On June 12, 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia that “The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.” This legalized the right of people to marry regardless of race. Today, we celebrate this first step toward the rights for all people to marry whomever they love.  Let love rule.

A picnic is a pleasant gathering where folks come together to eat in a picturesque outdoor setting. When first practiced, picnics provided an opportunity to mingle with less formality and restrictions of etiquette. Today’s hallmarks include a carefree experience with delicious food and grand companionship. Simple or Elegant, it’s International Picnic Day.

Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. Although President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, it took almost three years before all slaves were finally freed.  The 13th amendment to our Constitution formally abolished slavery on February 1, 1865.  Yet it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 when General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas finally freeing the last of the slaves. 

The summer solstice occurs when the poles of the Earth tilt most strongly toward the sun. This creates the longest day of the calendar year. As the sun is at its peak, it is seen as the middle mark of summer. Thus it is often referred to as “midsummer”. The sun at his strongest seemingly lingers in the sky, reluctant to give way to slowly diminishing daylight.

Fairies are a part of the mythology of almost every culture, although the diversity in the fairy folk is huge. What they share, everywhere, is that they are beings who can frequent our world, while held to their own laws and customs. Often intelligent, mischievous, and magical, fairies pique our imaginations. On International Fairy Day, see what magical creatures you might uncover.