June: 6 Quick Facts About Summer’s Pre-Game Month
June is finally here. It’s the glorious bridge between “I can’t feel my face” and “it is entirely too hot to exist.”
But there’s more to the sixth month of the year than just sweating through your work shirt. Here are six weird and wonderful facts about June to kickstart your summer.
- It’s Named After a Jealous Goddess
June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and well-being. Ironically, in Roman mythology, Juno spent roughly 90% of her time being furious at her cheating husband, Jupiter. Despite the marital drama, the Romans thought marrying in June brought good luck—a tradition that modern wedding venues aggressively monetize to this day.
- The Calendar Is Single and Lonely
Here is a quirky calendar glitch: in any given year, no other month starts on the same day of the week as June. It is completely unique. However, June does always end on the same day of the week as November. So, it starts as an independent loner and ends codependent. Relatable.
- The “Strawberry Moon” Isn’t Pink
June’s full moon is historically called the Strawberry Moon. Sadly, it doesn’t turn bright pink or taste like fruit. Native American tribes named it because it signalled the peak time to harvest wild strawberries.
Bonus Myth: In Europe, it was called the “Honey Moon.” Because June was a peak wedding month, some historians think this is where we get the word “honeymoon”—a sweet period before reality hits.
- It Has the Ultimate “Please Let Me Leave Work Early” Day
The Summer Solstice (around June 21st) is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The Earth tilts closest to the sun, giving us maximum daylight. It’s the perfect excuse to sit on a patio at 9:00 PM staring at a sky that refuses to get dark, wondering if you should order a third basket of fries. (The answer is yes).
- June’s Birthstone is an Oyster’s Defence Mechanism
Most months get a rock dug out of the dirt, but June gets the Pearl—the only gemstone made by a living creature. Essentially, an oyster gets an annoying piece of grit trapped inside it, gets stressed out, coats it in shininess, and creates a luxury item. If only human anxiety resulted in jewellery.
- The Flowers Are Obsessed with You
June boasts two birth flowers: the Rose and the Honeysuckle. In the Victorian “language of flowers,” both literally mean “I am madly in love with you.” So, if you were born in June, you are officially the romantic protagonist of the calendar.
What’s your favourite thing about June? Besides the fact that it isn’t January?