5 June 2024
“June is bustin’ out all over” (Rodgers and Hammerstein from Carousel) with various celebrations, including leftover graduations, a popular month for weddings, and other events, both serious and silly.
The month’s name comes from either Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, or juvenis, “young people”. Juno is the counterpart of Hera and a powerful queen of the deities.
June 1 – Say Something Nice day. Well, shouldn’t this actually be every day? However, if you missed the “event,” double up on another day this month.
June 4 – Old Maid’s day. Dedicated to spinsters or other single ladies who are still searching for Mr. Right.
June 5 – World Environment day. Think about what you and your family can do to improve our planet.
June 6 – National Yo Yo day. See if you can find some online videos of the various tricks you can do with a yo yo. Walk the Dog. Around the World. Or…listen to a performance by classical cellist Yo Yo Ma.
June 8 – Upsy Daisy Day. This is another positive thinking day. It encourages cheerfulness from the time you awaken until you hit the sheets again.
June 8 – Best Friends day. There is no real documentation of this being an “official” day, but what the heck, go hang out with a BFF or two.
June 14 – Flag Day. Display the Stars and Stripes. If you are unsure about what to do, check the U. S. Flag Code (https://www.almanac.com/us-flag-etiquette-rules-and-guidelines). Learn about when it is appropriate to drape a casket with the U. S. Flag and the meaning behind the various folds as it is removed and offered to the next of kin. Interesting stuff.
June 16 – Father’s Day. Time to give some respect to our paternal figures. Ask about your family tree and anything interesting about some of the guys.
June 17 – Eid ul-Adh (Date may vary from year to year). A religious observance for those of the Muslin faith. On the tenth day of Hajj is a four-day period of prayer and sacrifice, but not fasting.
June 19 – Juneteenth – Sometimes called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. This signifies the validity and enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation and how its details were, and were not, communicated to the nation.
June 20 – Summer Solstice. This is the day with the greatest amount of daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere. Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the shortest day of the year.
June 21 – Full moon. Many people believe that unusual things happen during a full moon. This one is called a Strawberry Moon. Because, in the wild, these berries are prime for picking and eating, so the appearance of the full moon is associated with the fruit. With Juno as a maternal influence, it also is associated with fertility and general nurturing. Native Americans also gave various names to the moon. They were not the only ones, though. The Celtic names are Horse Moon, Dyan Moon, and Rose Moon. The English called it Flower Moon and Planting Moon.
June 21 – National Selfie Day. Take photos of yourself, alone or with others, with different backgrounds all day. Choose favorite spots or just unusual surroundings.
June 22 – National Chocolate Eclair day. Now this is one that I can get behind wholeheartedly.
June 24 – Midsummer. Not just part of a title of a Shakespeare play, this is the traditional mid point of the season between planting and harvesting.
June 26 – National Forgiveness day. Start by forgiving yourself for whatever you think you have done wrong or incorrectly.
June 30 – Meteor Watch day. Well, actually night. Go to spot with very little artificial light and look up to the sky. Look for shooting stars or falling stars. Make a wish.
