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June 21

Good morning everyone!

So I know that this article ought to have been up yesterday to get it more symbolic. However, my Dad 's has been working on the desktop non-stop for three days and it's only now that I've been able to literally 'snatch' it from him. 

Without further due, let me introduce you to the day you lived yesterday! The 21st of June!

Well, to those who are not much delved into dates, events and occurrences, June 21 turns out to you as the mere 172nd day of the year!(173rd in leap years) as in the Gregorian calendar. A quick subtraction, yes, there are 193 days remaining until the end of the year.
Rest assured we still have a few more days before we reach the exact middle of 2015!

Nevertheless, come, let us find out what are the 'things' that hype June 21 so much! :)

1. World International Music Day

Obviously, as Mauritians, as Mauritian Students rather June 21 is instinctively synonymous to 'Music Day'. Yes, it is a day of free events to celebrate the universal language of music!

Although this day is not fully celebrated as it should in Mauritius, in pomp and festivities in the streets or at the beach with people of all age, religion and gender mingling, it remains successfully anchored in the Mauritian school tradition to celebrate it.

The event is also known as Fête de la Musique (or World Music Day) and originated in France in 1982. Since then the idea has spread across the globe with each event holding to the same simple set of principles: that the day is held on the mid-summer solstice and that all concerts and events are free and accessible to the public.

2. Summer/Winter Solstice


Wait whut?! Soltice whut? Yes, you read it right. That day, the 'solstice' thing is actually a true and actual thing. Vampire Diaries fans, wake up! Just because you live in the southern hemisphere and have no inkling of an idea of what it actually signifies does not mean it doesn't exist!

But oops! To be honest, this day usually marks the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, which is the day of the year with the most hours of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere and the fewest hours of daylight in the Southern Hemisphere.

Yup, there is actually such a thing to which we as Mauritians pay very little importance to. Yet, it is a real astronomical fact! June Solstice in Port Louis, Mauritius was on
Sunday, June 21, 2015 at 8:39 PM .

Although the June solstice marks the first day of astronomical summer,(winter for us southerners) , it's more common to use meteorological definitions of seasons, making the solstice midsummer or midwinter. 
Over the centuries, the June solstice has inspired countless festivals, midsummer celebrations and religious holidays.

One of the world's oldest evidence of the Summer Solstice's importance in culture is Stonehenge in England, a megalithic structure which clearly marks the moment of the June Solstice. 
 
Thousands of people have gathered at Stonehenge to mark this year's summer solstice.

3. Father's Day (2015)

And since we know how much of great Facebookers we are, you must have noticed how Father's Day's posts were rampant on social media, right?

Father's Day in the United States is on the third Sunday of June. It celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make for their children's lives. 
And this year, it just happened to be yesterday that is the 21st of June. This traditionally applies to countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Uganda, United Arab Emirates and United States.

4. International World Yoga Day

This is a newly added feature to June 21 by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014. 



In suggesting June 21, which is the Summer Solstice, as the International Day of Yoga, Narendra Modi had said that the date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.
From the perspective of yoga, the Summer Solstice marks the transition to Dakshinayana. The first full moon after Summer Solstice is known as Guru Poornima. According to Sadhguru, Lord Shiva, the first yoga practitioner (Adi Yogi) is said to have begun imparting the knowledge of yoga to the rest of mankind on this day and became the first guru (Adi Guru). Dakshinayana is also considered a time when there is natural support for those pursuing spiritual practices.

The declaration of this day came after the call for the adoption of 21 June as International Day of Yoga by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014 wherein he stated: 

"Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. This tradition is 5000 years old. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day."
—Narendra Modi, UN General Assembly

NEW DELHI (AP) — Millions of yoga enthusiasts across the world bent and twisted their bodies in complex postures Sunday to mark the first International Yoga Day.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spread his mat among rows of people, including his Cabinet members and foreign diplomats, at New Delhi's main thoroughfare, which was transformed into a sprawling exercise ground.

5. World Humanist Day

Haha! This one I bet you had no idea about! It indeed is one unfortunately extremely little mediated event.

World Humanist Day is a Humanist holiday celebrated annually around the world on the June solstice, which usually falls on June 21st. According to the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), the day is a way of spreading awareness of Humanism as a philosophical life stance and means to effect change in the world. It is also seen as a time for Humanists to gather socially and promote the positive values of Humanism.

The manner in which World Humanist Day is celebrated varies considerably among local Humanist groups, reflecting the individuality and non-dogmatism of Humanism as a whole. Whilst the event might be a simple gathering, such as a dinner or picnic, with ample time for both socialising and reflection, the method of celebration is down to the individual Humanists. Some groups actually develop intricate social rituals, music, and proceedings which highlight the metaphoric symbolism of the solstice and the light (knowledge) which brings us out of darkness (ignorance).

World Humanist Day has not yet become a fully celebrated holiday in all Humanist organizations, although many of them are beginning to recognize it and plan events and activities around the holiday.

6. International Surfing Day

Again, another unmediated event: International Surfing Day, held annually on or near the date of the summer solstice, is an unofficial, environmentally conscious sports-centered holiday that celebrates the sport of surfing and the surfing lifestyle, and the sustainability of ocean resources. Contests and prizes are also part of the celebration, with surfing-related industries donating prizes such as surfboards and wetsuits. Another purpose of the celebration is to promote the popularity of surfing and to attract new participants. 

7. Celebrity Birthday

Finally, to up ‘21st of June’ further let's have a glance of who's birthday is celebrated on this all charged day! Any guesses?

It's the eldest son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana who is second in line, after his father, to become the head of the 53-member Commonwealth of Nations and the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states. Prince William. Yes, he turned 33 this 
June 21.
_______________________________

Thus, this was pretty much my basket of the Wows of the day I lived yesterday as a global citizen. This article is a special shout out to one of my friend's mom, Lyam's mom who I found out reads our articles. It's a real pleasure Ma'am, keep the love coming. God Bless! :))

This one's for NIk also, just in case he happens to be reading! He deserted me guys, hopefully he'll be back! :)) He will, I trust him more than I trust our bonding. And there's no way I'm keeping this blog's interface he if he never comes back. I owe him too much.

In any case, if you feel I have left out anything or if there's anything in particular that you hold to your heart about the 21st of June, do not forget to drop a word in the comment section below. 

If you learnt anything new, just give this one a little thumbs up for more such 'Knowledge is Power' articles. It doesn't cost much and I love you people!

Until next time, 

Much Love,
Iam Aehr.

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