|
June
|
| 6-7 |
Shavuot
(Festival of Weeks) This Jewish festival begins at
sundown on June 5 and is known as Yom Habikkurim, or "the
Day of the First Fruits" because it marks the time when
the farmers of Israel would bring their first harvest to Jerusalem
as a token of thanksgiving. It also commemorates the giving
of the law (Ten Commandments) to Moses and the Israelites at
Mt. Sinai. Shavuot means weeks, and this festival is held exactly
seven weeks after Passover. |
| 8
|
Pentecost
In the Christian church, Pentecost occurs on the Sabbath day
after a week’s worth of weeks (7 x 7) or the fiftieth
day after Easter and officially ends the Easter season. According
to the Bible’s book of Acts 2, people had gathered to
celebrate Pentecost, and the good news of Jesus was being preached.
Because the Holy Spirit descended on the crowd, many people
were able to hear the words in their own language and were converted
to follow Christ. The Christian observance of Pentecost is considered
the birthday of the Church. |
| 8
|
Race
Unity Day this is a Bahai-sponsored observance promoting
racial harmony and understanding and the essential unity of
humanity. For more information, contact the United Nations Office
at 212-803-2500 or visit www.us.bahai.org |
| 14
|
Flag
Day This day for patriotic observance commemorates
June 14, 1777 when the Stars and Stripes was adopted by the
Continental Congress. Inspired by three decades of state and
local celebrations in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Flag Day
was officially established by a proclamation of President Woodrow
Wilson on May 30th, 1916. After this proclamation, it was celebrated
in communities for years until it became a national day of observance
; on August 3rd, 1949, President Truman signed an Act of Congress
designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day. |
|
15 |
Father’s
Day A day to honor one’s father and all men
who act as father figures, it is observed on the third Sunday
in June according to a presidential proclamation signed by
Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. Father’s Day was first proposed
in 1901 by a Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington who wanted to
honor her father who had been left a widower and had raised
six children. The first Father's Day was observed on June
19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. Around that time in cities
and towns across American other people were beginning to celebrate
a "father's day." In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge
supported the idea of a national Father's Day.
|
| 16 |
Day
of the African Child Celebrated since 1991, this
day commemorates the achievement and future challenges of
Africa and celebrates the heritage of African-American children.
It recalls a two-week period in 1976 when in Soweto South
Africa, thousands of black school children took to the streets
to protest the inferior quality of their education and demand
their right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of
children were shot down. Information: 1-800-FOR-KIDS.
|
