by Lillith

Created on: May 27, 2007

THE HISTORY OF JUNE

Our sixth month, June, was originally the fourth month in the ancient Roman calendar, and only had 26 days. Romulus gave June four more days, Numa Pompilius took away one from it, and finally Julius Caesar restored the month to 30 days.

There are many theories as to how June got its name. Some say the word "june" came from the fact that this month was dedicated to the Juniores or lower branch of the Roman lawmaking body. Others hold that it may have been connected with Junius fromt he Consulate of Junius Brutus.

Another idea is that June was named to honor Juno, wife of Jupiter, king of the Gods. Juno was the special deity of women, and the Goddess of marriage and childbirth. The Romans observed a festival in her honor on the June first. For centuries June has been a big month for weddings. The belief is that this happened because the preceding month of May was observed for "the unhappy dead," and was considered a bad month to be married, all weddings were postponed until June. However, it is interesting to note that Juno is the Goddess of marriage and this is Her month. There are more June brides than any month of the year.

The Anglo-Saxons had many names for June. They called it "Weyd-monath" because cattle then found good pastures to graze from. Another term, "Woed-monath," meant "weed month." Some also called it "dry month."

June has always been considered one of our most desirable months and highly anticipated ones. It is the end of school for children and the beginning of vacation for everyone. This, alone, would make it popular. But it is also the month when trees and flowers are at their most beautiful. Nature is at its peak at this time.

It is interesting to note that June is the only month of the year in which no president was born. However, many other important people celebrate their birthdays during this month. Among them are Jefferson Davis, George III, Velasquez, Nathan Hale, Robert Louis Stevenson, Prince Philip, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Wesley, The Duke of Windsor, Helen Keller, John Cabot and Pearl Buck. Singer Pat Boone and actress/singer Judy Garland arrived in the month of June.

Many important events took place in the sixth month of our year. In 1692, the people of Salem, Massachusetts hanged their first "witch." The Stars and Stripes became our national anthem in June of 1777. Ice cream was first advertised in June of 1786. In June of 1812, we declared war on Great Britain. They typewriter was invented in June of 1873.

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