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National Chocolate Ice Cream Day celebrates the world's second most loved ice cream flavor, after vanilla. Ice cream dates back thousands of years, with different variations and recipes evolving across various cultures. It is believed to have originated in ancient Persia, Greece, and China. Here is a brief timeline: Persia (circa 500 BC): Persians developed a similar frozen dessert called "sharbat," made of fruit juices, water, and honey, then cooled using ice and snow from the mountains. Greece and Rome (circa 400 BC - 200 AD): Greeks and Romans also enjoyed cooling refreshments, mixing fruit with snow and ice. Emperor Nero was known to send his servants to collect snow from the mountains to create these treats. China (circa 200 BC): The earliest recorded ice cream-like dessert used a mixture of rice, milk, and snow. Chinese emperors and their courts enjoyed the treat. The Arab world (circa 7th-10th centuries): Arab traders and merchants introduced sugar to the Persian sharbat recipe, creating a more refined and sweetened version. They also started using milk and cream instead of water in some variations, leading to a product more similar to modern ice cream. Ice cream in England (17th century): Ice cream gained popularity in England when King Charles I was introduced. He enjoyed the dessert so much that he paid his chef to keep the recipe a secret, though it eventually spread throughout Europe. Ice cream in America (18th century): European settlers brought ice cream to the American colonies. In the late 1700s, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson served ice cream at their homes, Mount Vernon and Monticello. The ice cream churn (19th century): In 1843, Nancy Johnson patented the first hand-cranked churn, revolutionizing ice cream production and making it more accessible to the public. The ice cream cone (20th century): The ice cream cone was invented by a Syrian waffle vendor due to a shortage of cups at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. The cone made ice cream more portable and convenient. Today, ice cream is a beloved dessert enjoyed by people of all ages, with countless flavors and variations available worldwide.

Africa

Jun

Chocolate Macaroon Day, Ntl.: June 3

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Chocolate Macaroon Day celebrates macaroons (macarons). This sweet appeared on the world stage in 791 AD at a convent in Commercy, France. Macaroons are cookies made of egg whites, sugar, and almond paste. It includes no leavening agent or flour. It is a favorite treat and part of the Jewish tradition of Passover. Coconut, the ingredient most often associated with macaroons, was added to the recipe in the 1890s. The French introduced the idea of drenching macaroons in chocolate syrup around the turn of the last century, creating the highly coveted and delightfully sweet chocolate macaroons we celebrate today.

Africa

Jun

Chocolate Pudding Day: June 26

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National Chocolate Pudding Day celebrates the dessert, traced to the 17th century. During that time, a pudding was a moist cake (similar to bread or plum pudding). National Chocolate Pudding Day honors the ubiquitous dessert the old and young enjoy. The style we call pudding today was created in the mid-19th century by Alfred Bird, a chemist.

Africa

Jun

Christian Unity Week, Intl. (Southern Hemisphere): June 4-11

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Twice a year (January in the Northern Hemisphere, June in the Southern Hemisphere), Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). During International Christian Unity Week, Christians gather and pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes globally exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. Traditionally the week of prayer is celebrated between 18-25 January, between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, churches celebrate June 4-11, around Pentecost, another symbolic date for unity.

Africa

Jun

Clothesline Week, Intl.: June 7-14

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International Clothesline Week encourages people worldwide to bypass the dryer, save energy and hang their clothes to dry. Annually the first Saturday to Saturday in June.

Africa

Jun

CMA Music Festival (US-TN): June 5-8

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Each June, the CMA Music Festival showcases country music artists like Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, The Band Perry, Eric Church, Dwight Yoakum, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Reba McIntyre, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, and Trace Adkins. The CMA Music Festival Four Days of Live Music (Thursday-Sunday) Four nights of all-star shows at LP Field, with daytime concerts occurring at Riverfront Park, Bridgestone Arena Plaza, The Buckle Stage, and more.

Africa

Jun

Cocktail (Name your Poison) Day: June 8

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Cocktail Day or Name Your Poison Day commemorates the phrase "name your poison" that bartenders may use when asking what a patron would like as their drink. The phrase originated in the mid-19th century. The most likely association is with the word "intoxicated," which comes from the Latin word for poison, "toxicum." Another name for this day is "Make a Choice Day." Though associated with alcohol, this phrase can also refer to one's preferences for any number of items (coffee, drugs, people, etc.) when a choice is required.

Africa

Jun

Cognac Day: June 4

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National Cognac Day celebrates cognac, one of the most sought-after forms of hard liquor. It is a status symbol in China and the United States, the world's two largest consumers. Cognac is a brandy named after the town of Cognac, France, and was first distilled in the 17th century. For a brandy to be called a Cognac, the white wines are distilled in copper pot stills twice and then aged in French Limousin or Troncais oak barrels for a minimum of two years. The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) champions National Cognac Day.

Africa

Jun

Coin Toss Day: June 1

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The coin tossing is rumored to have started with Julius Caesar, who, when stumped by a decision, would leave it to the fate of the gods by flipping a coin. Render unto Caesar thy luck? It was his face on the coin! This style of determining a yes or no question, or who wins or loses, continues today. People don't make important decisions by a coin toss, do they? Yes, they do, including: a) How Portland, Oregon, got its name b) Who owned what would become the fastest racehorse in history, Secretariat c) Whether Wilbur or Orville Wright would take the first flight d) Who boarded the plane in 1959 that crashed and killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson, "The Day the Music Died." e) The path to the discovery of insulin by Frederick Banting came down to his winning a coin toss against Clark Noble to become Frederick Banting's assistant in 1921. A coin toss can also refer to tossing a coin in a fountain to make a wish, as is the legend of the Three Coins in the Trevi Fountain. For the wishes to work, you must throw either one or three coins in the fountain. If you toss just one coin in the fountain from the right hand over the left shoulder, your wish to return to Rome will be granted. If you toss a second coin, your wish for a new romance will materialize. Your third toss ensures your wish for a future marriage will come to fruition. Each year the city of Rome earns over one million Euros from the coins tossed into Trevi. There isn't a historical tie between a pivotal coin toss and June 1, so LEEP dug a little to see if perhaps it might be the day Arthur Dempster, Nan Laird, and Donald Rubin published their Expectation-maximization (EM) Algorithm, a mathematical theory with coin tossing at its center, in 1977. It wasn't. Then we thought maybe it was one of their birthdays or death anniversaries. Nope. All three are still alive and well. June 1, it's not even the mid-point of the calendar year, so it isn't numerical. Therefore Coin Toss Day appears to be just that—a day to toss a coin.

Africa

Jun

Combat Decertification and Drought, World Day of: June 17

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World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is an awareness campaign sponsored by United Nations. It aims to prevent desertification (where fertile land turns into a desert) and find ways to improve drought conditions worldwide. Officially recognized by the organization on January 30, 1995, under the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/49/115, each year's event has a different theme.

Africa

Jun

Comedy Pet Photography Awards: June 1 (est)

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Founded in 2019 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam as an offshoot of The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, The Comedy Pet Photography Awards celebrates the humorous and endearing moments of pets from around the world. The contest is not only about laughter and fun; it carries a significant message regarding pet welfare and the humane treatment of animals. The competition's underlying aim is to highlight the joy pets bring into people's lives and promote animal welfare. By emphasizing the character and quirks of pets, the awards shed light on the importance of treating animals with kindness and compassion. Professional and amateur photographers submit photos across multiple categories. Whether it's dogs, cats, horses, or even reptiles, the contest seeks those perfect comedic moments that capture the essence of our furry, feathered, or scaled companions. Open to participants worldwide, the competition has seen a surge in popularity, with entries from numerous countries. Winning images tickle the funny bone and testify to the bond between pets and their owners. Each year culminates in an awards ceremony where category winners are recognized, and the coveted title of "Comedy Pet Photographer of the Year" is awarded. The Comedy Pet Photography Awards remains an essential platform for photographers passionate about pets. Beyond the laughter it generates, the contest plays a vital role in promoting a message of love, care, and respect for all animals.

Africa

Jun

Communication, Effective, Month: June

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June is Effective Communication Month, a time to focus on listening and improving your communication ability. It isn't their fault if someone doesn't understand what you're saying. The person communicating failed to correspond clearly and concisely. Take this opportunity to improve some aspects of your communication skills, whether written, speaking, or listening.

Africa

Jun

Confederate Memorial Day (US-TN, KY, LA)(1808): June 3*

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Confederate Memorial Day occurs in several former states of the Confederacy on different days of the year. In some cases, like Georgia, it is no longer referred to as Confederate Memorial Day but rather as a state holiday. It is an official state holiday that honors the men who died fighting for the Confederacy during the American Civil War, 1861-1865. The dates are as follows: Alabama, Georgia: fourth Monday in April Mississippi: Last Monday in April Florida: April 26 Tennessee, Kentucky, and Louisiana: June 3, Jefferson Davis's birthday, 1808 North and South Carolina: May 10, Anniversary of the death of General "Stonewall" Jackson in 1863 Texas: January 19, Birthday of Robert E. Lee 1807 Due to the 400-year legacy of slavery (ending in 1865) and state-supported racial segregation (ending in 1964), this event is highly contentious and seen as a celebration of racism by many critics. Detractors insist this plays into existing racism and celebrates white supremacy and slavery. Proponents of the observance insist that the Confederacy played a part in shaping who we are, its ramifications, and its contributions continue today. To deny a portion of our past, good and bad, is selective censorship. On the contrary, use this event to explore the unspoken but oft-felt prejudices and perceived reality that political correctness squelches. Whether you side with the detractors or the proponents, the best way to acknowledge this month is to read the Constitution of the United States and learn history, not social studies. A great place to start is with Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States, which some states, including Arizona, have tried to ban from their schools. Why? Because it is a history of the American people, not the leaders, and looks at the nation from the perspective of the 99%, the immigrants, migrant workers, women, religious minorities, slaves, and the common man.

Africa

Jun

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month, Ntl.: June

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The United States government declared Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month to increase awareness of this viral disease. Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common genetic diseases in the US and can cause birth defects among infants, including blindness and physical disabilities. Because of the virulence of this virus, pregnant women are at risk. Frequent hand washing and not sharing food or utensils are essential in avoiding contamination.

Africa

Jun

Constitution Day (DK)(1849/1953): June 5

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On June 5, 1849, Denmark became a constitutional monarchy, and the constitution was changed and readopted on June 5, 1953. Constitution Day in Denmark marks these two anniversaries and is a national holiday.

Africa