by The Justice William J. Murray Jr. Unity Bar Section

Cultural Awareness Brief from The Justice William J. Murray Jr. Unity Bar Section  

June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month, established to recognize the impact that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on the world. LGBTQ+ groups acknowledge the month with Pride parades, memorials for those lost to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS, and other group gatherings. The last Sunday in June is LGBTQ+ Pride Day, commemorating the Stonewall Riots that occurred on June 28, 1969. June is also Immigrant Heritage Month, which celebrates immigrants across the United States and their contributions to their local communities and economy and gives all Americans an opportunity to explore their heritages and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of the United States; and Caribbean American Heritage Month, which was established in June 2006 to honor and celebrate the rich and diverse culture of the Caribbean American population.

June 1 to 3 (sundown to sundown) is Shavuot, a Jewish holiday marking both the wheat harvest in Israel and the anniversary of the day when the Jews received the Torah at Mount Sinai. June 2 is Native American Citizenship Day, commemorating the day in 1924 when the U.S. Congress passed legislation recognizing the citizenship of Native Americans. June 2 is also Republic Day (or Festa della Repubblica), which is Italy’s National Day commemorating the 1946 Italian institutional referendum held by universal suffrage. June 5 to 6 (sundown to sundown) is Waqf al Arafa, the second day of pilgrimage within the Islamic faith.  June 5 to 9 (sundown to sundown) is Eid al-Adha, an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to follow Allah’s command to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. June 6 is Memorial Day (or Hyeonchungil), a holiday in South Korea commemorating all the Koreans who have contributed or died while serving the Republic of Korea. June 8 is Pentecost, a Christian holiday commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks. June 9 is Whit Monday, a Christian holiday that takes place the day after Pentecost Sunday and a public holiday in much of Europe.

June 10 is Portugal Day, a holiday in Portugal commemorating the death of Luís de Camões, a poet and national literary icon. June 12 is Independence Day (or Araw ng Kasarinlán), a holiday in the Philippines commemorating the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898. June 14 is Flag Day in the United States, observed to celebrate the history and symbolism of the U.S. flag. June 15 is Trinity Sunday, observed in the Western Christian faith as a feast in honor of the Holy Trinity. June 16 is Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, observed by members of the Sikh faith; Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth Sikh guru and the first Sikh martyr.

June 19 is Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day; established as a federal holiday in June 2021, this celebration honors the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas and Louisiana finally heard they were free, two months after the end of the Civil War. June 19 is also New Church Day; according to Christian belief, on this day the Lord called together the twelve disciples who had followed him on Earth, instructed them in the Heavenly Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, and sent them out to teach that “the Lord God Jesus Christ reigns, whose kingdom shall be for ages and ages.” June 19 is also Corpus Christi, a Catholic holiday celebrating the presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. June 20 is Litha, the summer solstice celebrated by Wiccans and Pagans; it is the longest day of the year, representing the sun’s “annual retreat. June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day (or First Nations Day), a day that gives recognition to the indigenous populations affected by colonization in Canada.” June 21 is also National Day of the Indigenous Peoples in Chile, a Chilean celebration honoring the rituals and beliefs of the country’s Indigenous communities. June 26 to 27 (sundown to sundown) is Islamic New Year (or Muharram 1), the day that marks the beginning of the new Islamic calendar year. June 27 is Feast of the Most Sacred Heart, a solemnity in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. June 29 is Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul, a liturgical feast in honor of the martyrdom in Rome for the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. June 30 is Armed Forces Day, a holiday in Guatemala commemorating the overthrow of former President Vincente Cerna y Cerna by the Liberal Revolution.