On this day
1st June
Marilyn Monroe's birthday
Marilyn Monroe has so much more of a ring to it than Norma Jeane Mortenson, the name this screen superstar and model was born this day in 1926.
2nd June
Anniversary of the Queen's Coronation
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned this day in 1953 - although she ascended the throne a year earlier.
3rd June
Anniversary of the first American spacewalk
On this day in 1965, in the midst of the Cold War, astronaut Ed White struck a blow for the West over Communism, by becoming the first American to walk
4th June
National Cognac Day
Our friends in America have designated today National Cognac Day. Hoorah! But why? No one seems to know. But no matter, it's as good a reason as any to
5th June
World Environment Day
With the amount of environmental action in the news, climate change now mainstream science, and many of the world's best minds focused on how to solve
6th June
D-Day was this day
There are times when ordinary people do extraordinary things, and the D-Day Landings were one of those times. On this day in 1944, Allied soldiers - ordinary
7th June
We remember Dorothy Parker
I wish I could drink like a lady, I can take one or two at the most, After three I'm under the table, After four I'm under the host...
8th June
World Oceans Day
Oceans cover over 70% of the earth's surface, and 95% of the ocean remains unexplored. We know less about what lives deep in the ocean than we do about
9th June
Day of La Rioja (Día de La Rioja)
Famous for its red wine, the 9th of June is an annual public holiday in the autonomous community of La Rioja in northeast Spain.
10th June
The Biro's birthday
Back in the days of print magazines and mail by post, there was a company of lawyers whose role was to write to magazines that had inadvertently used the
11th June
National Gin Day & World Gin Day
In America, the second Saturday in June is celebrated as National Gin Day, while in Blighty and elsewhere Gin Day has taken on global significance. And
12th June
International Cachaça Day
Today is both Dia dos Namorados (Brazil's answer to Valentine's Day) and International Cachaça Day, so the perfect occasion to acquaint yourself with
13th June
Sewing Machine Day
They're kind of mundane so we don't think about them much but the sewing machine is one of man's greatest inventions and without one you probably wouldn't
14th June
National Bourbon Day
In America, today is celebrated as National Bourbon Day. And as the whiskey is widely exported so this celebration has travelled and is now celebrated
15th June
Smile Power Day
It's not just humans that smile – most mammals do, too, and scientists have suggested that the smile is a way of expressing harmlessness to predators.
16th June
Rollercoaster's birthday
Back in 1884, a new form of entertainment took off on this day at New York's Coney Island – the roller coaster.
17th June
The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York
This day in 1885, the Statue of Liberty appeared in New York City's harbour for the first time, on board a French naval frigate. For her transatlantic
18th June
International Sushi Day
Sometime around 1824, a Japanese chap called Hanaya Yohei decided to place pieces of seafood on hand-pressed vinegared rice to create what we now call
19th June
World Martini Day
Whether, like James Bond, you like your martini shaken not stirred, or not, as today is Martini Day you now have the perfect excuse to enjoy one.
20th June
The longest day (or nearly is)
Came around quickly, didn't it? The longest day of the year, either 20th, 21st or 22nd June depending on the year, the day with the most hours of sunlight.
21st June
Greenland National Day
Also known as Ullortuneq, meaning the longest day, Greenlanders chose today as their national day precisely because it is the longest and lightest day
22nd June
Windrush Day
Today marks the arrival of migrants from Caribbean islands aboard the Empire Windrush, dropping anchor at Tilbury Docks in Essex, England, and releasing
23rd June
The Olympic Games were founded this day
What a great legacy 1894 has left us, because it was on this day in that year that the International Olympic Committee was founded in Paris, on the initiative
24th June
Fête Nationale du Québec
Quebec National Holiday in Montreal and other areas of French Canada takes place on the same day as the feast day of the Nativity of St John the Baptist,
25th June
Catfish Day
Catfish Day? Who ever knew there was one, and why there even is one... but it does give us the perfect excuse to make our variation on a famous punch recipe,
26th June
Toothbrush's birthday
On this day in 1498, the Ming dynasty Emperor Hongzhi invented the toothbrush.
27th June
International Pineapple Day
Oranges have their own day on 24th March, while bananas are honoured on 19th April, so it's only fitting the pineapple is also celebrated – particularly
28th June
Saxophone's birthday
It may surprise you to know that the saxophone does have a very precise birthday and that it's today. In 1846, Adolphe Sax patented this new musical instrument.
29th June
San Francisco's birthday
People have lived on the site of San Francisco since at least 3000 BC and there were Native American villages on the bay when the first Spanish explorers
30th June
It's Tower Bridge's birthday
After eight years of construction, London's Tower Bridge was opened this day in 1894 by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII.
