Looking for fun facts about June? From its roots in Ancient Rome to the many famous faces born in month, we’ve all the June facts you need to know!
Ahhhh June. The start of summer time vibes. Everybody loves June, right?
It’s typically the month with the most daylight hours to enjoy, which means endless summer bbqs. Also, it’s a great opportunity to get some vitamin D or fly off on a long-overdue vacation abroad.
Did you know June wasn’t always the sixth month of the year though? With that in mind, we’ve put together a few fun facts about June you may never have known to get you primed for the sunshine!
June’s particularly crowded in terms of notable dates, with many a famous face celebrating their birthday in its 30 days. In more recent years its also been recognized as LGBTQI+ month, with celebrations of diversity taking place throughout, so grab those rainbow flags and get ready to promote Pride!
It’s probably not the best month to commit to that new diet you’ve been promising yourself you’d start, mind. With both National Rocky-Road Day and National Chocolate Ice Cream Day falling in June, you’re perhaps best off holding out until July and indulging your sweet tooth a few weeks more!
There’s plenty to distinguish June from the months around it, from sports to astrology. If you’re looking to learn a little more about what makes the month unique, read on for some of our favorite June facts.
Contents:
15 Fun Facts About June
1. June used to be the fourth month of the year
It’s hard to picture June falling anywhere other than after May and before July, but the Romans had different ideas to us.
Before Caesar’s rise to power, the calendar spanned only 10 months, June being the fourth month. The calendar we follow today was first established in 46 BC, bumping June forward a couple of spots. We bet you didn’t know that!
2. June has two star signs
Astrology remains popular in modern culture, with many believing it can influence personality and allow a degree of foresight. If you were born on or before the 20th of June, you’re a Gemini, often characterized as passionate, adaptable, and intelligent.
If you were born on the 21st of June or later, you’re a Cancer, considered to possess a depth of emotion and a great sense of loyalty. Do these descriptions fit you?
3. June has its own beetle named after it
Though you may not have made the connection, the June bug (or June beetle) is named for the month itself. They’re only found between May and June in the USA and survive on a mixed diet of plants and shrubbery.
They’re completely harmless to humans, though they can prove to be a bit of a pest if you keep plants as they eat anything!
4. June hosts several celebrations
Several celebrations take place throughout June in the USA. The largest of these is LGBTQI+ Pride month, which takes place in June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
Today, it celebrates diversity and our freedom to enjoy our own gender and sexuality without judgment or persecution. Great Outdoors Month and National Oceans Month also take place in June.
5. June’s birth flowers are roses and honeysuckle
June is the perfect month for the birth of the hopeless romantic, particularly if you’re fond of flowers. June’s birth flowers are the rose and honeysuckle.
Both symbolize all things related to love, desire, generosity, and affection. Roses are perhaps the flower most symbolic of passion and romance worldwide. So, if your partner’s birthday is in June, you really can’t go wrong with a bunch of roses.
6. Wimbledon begins in June
If you’re an avid fan of tennis, no doubt you’ve already got June marked on your calendar. The sport’s most prestigious tournament, Wimbledon, draws millions of viewers each year.
Wimbledon is the oldest Grand Slam tournament. It was founded in 1877 followed by US Open in 1881. The tournament draws quite an impressive celebrity crowd, so it’s worth a watch if only to keep an eye out for famous faces.
7. Many famous faces were born in June
Many celebrities were born in June over the decades, some of whom were incredibly influential in their day.
The likes of Anne Frank, Che Guevara, Marilyn Monroe, George Orwell, and George H.W. Bush share June birthdays, and all have had a massive impact on history. Anybody born in June is undoubtedly in impressive company!
8. June’s packed with holidays for those with a sweet tooth
June is a highlight for those of us who enjoy a sweet treat or two, though it’s likely the bane of dentists nationwide.
National Rocky Road Day falls on the 2nd of June, with National Macaroon Day the day after on the 3rd, and National Chocolate Ice-Cream Day on the 7th. Luckily, June’s also Great Outdoors Month, as you’ll be needing the exercise if you celebrate all three of these in style!
9. June has three birthstones
The primary birthstone of June is pearls, symbolizing faith and purity. However, it may interest you to know that alexandrite and moonstone share this honor.
Alexandrite represents longevity and health, while Moonstone is more closely linked to luck, love, and passion. All are lovely traits, so who’s to argue?
10. June used to be deemed an unlucky time to marry
Ancient Romans believed that the period between the middle of May and the middle of June was an ill-omened time to marry.
The tale goes that the Roman poet Ovid consulted with the high priestess of Jupiter on when his daughter should marry, to be told that he must wait until after the 15th of June. An odd superstition, perhaps, but true nonetheless. If you get married then and it doesn’t work out, don’t blame us!
11. June begins on a different day to every other month of the year
If we had to place bets on which of our June facts would surprise the most readers, this would be our pick. If you take a quick peek at your calendar, you’ll notice that June is unique in that it begins on a different day to every other month of the year.
Check it out; we’ll wait. Neat, right? We’d explain the reasons for you, but we don’t understand them. Something math-y.
12. June’s association with warmer weather dates back to the Anglo-Saxons
We recognize June today as the month the weather begins to warm slightly, granting us a reprieve from the spring showers and all the bluster of winter.
Though lacking the technology we have today, the Anglo-Saxons recognized this as well, calling the month ‘sera monath,’ or ‘dry month,’ a reference to the improving weather.
13. June boasts the most daylight hours
The Summer Solstice occurs towards the end of June, marking the day with the most hours of daylight in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of summer.
By contrast, June isn’t quite so celebratory an occasion in the southern hemisphere, instead recording the day with the least daylight hours and the arrival of winter. Sorry southern hemisphere!
14. June is named after a Roman Goddess
As is the case with many of our months, June’s name is rooted in Ancient Rome. It was named for the Goddess Juno, who was closely linked with concepts of energy, youth, and fertility.
This makes perfect sense on a symbolic level, given that June marks the arrival of summer and the growth and abundance of plants and crops.
15. June has its own full moon
Well, sort of. June has its own named moon, if not its own celestial body, which is close enough in our book. June’s full moon is known as the Strawberry Full Moon, named for the bounty of fruit grown at this time of year.
You can see it for yourself around the 24th of June, with it being considered both the last full moon of spring and the first of summer.
Who wants more fun facts?
If you’re looking for some recommendations, these are a few of our favorite fact books to buy. We use these when planning fun trivia nights with family and friends!
Have any of our fun facts about June got you for the month ahead?
If you’ve got any of your own June facts you’d like to share with us, drop them in the comments below!
