It’s June 12th – Orange Leader
There are 12 months in a year, and each has its own unique name. Have you ever wondered where these names came from, or why some months don’t seem to match their Latin number prefixes?
In June, it can be interesting to learn how the sixth month of the year gets its name.
The 12 month calendar used today differs greatly from past calendars. The ancient Romans were instrumental in establishing the structure upon which the modern calendar was built, including the names of the months. The original Roman calendar consisted of 10 months and began in March. It was believed that there was an unnamed period of time during the winter when there was not much going on with farming, and therefore not really relevant to the old timekeepers. This period will then be broken down into the months of January and February.
Many months, such as March, were named after Roman gods. Historians believe that Mars was named after Mars, the Roman god of war. Mai was named after Maia, an earth goddess of plants.
The month of June also takes its name from an important Roman figure. June was named for the goddess Juno, who was the queen of the gods. Juno was the patroness of weddings and nuptials, according to Roman mythology. Since June and the summer season were prime times for couples, it seemed fitting that the month was named after this queen of weddings.
There is more to June than a name. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the June birth month flowers are very fragrant and beautiful rose and honeysuckle. Roses represent love, affection and friendship. The honeysuckle is a strong symbol of the bonds of eternal love.
June is also one of two months to have three birthstones. The American Gem Society states that June birthstones include the opalescent pearl; the color changing alexandrite, which is one of the most precious gemstones on Earth; and the moonstone shimmering and diffusing light. Each of these stones is mysterious and difficult to find.
People born in June belong to the astrological sign Gemini or Cancer. According to many astrological sources, Gemini tend to be gentle, affectionate, and curious. However, because it is a sign of twins, Gemini may exhibit two different personalities or may be inconsistent and indecisive. Gemini belongs to the air element, and this relates to aspects of the mind.
Cancers can be imaginative, emotional, and persuasive. Negative traits include suspicion, insecurity, and mood swings. Cancers tend to worry a lot about family and home issues. Cancer is a sign that belongs to the water element, which is guided by emotion and the heart.
People born in June in the northern hemisphere can celebrate their birthdays during the best weather conditions of the year. Some famous June birthdays include Johnny Depp, President Donald Trump, Paul McCartney, and Angelina Jolie.
Landing in the middle of the year, June is an exciting month full of interesting history
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World doll day
Best-selling gifts of past years
Many children who grew up in the 1980s hoped to find a Cabbage Patch Doll wrapped up under the tree on Christmas morning, and many parents went to great lengths to obtain such dolls for their children.
Cabbage Patch dolls are just one example of a toy that creates a shopping spree. Over the years, many toys have become the must-have gifts of their time. The following is a story of some of the most popular gifts of years gone by.
1984: Transformers was a must-have giveaway in 1984. Originally produced by a Japanese toy company, the Transformers were eventually produced by Hasbro and became so popular that they were a toy that spawned an animated series (not the series leading up to the toy) and later blockbuster live-action movies.
1985: Pretty much every kid, and maybe even adults, wanted a Nintendo entertainment console for Christmas in the 1980s. The system ushered in a new era of gaming and helped make Super Mario Bros. a well-known name. NES continued its success for several years, selling seven million systems during the 1988 holiday season.
1986: Introduced the year before, Teddy Ruxpin was an animatronic bear who told stories from a tape inserted in his back.
1990: Were you a fan of Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello or Raphael? The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were named after Renaissance artists, but they were just teenage pizza-eating heroes in the early 1990s. Kids were obsessed with these figures and the animated series that featured them.
1992: Barbie has always been a popular holiday gift, but her reimagined Barbie dream house was something girls clamored for in the early ’90s. Barbie’s avant-garde house featured a ringing phone, a working doorbell, and a fireplace that lit up.
1993: The Talkboy was a portable audio cassette player and recorder made popular by the movie “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”.
1995: Beanie Babies was a popular collectibles line that peaked in 1995. Rare Beanie Babies would later be worth hundreds of dollars.
1997: Tamagotchi appears and becomes the first virtual “pet”. Industry insiders estimate that at the peak of its popularity, 15 Tamagotchis were sold every minute in North America.
1998: Building on Tamagotchi’s success, the Furbies were also on the verge of success. And they did, since 27 million Furbies were sold in 1998 alone.
Pokémon Cards, Razor scooters, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and many other goodies have reigned supreme during the holiday shopping season. LOL surprise dolls were a sleeper hit last year, and who can say which gift will capture children’s hearts this year?