Interesting facts about June

June is the sixth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

The second of four months to have a length of 30 days, and the third of five months to have a length of less than 31 days.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the beginning of the meteorological summer begins on 1 June and the beginning of the traditional summer is 21 June. In the Southern Hemisphere, meteorological winter begins on 1 June and traditional winter begins on 21 June.

June contains the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the most daylight hours, and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, the day with the fewest daylight hours (excluding polar regions in both cases).

June in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to December in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.

It is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of youth and protection. Her name (Latin Iūnō) comes from the root word for “young” (Iuuen) and goes back to the idea of vital energy and fertility.

Another etymology for the origin of June explains the month’s name with the Latin word for youth: June was dedicated to Iuventas, the young, while May was for the Maiores, the elders. Both explanations work equally well, as Juno is the goddess of youth.

Midsummer means the middle of summer. It is celebrated either on the summer solstice (June 20, 21, or 22) or St John’s Day on June 24. Midsummer is mainly celebrated in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland (the Nordic countries), and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (the Baltic countries).

In Scandinavia, Midsummer is also called Midsommar or Sankt Hans after the Christian martyr Saint John the Baptist. The Christian Church celebrates his day on June 24, exactly six months before Christmas. St John is said to “prepare the way for Christ,” as the sunlight decreases after Midsummer and increases after Christmas.

June 1 is World Milk Day – Today’s the day to enjoy a cold glass of milk. If cow’s milk isn’t your thing, there are many dairy alternatives available to you in the grocery store, including almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, and more. You can even upgrade your sip with a bit of chocolate syrup for a glass of classic chocolate milk.

June 3 is National Egg Day – Eggs are super versatile—whether you like them scrambled, hard-boiled, soft boiled, fried, poached, or baked, there are a slew of delicious recipes for you out there. Today, celebrate the humble egg with your favorite recipe, like breakfast tacos, egg salad, a quiche, or even your favorite brownies (hey, eggs are an ingredient!).

June 4 is National Donut Day – Everyone’s favorite breakfast treat has a dedicated day of celebration on the first Friday of June each year. There are many flavors of donuts to satisfy your sweet tooth—whether you prefer a classic glazed, a savory bacon donut, or one with sprinkles on top, today’s the day to enjoy. Pick up a dozen to share and get ready to become the most popular person in the office.

June 7 is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day – Ice cream is a quintessential warm-weather treat. To celebrate National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, grab your favorite cocoa-flavored cold treat and enjoy it outside for a mid-day break—just be sure to finish it before it melts.

June 10 is National Iced Tea Day – Nothing says summer like a big pitcher of freshly brewed iced tea that’s jam-packed with sliced lemons. Whether you prefer the classic flavor of unsweetened iced tea, an iced lemongrass tea, or every Southerner’s sugar-laden favorite, sweet tea, today’s the day to make this your beverage of choice.

June 14 is Flag Day – On June 14, 1777, the United States adopted the American flag. Since then, it has become a symbol of freedom, endurance, and patriotism recognized around the globe. Hang a flag inside or outside of your home to commemorate Flag Day.

June 21 is National Smoothie Day – On a hot day, not much can beat an ice-cold smoothie. Blend up a sip for National Smoothie Day featuring your favorite fruits and veggies (mix-ins like yogurt or peanut butter work, too), and enjoy the refreshing beverage outdoors.

June 22 is National Onion Rings Day – Covering a food in batter and deep-frying it usually ends up being a delicious hit—and that’s especially true for onions. In honor of National Onion Rings Day, try making your own onion rings at home (it’s easier than you’d think) with a classic beer batter recipe. If all else fails, you can always hit up your local pub for a deep-fried basket.

The Full Moon in June is called the Strawberry Full Moon after the fruits that grow in the Northern Hemisphere around this time of the year.

Certain meteor showers take place in June. The Arietids takes place May 22 to July 2 each year, and peaks on June 7. The Beta Taurids June 5 to July 18. The June Bootids take place roughly between 26 June and 2 July each year.

In the United States, the given name June skyrocketed in popularity in the early twentieth century. In 1925, it was the 39th most popular name for a baby girl … a place held by the name Hannah today.

June’s birthstones are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone.

The birth flowers are rose and honeysuckle.

The zodiac signs for the month of June are Gemini and Cancer.