History of June
Juno
HISTORY OF JUNE
June marks the year’s halfway point, the sixth of the twelve months in the Gregorian calendar we currently use in the West and the earlier Julian calendar, named for Julius Caesar, the namesake of July. Where do we get the name for June?
What’s In A Name?
Ovid, author of the bi-millennial best-selling magnum opus Metamorphoses — in which he gives Greek myths Roman names — suggests two possible etymologies.
- The first and more likely origin is the Roman goddess Juno, wife of Jupiter, who was known to the Greeks as Hera. She is the patroness of marriages, and most marriages take place in June. It was considered good luck to get married during June, though the good weather and school vacation could have something to do with it now.
- Ovid also submitted that the month was named for Iuniores, Latin for “young people,” in the same way that May is named for “elders” or Maiores. And as we all recall from the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” there was no J in Latin in the 1st century.
Astronomy and June
June contains the longest days of the year, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, including the longest day (daylight) of the year, the Summer Solstice. This is also called Midsummer Day – made famous by Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream – when the “sun stands still” in its trek north in the sky, reverses its course, and begins heading south.
Holidays in June
June contains the Christian festival days for the birth of St. John the Baptist, which occurred six months before the nativity of Jesus. It also celebrates the festivals of St. Peter and St. Paul, the patron saints of Rome. And in Rome, if you throw in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, you have “Peter, Paul, and Mary,” no relation to the folk music group.
Why June Weddings
While some believe June is Wedding Month, it was not always so with the ancient Romans. As mentioned earlier, to choose a good day for his daughter to marry, Ovid consulted the high priestess of Jupiter, who said that mid-May through mid-June was inauspicious and recommended that he postpone until after June 15.
June Gloom
June Gloom at Seal Beach, California, June 2013. Image: Wikipedia
This is a phenomenon, particularly along the Southern California coast, where the weather features overcast, cloudy skies in what is otherwise late Spring and early Summer. The “Golden State” is not so golden from Santa Barbara south to San Diego County.
One might expect a bright sunny day, but a windbreaker is required in San Diego to avoid the chill. June Gloom may occur as early as GRAYpril or MayGray and extend as late as No-Sky July or even Fogust.
Royalty in June
Some British Commonwealth countries celebrate the third Saturday of June as the King’s Official Birthday. It was first marked in 1748 for King George II (not the infamous George III), and it’s been celebrated this way ever since. This year’s official birthday, June 15, is distinct from King Charles III‘s actual birthday, November 14.
Summer?
When does it begin?
- June 1 is the beginning of the meteorological summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
- The unofficial beginning of Summer is Memorial Day.
- The official beginning of Summer does not occur until the Summer Solstice.
In the pagan calendar, the Summer Solstice is the time of Litha, similar to the way the Winter Solstice is Yule, an old Norse word for a twelve-day celebration.
June hosts such important holidays, so mark your calendar. Flag Day (June 14), International Picnic Day (June 18), and the perennial favorite Juneteenth (June 19) all happen during this month.
Trivia: No other month in the same year starts on the same day of the week as June.
So June is more than just Dads and Grads.
Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
billpetro.com
