All - Leep Calendar

Sardine Day celebrates the fish staple that has been around for thousands of years. Sardines, small oily fish in the herring family, have a rich history that spans centuries and encompasses various cultures and cuisines. These fish, often canned or preserved, have been an important food source for millennia due to their abundance, nutritional value, and ease of preservation. The history of sardines as a food source dates back to ancient times. Evidence suggests that the Phoenicians, a seafaring people living around 3000 BC in Lebanon, were among the first to harvest and trade sardines. The Greeks and Romans also valued sardines, often salting and preserving them for later consumption. Sardines became particularly significant in Europe in the Middle Ages, when fish was essential to the diet due to religious fasting practices. Sardines were abundant in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, providing a reliable food source when religious rites or scarcity reduced meat consumption. The modern era of sardine consumption began in the 19th century with the advent of canning technology. Joseph Colin established the first commercial cannery in France in 1824 and pioneered preserving sardines in oil. This innovation made sardines a staple pantry item, as they could be stored for long periods and shipped long distances. Canning technology spread rapidly, and by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the sardine industry had become a significant economic sector in many coastal regions, including parts of the United States, particularly in Maine and California, as well as in France, Portugal, and Norway. Sardines experienced peak popularity in the early to mid-20th century, especially during the two World Wars, when their high protein content, portability, and long shelf life made them a valuable food resource for soldiers and civilians alike. However, overfishing in the mid-20th century led to a decline in sardine populations, particularly in the North Atlantic, impacting the industry significantly, leading to stricter regulations and efforts towards sustainable fishing practices. Today, sardines are eaten for their health benefits, including high omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and calcium. They are enjoyed fresh in many culinary traditions, particularly in Mediterranean cuisine, and continue to be a popular canned product worldwide.

Africa

Nov

Saxophone Day (1814): November 6

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Saxophone Day honors the birthday of its inventor Adolphe Sax, born on November 6, 1814. The sax is a classical woodwind instrument fashioned in 1840. By the 1920s, the saxophone has become synonymous with jazz and marching bands.

Africa

Nov

Scholarship Month, Ntl.: November

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The National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) sponsors National Scholarship Month; this awareness campaign highlights student scholarship opportunities. This month, many scholarship providers offer competitions and post information about the scholarships.

Africa

Nov

School Meals Week, Ntl. (UK): November 10-14 (est)

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National School Meals Week in the United Kingdom highlights the yearly need for regular student meals. For many poor children, school is their only balanced meal of the day. See the event website for toolkits and ideas.

Africa

Nov

Science Day for Peace and Development, World: November 10

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World Science Day for Peace and Development is a UNESCO campaign demonstrating science's importance to everyday life. It highlights scientific developments and the role scientists play in life.

Africa

Nov

Scrapple Day, Ntl.: November 9

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National Scrapple Day commemorates the first pork dish invented in North America of pork scraps mixed with cornmeal, wheat, and spices formed into a loaf-like structure that is fried. It originated in the Pennsylvania Dutch culture.

Africa

Nov

Second Hand Sunday: November 30

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Second Hand Sunday, initiated by Poshmark in 2022, is celebrated annually on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. It promotes sustainability and conscious consumerism by encouraging people to shop for and sell secondhand items. Launched as a counterpoint to the mass consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Second Hand Sunday taps into the growing trend of sustainable fashion and the circular economy. Poshmark, founded in 2011 as a platform for buying and selling used clothing, accessories, and home goods, established Second Hand Sunday to highlight the benefits of secondhand shopping. This initiative aligns with the company's mission to make shopping more sustainable and socially responsible. Second Hand Sunday includes various activities centered around Poshmark's online platform. Users are encouraged to list their unused items for sale and shop from others' listings, promoting the reuse and recycling of goods. The day is also supported by social media campaigns and partnerships with influencers and sustainability advocates to spread the message about the positive impact of secondhand shopping. The observance serves as a reminder of the environmental impact of fast fashion and the benefits of a circular fashion economy. By choosing to buy secondhand, consumers can reduce waste, lower their carbon footprint, and contribute to a decrease in the demand for new, resource-intensive manufacturing. In addition to its environmental benefits, Second Hand Sunday emphasizes the cost-effectiveness and the unique finds that secondhand shopping offers. Consumers can purchase high-quality, often designer, products at a fraction of their original price, making fashion more accessible and diverse. Poshmark's Second Hand Sunday represents a shift in consumer behavior towards more sustainable practices in the fashion industry. It underscores the growing awareness and demand for eco-friendly retail options, encouraging consumers and companies to rethink traditional consumption patterns.

Africa

Nov

Senior Safety Week, Ntl. (CA): November 6-12

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Senior Safety Week is an annual awareness campaign in Canada during November. The campaign promotes the safety and well-being of older adults, particularly those who live independently. During Senior Safety Week, various organizations across Canada host events and activities to raise awareness about issues that impact seniors' safety, such as fall prevention, fire safety, fraud prevention, and elder abuse. The goal is to provide seniors with the knowledge and tools to stay safe and remain independent. The Canada Safety Council organizes Senior Safety Week in partnership with government agencies, community groups, and healthcare providers. It has been held annually since 2011, and each year has a specific theme to guide the focus of the awareness activities.

Africa

Nov

Shakespeare Authorship Mystery Day (1623): November 8

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During the 16th century, writing was considered the common man's purview and inappropriate for a nobleman. Yet, given the above, how could William Shakespeare be the actual writer of the plays and sonnets that appear under his name? That is the purpose of Shakespeare's Authorship Mystery Day, a day to ponder the above. Created in 2017, Authorship Mystery Day occurs on the anniversary of the publication of the First Folio on November 8, 1623. For an engaging version of this question, see the 2011 film "Anonymous," starring Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, and Joely Richardson.

Africa

Nov

Shichi-Go-San (JP): November 15

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Shichi-Go-San (three-five-seven) is a Japanese tradition. On this day, children ages three, five, and seven are taken to the temple in festive clothes for blessings and to receive prayers for their health and prosperity. Annually on November 15.

Africa

Nov

Shopping Reminder Day: November 26

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Shopping Reminder Day reminds people that organization is essential when creating a shopping list. On this day, people draw their shopping lists for the upcoming holiday season. Shopping Reminder Day occurs precisely one month before Christmas.

Africa

Nov

Sigd (IL): November 19/20

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Sigd, Mehlella or Amata Saww originated with the Jewish community of Ethiopia and is now a state holiday in Israel. It occurs 50 days after Yom Kippur. Sigd commemorates the acceptance of the Torah.

Africa

Nov

Signing Day, Ntl.: November 12*

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Today is National Signing Day for Division I and II Sports (also called National Letter of Intent Day), the day high school athletes with athletic scholarships (approximately 48,000 each year) declare which college they will attend. There are other signing days, but this is the first and the most anticipated each year. This day encompasses all sports, except American football.

Africa

Nov

Singles Day (CN/UK/EU): November 11

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Singles Day is about romance, but it is even more about insane retail sales. It's the 21st century's global version of Black Friday. If you're an online retailer who isn't tapping into Singles Day, you're missing the biggest online shopping day in the world, which generated $84.54 billion in revenues in 2021. Holy cow! The holiday began with a group of bachelors at Nanjing University in 1993. Originally it was a reason to party and hold events where one could meet their escape from singlehood, that elusive significant other. Chinese retailer Alibaba picked up on this and began running deep discounts on 11-11 in 2009. The promotion they launched was the Global Shopping Festival. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ELEVEN Then 2011 came around. The Chinese culture includes a lot of mysticism around numbers, and the number one is especially sacred for single adults, signifying individualism, self-sufficiency, and, most importantly, availability. With 11-11-11, savvy retailers seized the opportunity to promote the single luckiest day for singles in a century. A solitary number one = an individual Two ones together represent two single people finding each other Four represent finding your true soulmate, which is just for you. The more double ones, the more likely soulmates will find each other. Singles Day is celebrated in several countries, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, China, and online globally. How should you celebrate? Treating and pampering yourself to anything you want, dressing to the nines, and getting out there to meet other singles on this most auspicious day may lead to your soul mate.

Africa

Nov

Skin Cancer Action Week (AU): November 16-22

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Summer approaches, which means more time in the sun. National Skin Cancer Action Week in Australia is a joint initiative of the Cancer Council Australia and the Australasian College of Dermatologists. Its primary message: a tan is not healthy. Two-thirds of Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70, and more than 2,000 die from it annually. National Skin Cancer Action Week is an opportunity to learn about safe sun practices and make the most of your time in the sun without endangering your life.

Africa