June, the sixth month of the calendar year, is one of the brightest and most pleasant months of the year. It marks the transition between the renewal of spring and the delights of summer. Each year, generally on June 21, the sun reaches its highest point above the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere. Called the summer solstice, literally “the sun stands still,” this marks the longest daylight of the year and the beginning of summer. The month of June brings beautiful bouquets, delicious fruits and vegetables and an urge to go outdoors and enjoy the sunshine. Here are some additional fun facts about the month of June as stated in “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” courtesy of Patsy Zima:
- June’s full moon, called the Strawberry Moon, occurs on Thursday, June 24. It reaches peak illumination at 2:40 p.m. (EDT) that afternoon but will not appear above the horizon until just after sunset.
- June 4 is National Doughnut Day, originally established in 1938 by the Salvation Army to honor women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I. The day is celebrated yearly on the first Friday in June.
- June 5 is World Environment Day and commemorates the date on which the landmark 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment took place in Stockholm, Sweden, the beginning of an annual event that focuses on particularly pressing environmental issues, such as wildlife conservation, climate change and our vital connection to nature.
- June 14 is Flag Day, first observed by presidential proclamation on June 14, 1877, and honors our country’s flag.
- June 17 is honored as Bunker Hill Day in Massachusetts in remembrance of the first battle of the American Revolution that took place on June 17, 1775 – even though the actual first battle took place at Breed’s Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, one hill away from Bunker Hill.
- June 19, also called Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, celebrates the end of slavery and freedom in eastern Texas and portions of the surrounding states. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger landed with Federal troops in Galveston, Texas, with the intention of enforcing President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863. The end of slavery was a gradual process, occurring as news of the proclamation reached outlying towns and states. The proclamation stated that all slaves were free and the relationship between master and slave changed to employer and employee. June 19 was declared a legal holiday in Texas in 1980.
- Father’s Day is celebrated this year on June 20. Unlike Mother’s Day, which was made a holiday in 1914, Father’s Day was not immediately accepted. It didn’t become a national holiday in the United States until 1972 during President Richard Nixon’s administration, when he declared the third Sunday in June a day to honor all men that recognize the role of father in the family.
Wishing all the Dads out there a very Happy Father’s Day