SOME FACTS AND TRIVIA ABOUT JUNE

In the southern hemisphere June is a time when winter is starting to set in properly, and aren’t we feeling it at the moment. The days are shortening and the nights are becoming fresher and fresher, at the moment we are in an Arctic blast.

In the northern hemisphere summer is close to starting, every day gets a little bit longer.

The end of June marks the end of the first half of the calendar year.

The name June is the modern day adaption of the Latin word Junius, which has origins dating back to the ancient Romans. There are various theories as to what the month of June was named after:

• That it was named after the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno.

• That the name originates from the Latin word iuniores, which translates into “younger ones”, as opposed to maiores ("elders") for which the preceding month May (Maius) may be named.

• That the month was named after Lucius Junius Brutus, the founder of the Roman Republic.

June was called sera monath by the Anglo-Saxons, which translated into “dry month”.

June used to be the fourth month in the year. Before Julius Caesar came to power, the calendar year only had 10 months. In 46 BC he created the Julian calendar by adding two more months to the year, which made June the sixth month.

No other month in the year begins on the same day of the week as June.

June has both the longest and the shortest days of the year, depending on where one lives. In the northern hemisphere, June 21st is the longest day of the year. In the southern hemisphere, then the 21st is the shortest day of the year. These days are known as solstices, and there are two each year, the days on which the sun reaches its maximum or minimum declination, marked by the longest and shortest days. June 21 is the shortest day of the year in the southern hemisphere and December 21 is the longest, the reverse in the northern hemisphere.

The first day of summer in the northern hemisphere is June 21st.

By meteorological definition, winter starts on June 1 in the southern hemisphere and stays till August 31. However, by astronomical definition, the first day of winter occurs on the eve of the June Solstice.

June has two star signs. If you were born on or before June 20th then you’re a Gemini. Gemini’s are said to be passionate, adaptable, and smart. If you’re born on or after the 21st of June, you have the Cancer star sign. Those born under the Cancer sign are said to be loyal friends with great emotional depth.

June has its own beetle named after it. Called the June beetle, or June bug, it’s normally only found within the months of May and June in the United States of America.

The period of time from the middle of May to the middle of June was considered by the ancient Romans to be an ill-omened time for marriage. The story goes that Ovid, a Roman poet, consulted with the high priestess of Jupiter and asked when would be a good time for his daughter’s wedding. The high priestess decreed that he should wait until after June 15th.

Contrary to Roman beliefs about the best and worst times to get married, June is now considered one of the very best months!

The birth flowers of June are the honeysuckle and the rose. Both of these flowers are symbols of all things relating to love, desire, generosity, and affection.

There are a number of countries that celebrate their flag days during the month of June. Sweden celebrates its flag day on June 6th, the United States celebrates theirs on June 14th and Denmark celebrates theirs on June 15th.

The English tennis tournament Wimbledon runs through the month of June.

June has three birthstones – alexandrite, moonstone, and pearl. Alexandrite is said to represent longevity and health. Moonstones on the other hand are said to bring good luck and are associated with love and passion. Pearls are the main birthstones of June, representing purity and faith.

Some people born in June: Anne Frank, Che Guevara, Jean-Paul-Sartre, Marilyn Monroe, George Orwell, and George H. W. Bush.