International Jazz Day Sunday, 30 April 2023

 International Jazz Day

Next International Jazz Day Sunday, 30 April 2023

International Jazz Day is celebrated every year on April 30. Sponsored by UNESCO, this day aims to spread the love for Jazz around the world, and raise awareness about how Jazz can bring people together by promoting social and cultural values of empathy and tolerance. Jazz encourages improvisation, creativity, and freedom of expression, and because of its roots, this musical genre stands as a tool of empowerment and resistance against injustice. Celebrating International Jazz Day is celebrating life, togetherness, and freedom!

International Jazz Day Sunday, 30 April 2023

History of International Jazz Day

The idea for a global celebration of the diplomatic role of Jazz came from Herbie Hancock, a famous jazz musician, and a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue.

Herbie Hancock presented his idea for the holiday at the UNESCO General Conference in November 2011. It was approved and the Executive Board officially declared April 30 International Jazz Day.

The day is organized by the UNESCO Director-General and Herbie Hancock, with the help of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. It celebrates the Jazz's ability to promote understanding between cultures, and how it increases intercultural exchanges, cooperation, and tolerance by bringing people together.

International Jazz Day was officially recognized by the UN General Assembly in December 2012.

Every year, different cities around the world, such as Paris, New York, and New Orleans (the birthplace of jazz) host a variety of events and concerts that focus on promoting jazz. These events aim at bringing people and communities together to learn about the roots of jazz and how it promotes diversity, respect for human rights, and how it stands against discrimination. Jazz as a music genre is all about collaboration, the freedom to improvise, and creativity, so it is no wonder that the biggest International Jazz Day goal is to unite people and encourage them to be themselves. 

Nearly 200 countries observe International Jazz Day, and each year there is a different host city where the All-Star Global Concert is held. The main event of International Jazz Day usually gathers over twenty musicians from all over the globe who come together near a historical landmark to play some jazz and bring its magic to everyone. 

A Bit About Jazz

Commonly known as "America's classical music", Jazz originated in New Orleans in the late 19th century, at the hand of the African-American communities. It has its roots in West African musical expression and African-American music traditions such as the blues and ragtime.  One of the defining elements of jazz is improvisation and the call-and-response pattern that was so common in the work songs and field hollers of African-American slaves. Jazz doesn't necessarily follow a musical score but is rather a product of collaboration and interaction with the other musicians. Jazz compositions are never played the same way twice. 

How to Celebrate International Jazz Day

With its rise in popularity, International Jazz Day is now celebrated in many places all around the world. So, it is likely that there will be a jazz concert, jam sessions, or workshops happening somewhere near you. If there isn't but you'd like to bring jazz to your community, the International Jazz Day website offers some information on how people can host their own event. 

You can also go experience jazz in its true essence by visiting a jazz bar. It is a great way to see what is new in jazz and discover new artists.

Not familiar with jazz? Begin your introduction to the genre by listening to the greats, that helped make jazz what it is today, such as Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, and Duke Ellington.

 

International Dance Day Saturday, 29 April 2023

 International Dance Day

Next International Dance Day Saturday, 29 April 2023

International Dance Day is celebrated every year on April 29 to recognize and honor the art of dance as it is one of the oldest and most valuable forms of entertainment.

International Dance Day Saturday, 29 April 2023

It is found almost in every corner of the world and is a great way to bring people across the globe together. 

The International Theater Institute, the performing arts partner for UNESCO, sponsors the day.

History of International Dance Day

The International Theater Institute (ITI), established International Dance Day in 1982. They chose April 29 as it marks the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), a leading figure in the world of dance and referred to by many as ' The Shakespeare of Ballet'. 

International Dance Day has been officially recognized by UNESCO with the ITI formally named as the creators and organizers of the day's events.

As a result, events are planned and carried out throughout all the member states of the UN. However, due to COVID-19 most of the events in 2021 were held online. 

As well as celebrating dance, International Dance Day encourages all dance forms and educates people on the cultural, historical, and social value of dance.

International Dance Day also gives dancers a platform to promote their work and their art globally, to raise awareness about the importance of dance as a means of expression and community. 

Every year an official message is given by a famous dancer or choreographer to inspire both dancers and non-dancers. 

How International Dance Day Is Celebrated

The ITI marks International Dance Day by hosting a Gala Celebration which is hosted by a different city every year.

The Gala consists of professional and student dance performances from around the world, speeches, and the reading of that year's message.

ITI Centers across the world also host dancing and educational events in their own countries meaning there are plenty of opportunities to take part in the celebrations.

World Penguin Day Tuesday, 25 April 2023

 World Penguin Day

Next World Penguin Day Tuesday, 25 April 2023

April 25 is World Penguin Day, a celebration of one of the most charming and unique animal species in the world. This day aims to teach people more about penguins, their habitats, and their importance in the ecosystem. It also raises awareness about the ways in which we can help protect penguins and their environment as, alarmingly, out of the 17 existing species of penguins, 11 have been classified as endangered. 

World Penguin Day Tuesday, 25 April 2023

History of World Penguin Day

World Penguin Day coincides with the day when Adelie penguins begin their yearly migration to the north. One day, researchers at the McMurdo Station on Ross Island noticed that Adelie penguins always went off on their annual northern migration on April 25. They thought it would be fun to have a holiday to mark this day, which could also have an educational purpose, raising awareness about the dangers that penguins face. 

World Penguin Day also gives scientists, researchers, and marine biologists a platform to educate people about these issues and tell them about ways in which they can help.

National DNA Day Tuesday, 25 April 2023

 National DNA Day

Next National DNA Day Tuesday, 25 April 2023

National DNA Day is on April 25, celebrating the anniversary of the discovery of DNA's double-helix structure in 1953, and the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. This day is organized by the Human Genome Research Institute and gathers together biologists, scientists, and those who are interested in genetics. National DNA Day is also about celebrating the things in each of our genes that make us all unique. 

National DNA Day Tuesday, 25 April 2023

History of National DNA Day

In 2003 the House of Representatives and the Senate issued a proclamation declaring April 25, 2003, as National DNA Day. This was only meant to be a one-time observance, but the National Human Research Institute took charge of the holiday and turned it into an annual event. While this is a United States observance, some groups around the world decided to also celebrate International DNA Day on the same date. 

April 25 was the date chosen to observe National DNA Day to mark the anniversary of when biologists and scientists James Watson, Maurice Wilkins, and Francis Crick first published their paper on DNA's double helix structure, in the scientific journal Nature, in 1953. This was a huge breakthrough in genealogy, and the three biologists were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery. DNA is the acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that contains the genetic code of living things.

National DNA Day also commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project. This project started in 1990, and gathered scientists from all over the world, trying to identify all the genes of the human genome and determine the base pairs that human DNA is made of. The project was funded in part by the United States government and supported by other organizations such as the Wellcome Trust. It was declared complete on April 14, 2003, two years ahead of schedule.

The first National DNA Day was declared to celebrate the end of the Human Genome Project, and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of DNA's double-helix structure. In that year, 2003, April was also established as Human Genome Month.  

This holiday continues to celebrate those two major breakthroughs in DNA studies, but it also highlights the hard work and advancements made in the study of genomes and genetics. 

DNA

DNA (short for deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule that contains genetic information, it can be found in all living organisms. It is a double-stranded, helical structure (A spiraling ladder) made of nucleotides, each nucleotide is comprised of:

• a sugar molecule (deoxyribose).
• a phosphate group.
• one of four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), or thymine (T).

The sequence of these four nucleotides in DNA is what determines an organism's genetic code. This code instructs cells how to produce proteins, which are the building blocks of life. Their arrangement is unique to each individual and species, controlling attributes such as height, and hair color.

How to Celebrate National DNA Day

There are likely to be some events and lectures, in-person and online, about DNA, genetics, and genomics. The National Human Genome Research Institute also organizes annual events for National DNA Day and encourages people to host their own. If this is something that interests you, it is a great opportunity to learn more about the topic from the world's leading scientists. 

Many genealogical DNA testing companies have special National DNA Day offers and sales to celebrate this day. This means you can finally take the step to have a DNA test and learn more about your family history, your genes, and your DNA. 

World Book Day Sunday, 23 April 2023

 World Book Day

Next World Book Day Sunday, 23 April 2023

World Book Day, also known as World Book and Copyright Day, is a United Nations holiday sponsored by UNESCO, celebrated every year on April 23. This day aims to promote reading across all communities, encourage people to engage with different types of literature, and discover the benefits of reading.

The day mainly focuses on children and young people, hoping to instill in them a love of books and promote reading for pleasure to contribute to their future and development. 

World Book Day also pays tribute to all of those who work behind the scenes to create books for us - writers, publishers, and copywriters. 

This day is not to be confused with World Book Day which is celebrated in the United Kingdom and Ireland on the first Thursday of March.

World Book Day Sunday, 23 April 2023

History of World Book Day

During the UNESCO General Conference held in Paris in 1995, delegates discussed the idea of having an annual celebration of books and authors. They wished to promote reading across the world and teach children about the wonders of reading for pleasure. The day chosen for this was April 23, in tribute to several famous authors who had their birth or death on this date, such as Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and Vladimir Nabokov, among others. 

World Book Day has been celebrated every year since April 23, 1995, although some countries choose to celebrate it on a different day. 

Unlike many other UN holidays, World Book Day does not observe a different theme each year.

 Why do we Celebrate World Book Day?

Reading books is crucial for children's development, but it is also a habit that can have a huge impact on anyone, regardless of their age. Reading regularly for pleasure has many benefits:

• it stimulates our minds and increases our vocabulary
• it teaches us new things and improves our focus
• it can help us relax and reduce stress
• it also develops our thinking skills and opens up our eyes to different perspectives. 

For children, it stimulates their imagination, teaches them empathy, and encourages them to interact with and discover the outside world. According to the World Book Day website, reading for pleasure has a bigger positive impact on a child's future than any other factors of their upbringing, such as income or parents' educational background.

World Book Day encourages this love for reading and makes books more accessible to children, especially those of disadvantaged circumstances, to instill in them the habit of reading and improving their lives. Even 10 minutes a day spent reading, or being read to, can have a big impact on a child's life and future. 

This day is celebrated in over 100 countries, with hundreds of sponsoring organizations, schools, and public groups bringing World Book Day to millions of people. It also gives people a great opportunity to learn about what goes into making a book, and to discover new authors and genres of literature. 

Five bestsellers 

The following books are considered from many sources to be the best-selling books around the world of all time:

1. The Bible - This book is considered the best-selling book of all time, partly due to the fact that it is also the oldest book on this list by a large margin. Billions of copies of it have been sold and distributed in various languages and editions worldwide.

2. "Quotations from the Works of Mao Tse-tung" (Mao Zedong) - Another incredibly popular book, with an estimated 800 million copies sold.

3. "Don Quixote" (Miguel de Cervantes) - A classic novel and one of the most important works of Western literature. Some sources estimate over 500 million copies of this story have been sold worldwide.

4. "The Lord of the Rings" (J.R.R. Tolkien) - This epic fantasy series, also a successful movie and video game franchise, has sold over 150 million copies and has been translated into numerous languages.

5. "The Little Prince" (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) - This classic children's book has been translated into many languages and has sold over 140 million copies worldwide.

How to Celebrate World Book Day

Events for this day are mainly organized by libraries and schools and include public readings, Q&A's with authors, writing competitions, and distribution of free books and bookmarks. 

In the United States, there is an annual street festival held for World Book Day in Kensington, Maryland, on the Sunday closest to April 23.

Celebrate this day by taking a trip to the library or the bookshop, picking up new books from authors you've never read, or re-reading an old favorite book. If you have children take them with you and let them pick their own books to read, or that you can read to them. You can also donate to your local library to help make books accessible for everyone in your community. 

Earth Day is celebrated internationally on April 22

 Earth Day

Next Earth Day Saturday, 22 April 2023

Earth Day is celebrated internationally on April 22. It is a day to educate people about the issues affecting the planet and to raise awareness for and celebrate the efforts in place to protect the environment. 

Earth Day is celebrated internationally on April 22

As a global observance, it sometimes extends to a week-long celebration, named Earth Week, and the celebrations are coordinated by the Earth Day Network across 193 countries. 

It is not a public holiday, so businesses and schools remain open.

How Did People Start Celebrating Earth Day

Senator Gaylord Nelson (former senator and governor in Wisconsin) is said to invent Earth Day in 1970. This is when he deployed students to protest and demonstrate against air and water pollution. 

Events like rallies and many others were organized across the whole country. It opened the public eye to environmental issues and political agenda for perhaps the first time in America. 

In 1990 there was a large 20th-anniversary international celebration of the first Earth Day with people from over 140 countries taking part in official parades, marches, and activities.

This led Earth day to grow and expand into a global phenomenon. 

People continued to celebrate earth day through national events and locally organized activities from 1990 and 2010. 

On the 40th anniversary of the original earth day in 2010, nations came together to organize larger events including a magnificent rally in Washington DC. 

How To Observe Earth Day

Every year Earth Day has a theme. Last year (2022) the theme was "Invest In Our Planet".  

This year, the theme remains the same. It acts as a continuation of last year's campaign since it was very well-received and focuses on engaging governments and over 1 billion citizens across the world. 

There are many national events including festivals, parades, and initiatives such as recycling drives organized by local government, charities, schools, and private companies. Other activities include tree planting, trash collecting, and petitioning the government for change.

Eid al-Fitr Friday, 21 April 2023

 Eid al-Fitr

Next Eid al-Fitr Friday, 21 April 2023

Eid-al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of the Shawwal month. It is also known as the "Festival of Breaking Fast". 

It is a public holiday in India and many countries across West Asia. 

History Behind The Holy Day

Out of all the festivals in the Islam community, two major ones are Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha. Eid-al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is celebrated on the first and second days of Shawwal.

Shawwal is the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The date according to the Gregorian calendar varies every year since the Islamic calendar depends on the lunar cycle. 

Muslim tradition believes that the Islamic Prophet Muhammad originally started the festival of Eid-al-Fitr. 

 Eid al-Fitr Friday, 21 April 2023

Some traditions have it that the festivals were proposed in Medina after Muhammad migrated from Mecca. 

A popular friend of the Islamic Prophet, Anas, said that upon Muhammad's arrival in Medina, he saw people celebrating two specific days of recreation and festivities.

Hence, Muhammad concluded that two days of celebration were set by God. These two days are Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha.

During Ramadan, the prophet of Islam Muhammad received the revelations from the angel Gabriel that allowed him to compile the holy book of the Quran.

It is also said that in the early days of Islam, Allah instructed the Prophet Muhammad to fast during the month of Ramadan to help develop empathy, self-discipline, and compassion and to strengthen the bond between Allah and his children. 

Administrative Professionals Day

 Administrative Professionals Day

Next Administrative Professionals Day Wednesday, 19 April 2023

Administrative Professionals Day is an observance that takes place on the Wednesday of the last week of April. It is a day to recognize the work that administrative professionals such as secretaries, administrative assistants, and receptionists, among others, do and how they are essential not only to their respective workplaces but also to the economy around the world.

It is not a public holiday, and most people celebrate the day while at work.

Administrative Professionals Day

Background

During World War II there were few Administrative Professionals available to work in all the new businesses that were booming because of the war. America was coming off the Great Depression which had not only greatly affected the economy but had also caused a decline in birthrates.

The National Secretaries Association was founded in 1942 to help recruit people for administrative roles in business. They highlighted the importance of administrators in the workplace and provided support and training to the new professionals.

As the roles of Administrative Professionals evolved, the organization changed name twice, in 1981 and 1998, first to Professional Secretaries Association and then to the International Association of Administrative Professionals, as it remains until today. These changes reflected how the responsibilities and tasks of the job grew in importance and became essential to businesses around the world.
The association grew internationally and dedicates itself to providing training and educating employees to excellent standards who then go on to work in the global community. 

In 1952 the United States Department of Commerce organized the first National Secretaries Week, with National Secretaries Day falling on Wednesday. Since 2000 the names for the celebration have changed to Administrative Professionals Week and Day to encompass all the job titles that fall into the administrative roles, as well as reflect the growing responsibilities that those jobs entail.

Orthodox Easter April 16th, in 2023.

 Orthodox Easter

Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, is celebrated at a later date than that observed by western Christianity. This is because the Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar, as opposed to the Gregorian calendar. Thus, those of the Orthodox faith will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on April 16th, in 2023. 

In the United States, the most established Orthodox churches are the Greek Orthodox Church, the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Orthodox Easter is not a federal holiday in the United States, but it falls on a Sunday, so most businesses will be closed or have reduced opening times. 

History

Just like western churches, Orthodox churches celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, three days after his crucifixion, on Easter Sunday. 

However, while the time for Easter celebrations was established in 325CE by the Council of Nicaea, to be observed on the first full moon around the March Equinox, Orthodox churches choose to commemorate their Easter according to the Julian calendar. 

For those of Orthodox faith, Easter starts with the Great Lent, on Clean Monday, and lasts for forty days that culminate on Lazarus Saturday. To officially close the Great Lent, the Vespers, a sunset evening prayer, is held during Lazarus Saturday services. After Lent, Holy Week begins, which ends with Easter Sunday. Orthodox Easter begins with the Midnight Office. For this, the church has its lights off, and a candle is lit at midnight, symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus. Then, there is a procession that goes around the altar three times as a symbol of the three days that Jesus spent in the tomb. This is succeeded by a feast on Sunday morning that ends the fasting of the Great Lent.

Orthodox Easter Traditions

Greetings

During the time leading up to Easter, Orthodox Christians greet each other with a Paschal greeting. One person greets the other by saying "Christ is risen!" to which the other responds "Truly, He is risen!".

Food

The food eaten at the Paschal feast is important since it is the meal that breaks the Lenten fasting. At this occasional Orthodox Christians usually eat lamb and Tsoureki Paschalino, a sweet Easter bread. 

Other foods consumed during Orthodox Easter are smoked meats, cheeses, boiled eggs, and Pashka Easter bread cake. This is usually accompanied by red wine.

Some people participate in the tradition of blessing food baskets. 

Easter Eggs

Orthodox Easter eggs are hard-boiled and dyed red to symbolize the blood of Jesus Christ. The egg represents fertility and birth. 

World Art Day Saturday, 15 April 2023

 World Art Day

Next World Art Day Saturday, 15 April 2023

World Art Day is celebrated on April 15, the birthday of the famous artist Leonardo Da Vinci. This day was established by the International Association of Art, to raise worldwide attention to the work of international artists, and the ways of creative expression that exist. National Art Day celebrates all kinds of art, encouraging people to expand their artistic interests, and get to know artistic mediums that they were not aware of. 

History of National Art Day

The International Association of Art (IAA) founded World Art Day on April 15, 2012, after a proposition was put forward during their 17th General Assembly. They wished to create a day in celebration of the fine arts and to promote creative activity on an international scale.

The date chosen was Leonardo Da Vinci’s birthday, in honor of one of history's most renowned artists and inventors. 

The first official World Art Day celebration in the United States was held in Los Angeles, in 2015, where commemorations have been held ever since. The American chapter of the IAA was founded in 2017, with the intention of spreading World Art Day celebrations all over the country. 

In 2019, during the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference, World Art Day was officially proclaimed as a UNESCO observance, and the International Association of Art was made an NGO partner of UNESCO. 

Why do we celebrate World Art Day?

Since the beginning of time, humans have been creating and enjoying art. It is a way to express ourselves and see ourselves represented in other people's work. 

Art plays a very important role in our lives, whether we realize it or not. It promotes creativity, diversity, and innovation, and encourages people to start conversations about their interests and share knowledge with each other, opening horizons, and making us look at things in different ways. This is why we need to continue to support art and artists and contribute to the diffusion of new works of creative expression around the world. 

Many people associate art with Fine Art, such as painting or sculpture. In reality, art is constantly evolving, and it is anything in a visual form that has been created by someone using their imagination and creative skills. Art is photography, calligraphy, architecture, design, cinema, fashion, and so on. Look around you, you are probably enjoying art every day without noticing. 

World Art Day aims to spread art and artistic expression all around the world, get new artists known, and make art accessible to everyone. 

The Famous Artists

This World art day you could spend some time learning about the most famous artists who ever existed, here is a list of five to get you started:

• Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 in Vinci, a republic of Florence. As well as an artist he was also an inventor and a polymath with a curiosity in many subjects including music, mathematics, the sciences, and geology. His two most famous works are probably the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
• Michelangelo was also born in Florence and lived at the same time as Da Vinci. He was born in 1475 and as well as painting and sculpture he was also an architect and a poet. He created "David", a statue that is probably the work he is most well known for. 

After trying many years, and then
near death, the able man may know
an image living in the alpine stone.
If at all, the high and new come slowly,
and, for us, they do not last so long.
Oh my beloved! nature's like that too,
who tried for beauty times untold
until she triumphed, and made you.
Yet by that token she is old
and almost at the end of her career.
So terror, which is always near
to beauty, feeds desire strange food.
My mind falls silent and no longer says
if joy or pain be more: the sight
of you calls forth the End of Days,
yet gives me great delight.

After trying many years - A poem by Michelangelo 

• Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853 in Zundert, Netherlands. His post-impressionist style led to the creation of such masterpieces as  Sunflowers, and The Starry Night. Despite immense talent, Van Gogh was plagued by his own mental health and he committed suicide in 1890. He was only recognized for his genius after his death.
• Pablo Picasso came from Málaga in the south of Spain. As a highly influential artist, he created the Cubist movement alongside the French artist Georges Braque. He is known for masterpieces such as "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" and "Guernica."
• Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, known as simply Rembrandt, was a dutch artist who lived between 1606 and 1669. His most famous works include The Night Watch" and "Self-Portrait with Two Circles."

How to Celebrate World Art Day

Every year, the International Association of Art hosts events and festivities for World Art Day, in Los Angeles. If you live near or are willing to make the trip, attending is the perfect way to celebrate World Art Day and get into the spirit. 

However, there are other ways you can celebrate this day. Here are some ideas:

• Join an art class. Many people have artistic hobbies, so why not do it too? If you have an interest in drawing, pottery, photography, or any other art forms, joining a class is a great way to better your skills and get to know others that share your interest. 
• Visit a museum or a gallery. Nothing makes us appreciate art like seeing some real masterpieces up close and in person. Get inspired by paying a visit to your local museum. 
• Host a World Art Day party. Encourage friends and family to use their creativity to make something, and hold an art competition to pick the best artist out of all of you.