Selfie day - June 21

Are you also one of those people who stops every minute to photograph themselves on the phone making faces just like that? Do you also have a phone full of pictures of your face everywhere you go, even the most ordinary, when what you see in the picture is not the landscape but your face?

If so, Selfie Day is for you.

If you like pushing your face into every picture, taking pictures with every celebrity you meet, or even with animals, or you have an urge to take a selfie when you are just walking down the street, selfie day is your day.

The history of the selfie

A selfie is a self-portrait taken. Its history began in the early days when there were cameras. The first selfie was taken as early as 1839 by the American photographer Robert Cornelius (although some believe it was not he who photographed himself but his aides). Already in the age of old cameras, the technicians who created them realized the need for self-photography and added to the camera the possibility of timed photography. Smartphones have added the ability to reverse camera direction and share photos on social media in the early 21st century.

Yes yes, the need for self-portrait may be due to arrogance, vanity and narcissism, but it is so common and ancient that if you are addicted to selfies, you really are not alone.

In 1914 the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, the daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, who was 13, felt a strong need to take a selfie. She photographed herself through the mirror because then there was no other way to do it.

The selfie of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna

In 1966 Buzz Aldrin photographed himself in the first selfie in space.

The word "selfie" on the other hand is relatively new. The word is derived from the English word self and it first appeared on the Australian Forum in 2002, and first appeared in the book by photographer Jim Krauss in 2005.

In 2012 the word selfie was chosen by Time magazine as one of the "Ten Buzzards of 2012" and in 2013 it was added to the Oxford Dictionary and also won the title of "Word of the Year".

In 2014, the BBC officially announced "Selfie Day" to be held on June 21 every year.

How to celebrate selfie day?

The best way to celebrate Selfie Day is to take full photos of your selfies and upload the best to the web and wish you a "Happy Selfie Day".

Today you should not feel bad about the fact that you really like your face and it must appear everywhere. So have fun photographing yourself (preferably from above) and share the photo.

June 21 is also Music Day ,  Yoga day and Giraffe Day

Music Day - June 21

Music Day (in French: Fête de la Musique) is an annual music festival held on June 21, the first day of summer (and also the longest day of the year), in many cities around the world.

The idea of a musical celebration throughout the day on a day when the season alternates from spring to summer, was originally by American musician Joel Cohen, who spent two seasons as a producer of musical programs on national French radio. His idea was implemented and officially made a national holiday by the French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang. More countries liked the idea and the festival later became a holiday in 110 countries around the world.

It is hard to imagine a culture where music does not play a vital role. The benefits of music to the human soul are intangible, but they are enormous. Music opens up new worlds for people. It can be used to tell stories, to inspire, or to help people relax. On Music Day people all over the world gather together to celebrate the incredible power of music.

The perfect way to celebrate this day is to make music, alone or with friends. You do not have to be a musician, because anyone can make music. If you have kids, they love something as simple as knocking on pots and pans and singing. If you do not know how to play, you can meet for a karaoke evening with friends. Even if you do not have any musical talent, you can spend the day listening to your favorite songs. The great thing about music is that it's for everyone.

June 21st is also Selfie Day, Yoga day and Giraffe Day

Yoga Day-21 June

Yoga has many health benefits. It improves flexibility, contributes to balance and stability of the body, builds muscles, increases circulation, strengthens the immune system, helps regulate blood pressure, helps to concentrate and sleep better and more.

The origin of yoga is Hindu philosophy. The word "yoga" means the union of consciousness and soul. A state in which the senses focus inwards and are not disturbed by external factors. Thoughts are concentrated internally and not distracted. Yoga is the way to reach peace and merge with the essence of ourselves. 

International Yoga Day was set by the United Nations in December 2014. The date June 21 was chosen because it is the longest day of the year in many countries in the world. 

How to celebrate World Yoga Day?  

The best way to celebrate this day is to attend a yoga class. Hundreds of schools around the world teach yoga and it is not difficult to find a place close to where one can learn it. If you know how to do yoga, this day is an opportunity to teach others and offer more people to do yoga to relax tensions and improve quality of life. A pleasant yoga day! 

June 21 is also Selfie Day, World Music Day and International Giraffe Day

Vanilla Milkshake Day- 20 June

Vanilla Milkshake Day is a day that is celebrated with joy by many people all over the world who probably like vanilla milkshake.

The first time the term "milkshake" was used in printing was in 1885. At this point, milkshake was an alcoholic beverage that contained whiskey and eggs and was considered a healthy drink. In 1900 the milkshake became the so-called "healthy drink made with chocolate syrup, strawberry or vanilla." After a few years people began to treat the milkshake as a treat and added a ball of ice cream and in the 1930's the milkshake began to appear in the shops and became a popular drink.

If you want to celebrate the day of Vanilla Milkshake, make yourself a real vanilla milkshake, add a ball of ice cream and cherry and you are arranged! you can also make a vegan vanilla milkshake, with almond milk.

Copyright: juthapad / 123RF Stock Photo

June 20 is also World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day- June 20

International Refugee Day is celebrated every year on June 20 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The aim of the day is to raise awareness of the plight of millions of refugees around the world, who have been forced to flee their homes to safer countries.

The Refugee Convention states that a refugee is someone who has a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or belonging to a particular social group (a certain social group is a somewhat vague category but in most countries of the world women are included).

Some facts about the situation of the right refugees today (from the Amnesty International website)

There are 25.9 million refugees in the world - the highest number ever recorded.

Half of the refugees in the world are children.

A third of the refugees - 6.7 million people - have found refuge in the world's poorest countries.

About 1.4 million refugees are at particular risk of violence and are particularly vulnerable and urgently need resettlement on a regular basis. But of those, only 92,400 refugees were resettled in 2018, less than 7% in need.

In 2018 there were 1.1 million new refugees, most of whom fled the conflict in Syria, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Violence, insecurity, persecution and shortages of food, medicine and other necessities, have motivated millions of Venezuelans to leave their country. In the first five months of 2019, some 4 million Venezuelans left their homes in one of the biggest crises in the world. More than 460,000 Venezuelans have sought refuge but so far only a small proportion - some 21,000 - have been recognized as refugees.

Many rich countries continue to establish policies that will deter people seeking asylum in them. At the same time, they transfer the responsibility to neighboring countries that will protect the people fleeing for their lives. This limited and short-sighted policy forces women, men and children to embark on dangerous journeys on foot and by sea and endanger their lives and be exposed to human rights violations.

Refugee boat

The 10 countries that received the most refugees are: Turkey (3.7 million), Iran (979,000 refugees), Pakistan (1.4 million refugees), Bangladesh (906,000 refugees), Ethiopia (921,000 refugees), Uganda (1.1 million refugees), Jordan (2.9 million) Refugees), Sudan (908,700 refugees), Lebanon (1.4 million refugees) and Germany (1 million refugees).

The richest countries in the world are not doing nearly enough to fund the cost of protecting the people who have left everything behind. Referrals for humanitarian aid to refugees are consistently - and often - unfunded.

In conclusion, the world urgently needs a new global program based on genuine international cooperation and meaningful and fair sharing of responsibility.

June 20 is also Vanilla Milkshake Day

Garfield's Birthday - June 19th

Garfield's Day, which is actually his birthday, is celebrated every year on June 19th. Garfield was created by the famous cartoonist Jim Davis and appeared in the comics for the first time on June 19, 1978. The comics also featured Garfield's owners, Jon Arbuckle and his dog friend Odie.

Garfield is a cat who especially likes to sleep and eat lasagna in quantities and hates Mondays. It is named after the grandfather of creator Jim Davis, James Garfield Davis (named after the 20th President of the United States, James Abram Garfield).

Coloring pages of Garfield

2 comic strips by Jim Davis in honor of Garfield's 8th birthday.

The author writes:

Garfield has two consecutive birthday bands in 1986, it's appropriate to do both for him. No wonder he's so fat, when John feeds him so much food!

And what is cherry phosphate? That's what John Arbeckel calls cherry-flavored soda.

How to celebrate Garfield's birthday?

Eat a lot of lasagna, sleep a lot and complain that you hate Monday ....

(Source: Facebook)

Garfield's Happy Birthday greeting cards

June 19 is also Juneteenth

Juneteenth - June 19

Juneteenth is an American holiday commemorating the declaration of slavery in the state of Texas on June 19, 1865, and more generally the release of enslaved African-American residents throughout the Confederate states (formerly southern states) in the United States.

The name of the holiday is a combination of the words "June" and "Nineteen" (June and nineteen).

Slavery existed in the United States for several centuries, from the British colonial period, in the early 17th century until 1865, when the Civil War ended. Slavery was a legal institution where people of African descent were sold as goods to slave owners. Slaves were considered lawful. As property and deprived of most of the rights vested in free people.They were subject to the authority of their owners who bought them and had to do whatever they were told.

The slaves were brought to America from African countries, where they were abducted or sold by their families. Subsequent generations born in the United States were forced into slave status on the day they were born.

The end of slavery at the end of the American Civil War granted citizenship and legal and political rights to those of black skin color equal to those of white skin color.

The Juneteenth is celebrated mainly by reading the works of well-known African-American writers such as Ralph Ellison and Mia Angelo, singing traditional songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing", public readings of the Emancipation Statement, the Declaration The presidency signed by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, which declared slaves in the United States free.

Also celebrating on this day in the US are rodeos, street fairs, food stalls, family reunions, park parties, historical reconstructions of the period or the Miss Juneteenth beauty pageant.

Recommended movies about the period of slavery in the United States

"12 Years a Slave" directed by Steve McQueen, "The help" by Tate Taylor, "Django Unchained" by Quentin Tarantino, "Lincoln" and "Amistad" by Steven Spielberg, "The 13th" by Ava DuVernay.

A painting from 1690 in Virginia, USA, of a white family that has a black maid

Sale of slaves in 1841, photo from the film "12 Years of Slavery"

Coloring pages of Texas

International Picnic Day - June 18

It is true that life is not a picnic - but on the 18th of June they are, because on this day we celebrate International Picnic Day.

Picnic Day is an opportunity to dine al fresco with your spouse, friends or family.

The word "picnic" comes from the French language, from the word pique-nique, which appeared in 1692 in the book Origines de la Langue Françaiseby Jill Ménage.

From the French language the word was translated into the English language into the word "picnic." Some think that the word also passed through the German language before the word Picnic.

A picnic is an outdoor meal that became a popular pastime in France after the French Revolution in the 19th century. Until the revolution, the parks in France were open only to the nobility and after that, the common people were also allowed to enter them. The picnics of the time were elaborate social events, with menus offering a variety of cold meats and pies prepared a few days in advance.

International Picnic Day is celebrated in many countries, although its origins are uncertain.

In honor of this day, picnics of charity events, picnics of schools and all kinds of groups are organized that are specially organized to mark the event.

A picnic is an outdoor meal that became a popular pastime in France after the French Revolution in the 19th century. Until the revolution, the parks in France were open only to the nobility and after that, the common people were also allowed to enter them. The picnics of the time were elaborate social events, with menus offering a variety of cold meats and pies prepared a few days in advance.

International Picnic Day is celebrated in many countries, although its origins are uncertain.

In honor of this day, picnics of charity events, picnics of schools and all kinds of groups are organized that are specially organized to mark the event.

You too can celebrate International Picnic Day. Take a basket with sandwiches, fruit, vegetables and dessert and go to the park, forest, beach or public garden to enjoy a pleasant lunch in nature.

Upgraded picnic basket (Source: Amazon )

June 18 is also Autistic Pride Day and Sushi Day