On Midsummer’s Eve, Norwegians celebrate Sankthansaften (Sankt Hans’ Eve) with bonfires along the Fjords.
©iStockphoto.com/TasfotoNL
What Is June 19th?
Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States on June 19. The name comes from the date: June nineteenth became June-teenth. On June 19, 1865, all remaining slaves in Texas were freed by Union soldiers. The day is also known as Emancipation Day and celebrates freedom and equal rights.
When Is Father’s Day In June?
Father’s Day is celebrated around the world on different dates. In Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, it falls on the third Sunday of June. In Thailand, for example, it is celebrated on December 5—the birthday of the late King Bhumibol of Thailand.
Night sky: Astronomical events in June
History of June
In the old Roman calendar, June was called mens iunius and had 29 days. The Roman year started in March, and Iunius was the fourth month. In the year 154 BCE, a rebellion forced the Roman senate to change the beginning of the civil year from March to January 1. With this reform, June officially became the sixth month in the year 153 BCE.
In the year 46 BCE, Julius Caesar introduced a new calendar system—the Julian calendar. He added ten days to the year and introduced the leap day. In the new Julian calendar, June was expanded to 30 days.
This Roman wall calendar dating from 84-55 BCE shows “IUN” as the sixth month.
Photograph by Bauglir / CC BY-SA 4.0
June Birthstone and Birth Flowers
According to tradition, the birthstones for June are pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone, all representing health and longevity. The June birth flowers are the rose (Rosa) and the honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium).
Zodiac Signs in June