Juan Bosch's Birth Anniversary

 

Juan Emilio Bosch y Gaviño, born on 30 June 1909, in La Vega, Dominican Republic, also known as El Profesor (Spanish for the Teacher), was a Dominican politician, historian, writer of short stories and novels, essayist, educator, and the first democratically elected president of the Dominican Republic for seven months in 1963.

Previously he had been the leader of the Dominican opposition in exile to the dictatorial regime of Rafael Trujillo for over 25 years. He is remembered as an honest politician and regarded as one of the most prominent writers in Dominican literature. He helped found the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) in 1939, and left it in 1973 to found the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD).

Elizabeth Monroe's Birth Anniversary

 

Elizabeth Monroe, born on 30 June 1768, in New York, New York, United States, was an American first lady (1817–25), the wife of James Monroe, fifth president of the United States. Although she was noted for her beauty and elegance, her aloofness made her unpopular.

Elizabeth Monroe is best remembered for her role in choosing new furniture for the presidential mansion when it was rebuilt in 1817 (after its destruction by the British during the War of 1812). Elizabeth had developed a great appreciation for French style and workmanship, and she and the president instructed an agent in Paris to spend a special congressional appropriation there. When the White House was refurbished in the early 1960s, these purchases were considered some of its finest holdings.

 

Día del Ejército (Guatemala)

 

Army Day, or ‘Día del Ejército’ commemorates all of the fallen soldiers that have served in the Guatemalan armed forces. It also celebrates the anniversary of an important turning point in Guatemalan history, the Liberal Revolution.

History of Army Day in Guatemala

In 1871, the ruler of Guatemala was President Vincente Cerna, who carried out much of the similar policies as his conservative predecessor, Rafael Carrera. Both of these men were considered to be dictators by many Guatemalans. The people were finally pushed to their limit when Marshal Serapio Cruz, an outspoken opposer of the Cerna regime, was assassinated. Generals Justo Rufino Barrios and Miguel García Granados lead soldiers into the capital, Guatemala City, and defeated Cerna’s forces on June 29th, 1871. The next day, Cerna fled to Honduras and the two generals entered the presidential palace.

International Day of Parliamentarism

The International Day of Parliamentarism is celebrated every year on 30 June, the date in 1889 on which the IPU was founded. The Day was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution.

Instituting an international day for parliaments is particularly important at this critical time for parliamentary democracy, when people are losing trust in political institutions and democracy itself is facing challenges from populist and nationalist movements. If democracy is to thrive, then parliaments, as the cornerstone of functioning democracies, need to be strong, transparent, accountable and representative.

The International Day of Parliamentarism is a time to review the progress that parliaments have made in achieving some key goals to be more representative and move with the times, including carrying out self-assessments, working to include more women and young MPs, and adapting to new technologies.

National Camera Day (United States)

National Camera Day is observed annually on June 29 to honour one of the most groundbreaking inventions in human history- the camera. This day is a perfect occasion for photography lovers and enthusiasts to appreciate the device that captures memories, tells stories, and preserves moments forever. 

From grainy film cameras to today’s sleek digital marvels, the journey of the camera is nothing short of a captivating tale of creativity and innovation.

International Lightning Safety Day

International Lightning Safety Day is observed annually on June 28th. It was established to raise awareness about the dangers of lightning and promote safety measures. The date is significant as it marks the anniversary of a tragic lightning strike in Uganda that killed 18 children in 2011, according to the VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies. 

Key aspects of International Lightning Safety Day:

Raising Awareness:

The day aims to educate the public about the dangers of lightning and the importance of taking precautions during thunderstorms. 

Promoting Safety Measures:

It encourages individuals to learn and implement lightning safety guidelines, such as seeking shelter indoors or in a hard-topped vehicle when thunder is heard. 

Remembering the Tragedy:

The date, June 28th, serves as a reminder of the devastating 2011 lightning strike in Uganda. 

International Focus:

The day is observed globally, with various organizations and countries participating in awareness campaigns and events. 

Continued Effort:

The day is part of ongoing efforts to reduce lightning-related deaths and injuries worldwide. 

 

World ATM Day

 

27 June is World ATM Day. Did you know that the world's smallest ATM is on a Bagel stall in New York City, while the 'wettest' is in County Cork, Ireland? On June 27th, 1967, the world's first semi-automated cash dispenser was introduced by Barclays Bank in North London. Today, there are more than 3.2 million ATM - Automated Teller Machine. The son of the ATM's 'inventor', James Shepherd-Barron, founded The ATM Appreciation Society to draw attention to how crucial and indispensable ATMs are in our daily lives and their pivotal role in reducing disaster risk and enhancing financial inclusion.

 

Madagascar Independence Day

 

Madagascar was an independent kingdom before becoming a French colony in 1896. The country was under French rule until 1960, when it became the Republic of Madagascar. Since then, Malagasy people celebrate their Independence Day every year on June 26.

Celebrations:

Every year, Malagasy people prepare the arrival of this event some weeks in advance. Indeed, you would notice the Malagasy flag proudly displayed against every household’s wall or balcony from the very beginning of June. Madagascar’s Independence Day is traditionally celebrated with a lot of food (composed especially of poultry – goose, chicken or duck, and rice), drinking and dancing.

Additionally, the celebration makes the joy of children who are eagerly awaiting the nights of June 25 and 26 to admire the fireworks and also to show their colourful Arendrina or lanterns. These are probably the noisiest nights of the year due to firecrackers used as a remembrance of the gunfire occurring during the war for independence.

In 1947, the first edition of "The Diary of a Young Girl" was published

On June 25, 1947, Anne Frank's diary, "Het Achterhuis" (The Secret Annex), was first published in the Netherlands. This publication occurred after the end of World War II and marked the beginning of the diary's global recognition. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Publication:

The first edition of "The Diary of a Young Girl" was published by Contact in Amsterdam. It was initially titled "Het Achterhuis," meaning "The Secret Annex". 

Initial Reception:

The book was well-received in the Netherlands, with the first edition of 3,036 copies quickly selling out. 

Global Impact:

The diary was eventually translated into over 65 languages and adapted for stage and screen, becoming a global symbol of the Holocaust. 

Otto Frank's Role:

Anne's father, Otto Frank, played a key role in getting the diary published after the war. He compiled the book from Anne's diary entries and rewritten versions, also correcting some language errors. 

Anne's Wish Fulfilled:

The publication of her diary was a long-held wish of Anne's, as she had expressed a desire to be a writer or journalist. 

Continued Significance:

The diary continues to be read worldwide, offering a powerful testament to the human cost of the Holocaust and the importance of tolerance and understanding. 

Global Beatles Day

 

Global Beatles Day (also known as World Beatles Day) is an annual holiday held on 25 June each year to commemorate the legacy and cultural impact of the English rock band, the Beatles. The date, 25 June, was chosen to commemorate the date that the Beatles participated in the BBC show Our World in 1967, performing "All You Need Is Love” broadcast to an international audience. The holiday was created and first celebrated in 2009 by Faith Cohen, who called it "a thank you or love letter" to the band.

Master Tara Singh's Birth Anniversary

Tara Singh, born on 24 June 1885, in Haryal, near Rawalpindi, Punjab, British India (present-day Pakistan), was a Sikh leader known chiefly for his advocacy of an autonomous Punjabi-speaking Sikh nation in the Punjab region. He was a champion of Sikh rights against the dominant Hindus, Muslims, and British.

Tara Singh was born a Hindu, but while a student in Rawalpindi he became attracted to Sikhism and underwent the required initiation ceremony. Upon graduation from Khalsa College at Amritsar in 1907, he entered the Sikh school system in Lyallpur, becoming a high school teacher, or “master,” a title associated with him thereafter.

A devout worker for the cause of Sikh religious and political integrity, Tara Singh often found himself in opposition to civil authority. He was jailed for civil disobedience 14 times between 1930 and 1966. In 1930 he became deeply involved with the civil disobedience (satyagraha) movement of Mohandas K. Gandhi and was a leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD; Supreme Akali Party), the principal Sikh political organization, and of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (Supreme Committee of Temple Management), which oversees the gurdwaras (Sikh houses of worship). He was best known as an agitator for a Punjabi-speaking state as a means of keeping Sikh religious and political traditions intact.

In 1961, Tara Singh declared that he would fast until the Indian prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, ceded a portion of the Punjab as a Sikh state or until death claimed him. He began his fast in August at the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) at Amritsar, but Nehru responded that submission to Tara Singh’s demands would be against India’s secular constitution and unfair to the Hindus in Punjab. After a personal letter from Nehru promising to investigate Sikh claims, Tara Singh broke his 48-day fast, incurring the wrath of the Sikh people. Tara Singh was brought to trial before a council of pijaras (Sikh religious leaders) and pleaded guilty. His failure to starve to death in defence of his ideals had discredited him as a leader of the SAD, and Sant Fateh Singh was elected in his place. Tara Singh’s dream of a Punjabi-speaking state was realized in 1966, when the Indian state of Punjab was divided and the Hindi-speaking portion of it was created as the separate state of Haryana.

 

Balaji Baji Rao's Death Anniversary

 

Balaji Baji Rao, often referred to as Nana Saheb I, passed away on 23 June 1761, aged 40, at Parvati Hill, Pune, Maratha Confederacy (modern day Maharashtra, India). He was the 8th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. He was appointed as Peshwa in 1740 upon the death of his father, Peshwa Bajirao I. 

During his tenure, the Chhatrapati (Maratha Emperor) was a mere figurehead. At the same time, the Maratha empire started transforming into a confederacy, in which individual chiefs—such as the Holkars, the Scindias and the Bhonsles of Nagpur kingdom — became more powerful. During Balaji Rao's tenure, the Maratha territory reached its zenith. A large part of this expansion, however, was led by the individual chiefs of the Maratha Empire.

Balaji Bajirao's administration worked with his cousin Sadashivrao Bhau, introducing new legislative and financial systems in the state. Under his leadership, the borders of the Maratha Empire expanded to Peshawar in present-day Pakistan, Srirangapatna in Karnataka, and Medinipur in West Bengal. Nanasaheb built canals, bridges, temples and lodges for travellers in the capital city of Pune and in other parts of the Maratha Empire. In his twenty-year reign as the Peshwa, Nanasaheb subdued three major powers under his tenure, viz. Mughals in the North, the Nizam in the South and the Bengal Sultanate. Along with that he also weakened the Afghan control over Punjab, stopped their repeated invasions on the imperial capital of Delhi, subdued the Rajputs and Rohillas and neutralized the state of Oudh.

Giuseppe Mazzini's Birth Anniversary

Giuseppe Mazzini, born on 22 June 1805, was an Italian politician, journalist, and activist for the unification of Ital (Risorgimento) and spearhead of the Italian revolutionary movement. His efforts helped bring about the independent and unified Italy in place of the several separate states, many dominated by foreign powers, that existed until the 19th century. An Italian nationalist in the historical radical tradition and a proponent of a republicanism of socio-democratic inspiration, Mazzini helped define the modern European movement for popular democratic in a republican state.

Mazzini's thoughts had a very considerable influence on the Italian and European republican movements, in the Constitution of Italy, about Europeanism and more nuanced on many politicians of a later period, among them American president Woodrow Wilson, British prime minister David Lloyd George, Mahatma Gandhi, Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indian independence activist Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

Keshav Baliram Hedgewar's Death Anniversary

 

Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, also known by his moniker Doctorji, who passed away on 21 June 1940, aged 51, in Nagpur, was an Indian physician who founded the Hindutva paramilitary organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Nagpur in 1925.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was part of the movement against British rule and as a response to rioting between Hindus and Muslims.

Hedgewar was heavily influenced by the writings of the Hindu nationalist ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and adopted much of his rhetoric concerning the need for the creation of a “Hindu nation.” Hedgewar formed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a disciplined cadre consisting mostly of upper-caste Brahmins who were dedicated to independence and the protection of Hindu political, cultural, and religious interests. 

World Wi-Fi Day

 

World Wi-Fi Day is celebrated on June 20th each year. It's a global initiative by the Wireless Broadband Alliance to highlight the importance of Wi-Fi and bridge the digital divide. The day aims to connect the unconnected and recognize the contributions of those working to improve internet access. 

Here's a bit more detail:

Purpose:

World Wi-Fi Day focuses on the role of Wi-Fi in connecting people and promoting social mobility, computer literacy, and educational opportunities. 

Organizer:

The Wireless Broadband Alliance, under the leadership of the Connected Communities Forum, organizes World Wi-Fi Day. 

Digital Divide:

The initiative aims to address the growing digital divide, where many people lack access to reliable internet. 

Global Impact:

The day recognizes efforts to connect people in both developed and developing countries. 

How to Participate:

People can get involved by sharing information about World Wi-Fi Day on social media using the hashtag #worldwifiday and by downloading and using the "I Love Wi-Fi" campaign materials. 

World Productivity Day

World Productivity Day is celebrated on 20 June every year. The day is dedicated to honouring and celebrating productivity, and it's an opportunity to reflect on how we can improve our daily lives to be more productive.

Do you find it hard to stay productive and efficient in your daily life and work? If so, you're not alone. With so much constant demands, it can be tough to strike a balance between work and leisure time.

World Productivity Day is a reminder to individuals and organizations to reflect on their efficiency, effectiveness, and overall productivity. It is a crucial day to take stock of your progress and identify areas where you can improve.

World Productivity Day: History & Significance

The word productivity has a long history of being associated with economics and the corporate world. It's now a boxed-up understanding of the term, with many people defining it as "efficiency, purely in dictionary terms." However, productivity has a broader and more holistic meaning. It's about making informed choices, the art of balancing professional and personal goals, and finding ways to live a more fulfilling and productive life.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, World Productivity Day is a reminder of the importance of productivity in our daily lives. It's a day to reflect on our progress and to renew our commitment to creating a more productive and fulfilling life for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

International Tennis Day

 

International Tennis Day is an annual celebration on 20 June to raise the profile and catalyze interest in the game of tennis—real tennis, court tennis, jeu de paume. Founded in 2014, International Tennis Day is funded by the U.S. Court Tennis Preservation Foundation, directed by the U.S. Court Tennis Association and supported by all the other national tennis governing bodies and associations in the world. The aim is to motivate current players and to mobilize new ones who have not played tennis before.

June 20 was chosen for the celebration of International Tennis Day as it falls on the anniversary of the Tennis Court Oath, taken on 20 June 1789 by nearly 600 people at a tennis court near the Palace of Versailles. The Tennis Oath was a pivotal event at the start of the French Revolution. Jacques-Louis David’s iconic 1791 painting “Le Serment du Jeu de Paume” is perhaps the most famous image of a tennis court. To celebrate the painting and its communal message of hope and change, International Tennis Day was started on 20 June in 2014.

World Sauntering Day

 

World Sauntering Day is celebrated on June 19th each year. This day encourages people to slow down and enjoy life at a leisurely pace, rather than rushing through their daily routines. The purpose is to promote relaxation, appreciation of surroundings, and well-being by embracing a slower, more mindful approach to walking and life in general. 

The day was created in 1970 by W.T. Rabe, who wanted to offer an alternative to the growing popularity of jogging. He encouraged people to take a break, relax, and saunter, which means to walk slowly and in a relaxed manner. World Sauntering Day serves as a reminder to slow down, appreciate the simple things, and find joy in the present moment. 

National Go Fishing Day (United States)

National Go Fishing Day (United States) on June 18 encourages us to drop a line - in the nearest stream, pond, lake, or river. It's' time to take a break from our daily routine, bait a hook and catch some fish while enjoying the outdoors on your relaxing endeavour.

This day has been celebrated since the 1950s, when it was created as an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together and enjoy a peaceful day on the water. It's also a great way to learn about conservation, sustainability, ecology, wildlife management and our aquatic ecosystems.

Mahatma Gandhi relocates the Satyagraha Ashram in 1917

On June 17, 1917, Mahatma Gandhi relocated the Satyagraha Ashram to a 36-acre site on the banks of the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This new location, known as Sabarmati Ashram, became a significant centre for India's freedom struggle and Gandhi's various experiments in living, including farming and animal husbandry.

Here's a more detailed look:

Initial Location

Gandhi's first ashram in India was established in May 1915 at the Kocharab Bungalow in Ahmedabad. 

Relocation

Gandhi sought a larger space for activities like farming and animal husbandry, leading to the move to the Sabarmati River location on June 17, 1917. 

Significance

The Sabarmati Ashram served as Gandhi's home from 1917 to 1930 and was a key location for the Indian independence movement. 

Dandi March

It was from here, on March 12, 1930, that Gandhi launched the famous Dandi March to protest the British Salt Law. 

Legacy

The Ashram now houses a museum and serves as a reminder of Gandhi's philosophy of truth, non-violence, and self-sufficiency.

 

Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space, in 1963

 

On June 16, 1963, aboard Vostok 6, Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman to travel into space. After 48 orbits and 71 hours, she returned to earth, having spent more time in space than all U.S. astronauts combined to that date.

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova was born to a peasant family in Maslennikovo, Russia, in 1937. She began work at a textile factory when she was 18, and at age 22 she made her first parachute jump under the auspices of a local aviation club. Her enthusiasm for skydiving brought her to the attention of the Soviet space program, which sought to put a woman in space in the early 1960s as a means of achieving another “space first” before the United States. As an accomplished parachutist, Tereshkova was well equipped to handle one of the most challenging procedures of a Vostok space flight: the mandatory ejection from the capsule at about 20,000 feet during re-entry. In February 1962, she was selected along with three other woman parachutists and a female pilot to begin intensive training to become a cosmonaut.

In 1963, Tereshkova was chosen to take part in the second dual flight in the Vostok program, involving spacecrafts Vostok 5 and Vostok 6. On June 14, 1963, Vostok 5 was launched into space with cosmonaut Valeri Bykovsky aboard. With Bykovsky still orbiting the earth, Tereshkova was launched into space on June 16 aboard Vostok 6. The two spacecrafts had different orbits but at one point came within three miles of each other, allowing the two cosmonauts to exchange brief communications. Tereshkova’s spacecraft was guided by an automatic control system, and she never took manual control. On June 19, after just under three days in space, Vostok 6 reentered the atmosphere, and Tereshkova successfully parachuted to earth after ejecting at 20,000 feet. Bykovsky and Vostok 5 landed safely a few hours later.

After her historic space flight, Valentina Tereshkova received the Order of Lenin and Hero of the Soviet Union awards.

 

Fall of Danish Flag from the sky in 1219

 

The national flag of Denmark is called the Dannebrog. Legend has it that the Dannebrog fell from the sky in Estonia on 15 June 1219.

Dannebrog means "Danish cloth" or "well made material".

The national flag of Denmark is red with a white Nordic cross, which means that the cross extends to the edges of the flag and the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side.

A banner with a white-on-red cross is attested as having been used by the kings of Denmark since the 14th century. An origin legend with considerable impact on Danish national historiography connects the introduction of the flag to the Battle of Lyndanisse (now Tallinn) of 1219. The elongated Nordic cross, which represents Christianity, reflects its use as a maritime flag in the 18th century. The flag became popular as a national flag in the early 16th century. Its private use was outlawed in 1834 but again permitted by a regulation of 1854. The flag holds the world record of being the oldest continuously used flag, that is since 1625.

A commemorative postage stamp of Denmark from the Anniversaries and Events 1969 series depicts the Fall of Danish Flag. The postage stamp issued on 12 June 1969 is 24 x 31 mm in size and at 60 øre - Danish øre face value. It had a print run of 22,675, 000. The designers are Czeslaw Slania (E) and Povl Christensen.

Fakir Mohan Senapati's Death Anniversary

Fakir Mohan Senapati, who passed away on 14 June 1918, aged 75, in Balasore, Odisha, was an Indian writer, poet, philosopher and social reformer. He is often referred to as Utkala Byasa Kabi (Odisha’s Vyasa). He is regarded as the father of Odia nationalism and modern Odia literature. He played a leading role in establishing the distinct identity of Odia language. He is known to have introduced novel writing, short story, and autobiography genres in Odia literature. Chha Maana Atha Guntha (translating into English as ‘Six Acres and a Third’) is the first Indian novel written by him in Odia to deal with the exploitations of landless peasants by the feudal Lord. It was written much before the October revolution of Russia or much before the emerging of Marxist ideas in India. His “Rebati” (1898) is widely recognized as the first Odia short story. He wrote a long poem, Utkala Bhramanam, that first appeared in 1892.

World Wide Knit in Public Day

 

World Wide Knit in Public Day was started in 2005 by Danielle Landes and takes place on the second Saturday of June each year. It began as a way for knitters to come together and enjoy each other's company.

Knit in Public Day is the largest knitter run event in the world. Each local event is put together by a volunteer or a group of volunteers. They bring their own fresh ideas into planning where the event should be held, and what people would like to do.

In the past, some people have used this event as a means to show the general public that "not only grannies knit". Knit in Public Day is about showing the general public that knitting can be a community activity in a very distinct way. In some places, there are many different knitting groups that never interact with each other, except on Knit in Public Day when they come together in one place, making them hard to miss.

In 2005, there were about 25 local events around the world. In 2006, there were about 70 local events, and in 2007, there were almost 200.

Over the years there have been local events in Australia, China, Serbia, England, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, United States, Canada, and Germany.

Sir Ram Nath Chopra's Death Anniversary

 

Sir Ram Nath Chopra CIE, IMS who passed away on 13 June 1973, aged 90, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, was an Indian Medical Service offer and doyen of science and medicine of India. He is considered the "Father of Indian Pharmacology” for his work on pharmaceuticals and his quest for self-sufficiency of India in drugs through the experimental evaluation of indigenous and traditional drugs. After service in the army, he established a research laboratory where he worked as a professor of Pharmacology at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine which was established in 1921. He also served as the director of this institute from the year 1935 to 1941.

Chopra was born in Gujranwala. His father Raghu Nath was a government official. After school in Lahore he went to the Government College there and then went to England in 1903 and studied at the Downing College, Cambridge. In 1905 he qualified in the Natural Sciences Tripos and was admitted BA. He received a B.Chir in 1908 and an MA in 1909. He worked under Walter E. Dixon, professor of the newly established position in pharmacology. He was inspired by the experimental approaches in pharmacology. While at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London, Chopra wrote the examination for the Indian Medical Service and stood third in it. Chopra was commissioned a lieutenant in the Indian Medical Service on 1 August 1908 and promoted to captain on 1 August 1911. He saw active service in East Africa and in the Afghan War of 1919. He was promoted to the temporary rank of major on 7 May 1919 and confirmed in the substantive rank on 1 August 1920, (back-dated to 1 February 1920). In 1922 he was appointed Professor of Pharmacology at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine which had been established the year before. He took a special interest in indigenous drugs and noted that a key aim for India should be self-sufficiency in drug resources. He conducted pioneering studies on herbal remedies including Rauvolfia serpentina. He headed a Drugs Enquiry Committee of 1930–31 which examined the need for imports, control and legislation.

Chopra took an interest in public health. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in the 1934 New Year Honours list and knighted in the 1941 New Year Honours list. Government of India issued a postal stamp on his 101st birth anniversary with a denomination of Fifty paise^.

 

Helsinki Day

Helsinki Day (Finnish: Helsinki-päivä, Swedish: Helsingforsdagen) is an annual celebration in Finland, held on 12 June, to celebrate the date of the city’s foundation in 1550. The number of attendees in the events on the day exceeds one hundred thousand. On the day, the Helsinki Medal is awarded to noteworthy citizens by the city council.

The event was started by mayor Lauri Aho and secretary of the Helsinki Society Jorma Waronen in the late 1950s. The first Helsinki day was celebrated in 1959 on the 409th anniversary of the founding of Helsinki.

The number of attendees at events on Helsinki Day already exceeded ten thousand in the early 1960s. In the same decade, the events were made more entertaining and diverse. Main events, such as ice hall concerts, were added. As the day gained popularity, the association of neighbourhood societies wanted to expand the celebration to a full Helsinki Week in the late 1970s, but the city council denied permission. Nowadays, Helsinki Week, culminating on Helsinki Day, has been established, and it is directed by the event unit of the Helsinki city council.

Since the 1990s, various units of the city council, organizations and corporations have organized events on Helsinki Day. The free-of-charge "Kaivari" concert in Kaivopuisto is probably the best known among the public, as well as the dinner under the sky which has been held in Helsinki since 2013.

Helsinki Day includes the selection of the annual Stadin Kundi ("Man of the city") and Stadin Friidu ("Woman of the city") by Stadin Slangi ry.

National Corn on the Cob Day (United States)

Corn on the cob is a popular barbecue and picnic treat during the summer season, so it is not surprising that it is one of the foods that have their own unofficial holiday. National Corn on the Cob Day is celebrated annually on June 11.

Corn on the cob is a dish consisting of a cooked ear of sweet corn that is eaten directly off the cob. The corn for cooking corn on the cob is usually harvested while the kernels are still tender, which is why the dish is most often cooked in the beginning and middle of summer. It is one of the most popular Fourth of July foods; according to statistics, corn and potatoes are the most consumed grilled side dishes at Independence Day barbecues.

Corn on the cob has a long history. It was eaten by Native American tribes long before the arrival of European settlers. Sweet corn eaten off the cob was a staple food and a prominent source of sustenance for aboriginal peoples in Central America and what is now the Midwestern United States and Southern Canada.

Corn on the cob can be fried, grilled, roasted, baked, boiled, steamed, or even microwaved. It tastes the best if cooked on the same day the corn is harvested because as the time passes, the sugar in the kernels begins to convert into starch, making the corn lose its sweetness. Most cooking methods require removing the green husk leaves. However, corn on the cob can be roasted or grilled with the husk, which helps to retain moisture and flavour. In this case, the husk is removed before serving.

Corn on the cob is usually served with butter, salt, and black pepper and eaten while still warm. It is a tricky food to eat. It is perfectly appropriate to eat corn on the cob holding it at each end with your fingers; you can use a napkin to keep your fingers clean. You can also use special utensils called corn cob holders, which are inserted into each end of corn on the cob, or slice off the kernels with a special knife.

You can celebrate National Corn on the Cob Day by inviting your friends and family over for a BBQ party or simply cooking some delicious corn on the cob for lunch or dinner if you’re not in the mood for partying. 

 

Gustave Courbet's Birth Anniversary

 

Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet, born on 10 June 1819, in Ornans, Doubs, France, was a French painter who led the Realism movement in 19^th-century French painting. Committed to painting only what he could see, he rejected academic convention and the Romanticism of the previous generation of visual artists. His independence set an example that was important to later artists, such as the Impressionists and the Cubists. Courbet occupies an important place in 19th-century French painting as an innovator and as an artist willing to make bold social statements through his work.

Courbet's paintings of the late 1840s and early 1850s brought him his first recognition. They challenged convention by depicting unidealized peasants and workers, often on a grand scale traditionally reserved for paintings of religious or historical subjects. Courbet's subsequent paintings were mostly of a less overtly political character: landscapes, seascapes, hunting scenes, nudes and still lives. Courbet was imprisoned for six months in 1871 for his involvement with the Paris Commune and lived in exile in Switzerland from 1873 until his death four years later.

Judy Garland's Birth Anniversary

 

Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm; on 10 June 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, U.S., was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. Garland achieved international recognition for her portrayal of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Her recording of "Over the Rainbow” became an enduring song in American popular music. Over a career spanning more than forty-five years, she recorded eleven studio albums, and several of her recordings were later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. 

At the age of two, Garland began her career by performing with her two sisters as a vaudeville act, The Gumm Sisters. In 1935, she signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at thirteen and appeared in supporting roles in ensemble musicals such as Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) and Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry (1937). The success of The Wizard of Oz propelled her into leading roles in MGM musicals including Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Easter Parade (1948) and Summer Stock (1950). In the 1950s and early 1960s she expanded her range with dramatic performances in A Star Is Born (1954) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), both of which earned her Academy Award nominations and demonstrated her capacity to convey vulnerability and resilience on screen.

Beyond her film work, Garland cultivated a distinguished career in live performance and recordings. Her 1961 live album Judy at Carnegie Hall won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, capping a series of sold-out engagements at the Hollywood Bowl and concerts. That same year she became the first woman—and, at thirty-nine, the youngest recipient—of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures. Her honours also included a Golden Globe Award, an Academy Juvenile Award for her early contributions, and a Special Tony Award for her role in reviving vaudeville. In 1997 she was posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 1999 the American Film Institute ranked her eighth among the greatest female screen legends of classic Hollywood cinema.

Garland's personal life was marked by both public fascination and private struggle. She married five times and had three children, including actress and singer Liza Minnelli. From her teenage years onward, she faced health challenges exacerbated by studio pressures on her appearance and performance, and she developed dependencies on prescription medications that affected her physical and mental well-being. Financial difficulties, including substantial tax debts, added to her burdens. She died in London in 1969 from an accidental barbiturate overdose at age forty-seven. Garland's resilience, artistic range and enduring recordings have ensured her lasting impact on popular culture and her reputation as a cultural icon.

Michael III, prince of Serbia assassinated in 1868

Michael III, who passed away on 10 June [29 May, Old Style], 1868, aged 44, in Košutnjak, near Belgrade) was the prince of Serbia (1839–42, 1860–68) and modern Serbia’s most enlightened ruler, who instituted the rule of law and attempted to found a Balkan federation aimed against the Ottoman Empire.

The second son of Miloš Obrenović, Michael succeeded to the Serbian throne on the death of his elder brother, Milan, on July 8, 1839, but fled into exile after a revolt in 1842. Having travelled widely, he returned on his father’s restoration to the throne (1858), served as commander in chief of the army, and became prince again on Miloš’s death in 1860. An enlightened though increasingly authoritarian ruler, Michael gradually freed Serbia from Turkish controls until all Ottoman soldiers had left the country in 1867. Nevertheless, his Balkan League, designed to unite all South Slavs against Turkey, collapsed soon after his death. In domestic affairs, Michael reformed the judicial system, revised the electoral laws, and instituted a regular conscript army (1861), for which Russia furnished supplies; he also established a state mortgage bank (1862), the Serbia Learned Society (1864), the first Serbian coinage since the Middle Ages (1868), and the national theatre. His reign was cut short by his assassination.

 

Donald Duck Day (United States)

 

Every year on 9 June, fans across the globe celebrate Donald Duck Day — a tribute to one of Disney’s most iconic and endearing characters. Donald made his first appearance in The Wise Little Hen, released on 9 June 1934, and quickly waddled his way into hearts with his sailor suit, trademark hat, and unforgettable voice.

Unlike the ever-smiling Mickey Mouse, Donald is known for his short temper, hilarious tantrums, and determined spirit. These quirks made him relatable and loveable, especially when he stubbornly refused to give up, even in the most absurd situations. Over the decades, Donald has starred in more than 150 theatrical films, making him one of the most prolific Disney characters ever. He even won an Academy Award in 1943 for the wartime short Der Fuehrer’s Face.

 

Donald’s popularity goes beyond animation — he has inspired comics, merchandise, theme park attractions, and generations of fans who see a bit of themselves in the flustered but well-meaning duck.

 

Birsa Munda's Martyrdom Day

 

Birsa Munda, who passed away on 9 June 1900, aged 24, in Ranchi, Bengal Residency (now in Jharkhand), was an Indian tribal independence activist, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe. He spearheaded a tribal religious millenarian movement that arose in the Bengal Residency (now Jharkhand) in the late 19th century, during the British Raj, thereby making him an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement. The revolt mainly concentrated in the Munda belt of Khunti, Tamar, Sarwada and Bandgaon.

Birsa received his education in Salga under the guidance of his teacher Jaipal Nag. Later, Birsa converted to Christianity to join the German Mission School. After dropping out of school, Birsa Munda created a faith called Birsait. Members of the Munda community soon started joining the faith which in turn became a challenge for the British activities. The Birsaits openly declared that the real enemies were the British and not Christian Mundas. The cause of the Munda revolt was the 'unfair land grabbing practices by colonial and local authorities that demolished the tribal conventional land system'. Birsa Munda is known for challenging the British Christian missionaries and revolting against the conversion activities along with the Munda and Oraon communities. His portrait hangs in the Indian Parliament Museum.