way forward. This United Nations event aims to empower the 4 billion women worldwide and bring hope to 250 million girls living in poverty.

Africa

Nov

Entrepreneurship Month, Ntl.: November

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Proclaimed by President Barack Obama, this month focuses on the efforts of entrepreneurs and their innovative contributions to the economy. Entrepreneurs are the backbone of any growing economy and promote entrepreneurship to American youth. Several events occur this month, including Global Entrepreneurship Week, National Entrepreneurs’ Day, Global Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, and Small Business Saturday.

Africa

Nov

Entrepreneurship Week, Global: November 17-23 (est)

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Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth, and expand human welfare. This event is acknowledged in over 160 countries and includes over 20,000 global partners.

Africa

Nov

Epilepsy Month, Ntl.: November

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National Epilepsy Month seeks to raise awareness of the treatment and therapies available to those with epilepsy. During this month, people are encouraged to acknowledge and understand the disorder and support the fight against the misconceptions, discrimination, and isolation facing those who live with epilepsy. Additionally, this month provides a support system for those affected by this condition.

Africa

Nov

Equal Opportunity Day (1863): November 19

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Equal Opportunity Day commemorates the famous speech by President Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address, delivered on November 19, 1863. Coming in at just 272 words, it remains one of the most powerful speeches ever given. THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate —we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Africa

Nov

Espresso Day: November 23

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Espresso Day celebrates the Italian drink. Luigi Bezzera, a Milanese inventor, is credited with creating espresso. He patented the first espresso machine in 1901. Bezzera's machine brewed coffee quickly for workers during their short breaks, using steam pressure to force hot water through finely ground coffee beans. This innovation marked a significant departure from the traditional methods of coffee brewing, which were much slower. In 1905, Desiderio Pavoni purchased Bezzera's patent and started manufacturing espresso machines named "La Pavoni." Pavoni improved the design and introduced the first commercial espresso machine, which debuted at the 1906 Milan Fair. This machine was a success, popularizing espresso in cafes across Italy. However, the early espresso machines had limitations, primarily producing coffee with a burnt taste due to steam pressure. The breakthrough came in 1948 when Achille Gaggia, a Milanese barista and coffee machine technician, developed a lever-driven machine. Gaggia's design used a spring-powered lever system, allowing water to press through the coffee at high pressure but at a lower temperature, resulting in a smoother flavor and the creation of crema – the creamy layer on top of the espresso. Gaggia's innovation spurred the modern espresso era, leading to widespread adoption in Italian cafes and the development of various espresso-based drinks, such as cappuccinos and lattes. Espresso's popularity in Italy soon spread to other parts of Europe and North America, becoming a staple of coffee culture worldwide. The latter part of the 20th century saw continued advancements in espresso technology, including the introduction of automatic and semi-automatic espresso machines. These machines made espresso more accessible commercially and in the home while preserving traditional espresso's quality and flavor characteristics.

Africa

Nov

European Union Day (1993): November 1

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The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union comprising 27 member countries, primarily in Europe. Its origins trace back to the aftermath of World War II, with the idea of fostering cooperation and preventing future widespread conflict. The EU was first conceptualized in 1950, with the proposal of the Schuman Plan, by the French foreign minister, Robert Schuman, which led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome was signed, forming the European Economic Community (EEC), with the same six countries, to create a common market and customs union. The EEC expanded to include Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom in 1973. Greece joined in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986. In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty became effective, establishing the EU and setting the foundation for a single currency, the euro. The EU continued to expand, with Austria, Finland, and Sweden joining in 1995. In 2004, in the most significant single expansion, ten more countries joined the EU: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Romania and Bulgaria followed in 2007. The most recent addition was Croatia in 2013. The United Kingdom, in a historic move, exited the EU on January 31, 2020, in an event commonly known as "Brexit." As of August 2023, the EU's 27 member states are: Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden The EU continues to evolve, with its members working collaboratively on matters related to defense, asylum, and international trade. It represents one of the world's largest economic blocs and a unique regional cooperation and integration experiment.

Africa

Nov

European Week of Waste Reduction: November 15-23 (est)

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Reduce waste, reuse products, and recycle material—these are the main focuses of European Week for Waste Reduction. It is an international initiative promoting the implementation of awareness-raising actions about sustainable resources and waste management during a single week. It encourages a wide range of audiences (public authorities, private companies, schools, civil society, and citizens) to get involved and carry out the waste reduction mission. Its ultimate goal is to reduce the over 2.5 billion tonnes of waste generated each year by the countries of the European Union.

Africa

Nov

Extra Mile Day: November 1

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Extra Mile Day celebrates our capacity to create unique and positive change in ourselves, our families, our organizations, and our communities when we "go the extra mile." It is a day to clap hard for those individuals and organizations who are "going the extra mile" in volunteerism and service to make a positive difference in the world.

Africa

Nov

Eye Donor Month, Ntl.: November

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Since 1983 the EBAA has held National Eye Donor Month to promote awareness of the need to donate eyes as part of the organ donor program, recognize donors and their families, and celebrate corneal recipients. Each year a member of Congress reads a proclamation into the Congressional Record to note this special occasion. This event initially ran in March.

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