June marks the beginning of Summer in the northern hemisphere and the month of the Wimbledon tennis tournament in England.
June is the sixth month of the year and
takes its name from the Roman goddess Junno, the goddess of marriage.
For this reason, June has always been looked upon as the best month in
which to marry:
Married in the month of roses - June
Life will be one long homeymoon.
Sera monath (Dry month) was the name the Anglo-Saxons gave to the month.
The flower for June is the red rose. The red rose is the symbol of:
- love (Red roses are the most sought after flower for a Valentine's Day gif)
- England and is worn on St George's Day.
- Lancashire
- the British Labour Party.
The rose also has a special importance on Midsummer's Eve .
'A calm June puts the farmer in tune'
'June damp and warm, does the farmer no harm'.
It is claimed that summer doesn't start until the elder is in flower.
Well Dressing
At different times during June there are ceremonies called 'well dressings'.
Springs and wells of fresh water that come from the underground streams
have always seem to be magical things, so some wells are honoured with
decorations.
The decorations consist of branches of greenery and amazingly beautiful pictures made of flower petals and moss.
Trooping the Colours
The official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour (Carrying of the Flag).
Trooping the Colour will take place on Saturday 13 June 2009 on Horse Guards Parade. Events begin at approximately 10am and the parade starts at 11 a.m. (lasts approximately one hour).
or The longest day (Summer Sol
The longest day of the year is 21 June or 22 June. It is the day when the sun is at its most northerly point and this is why it is "the longest day".
In Wiltshire, there is a circle of huge
stones at a place called Stonehenge, and hundreds of people go there to
watch the sun rise on 21 June.
These stones have stood in Wiltshire for
thousands of years and no one knows how they got there. They are not
local stone and so whoever placed them there had to somehow transport
them over several miles.
The middle of summer comes after the longest day and it is a time associated with witches, magic, fairies and dancing
On the eve of Midsummer's Day, many bonfires
used to be burnt all over the country. This was in praise of the sun,
for the days were getting shorter and the sun appeared to be getting
weaker, so people would light fires to try and strengthen the sun.
Midsummer's Superstitions
Roses are of special importance on
Midsummer's Eve. It is said that any rose picked on Midsummer's Eve, or
Midsummer's Day will keep fresh until Christmas.
At midnight on Midsummer's Eve, young girls should scatter rose petals before them and say:
Rose leaves, rose leaves,
Rose leaves I strew.
He that will love me
Come after me now.
Then the next day, Midsummer's Day, their true love will visit them.
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