June, Cireşar, a Month for the Young at Heart #Im4Ro

I vote we turn June, Cireşar how it is called in Romanian folklore, from the cherries twice ripe now, the month of everyone who’s young at heart. Who’s with me? 😉

June, a month whose name is as old as time

Yes, June derives from Latin Junius, but it is assumed that it could actually be derived from junior, juniores, meaning a younger man in Latin, the youth.

This way, it makes sense that this month of June be meant to celebrate the young population of the Roman Empire, juvenis, juvene.

“Romulus organised the people,
Dividing them into two parts, according to age:
One was ready to give advice, the other to fight:
One decided on war, while the other waged it.
So he decreed, and divided the months likewise:
June for the young (iuvenes): the month before for the old.”

Ovid in Fasti, Book Six, June
June, Cireşar, a Month for the Young at Heart

Why June ought to be the month of those young at heart

One must be realistic now and consider the life expectancy (not life span) during the times of the Roman Empire, that was of about 25 years of age (factoring in the high infant and child mortality).

While today, the life expectancy of men and women had long opened wide the gates of the eighties.

As old blue eyes put it, “For it’s hard, you will find / To be narrow of mind if you’re young at heart.” 🙂

So, again, I think we ought to turn June, Cireşar (a month when the cherries, aptly, ripe twice), into the month of everyone who’s young at heart. 😉

I think that something amazing can happen when you’re young at heart.

As I write this, outside is a very cold autumn day, for we’re on the other half of the world here, in South Africa. It is overcast, it rained and it is cold, yet my heart (who lived in the northern hemisphere for a long while) knows it is the 1st of June, and I feel cheery and happy inside. Look, even the sun tries to shine outside my window now.

red rose for the young at heart

A second, hidden etymology of the month of June

Yet if you glanced upon Ovid’s poem, you will know that there is another explanation for the origin of June, namely the goddess Iuno (Iunona or Junona) – Roman godess of childbirth and fertility, and the protective goddess of women.

I remember reading somewhere: “as any man has his muse, any woman has her Juno.”

But since Juno (as any Roman goddess could) married her sibling Jupiter (or Jove), the symbology of the month June might have been changed over time, perhaps even at the request of the Church.

Old Romanian beliefs connected with the month of June

Vlachs of old Wallachia (today part of Romania) believed that June threw at the thunders and lightnings in abundance, then the summer that just blossomed will be an overcast one.

If June is rainy, then on Christmas we will enjoy an abundant feast.

If the warm, Great Wind blows in summer from the north, then the wheat harvest will be early, and rich, while a rainy June will bring a wealth of corn.

But also, one should not swim on 24 June (around Summer Solstice, Midsummer Day) when it the Drăgaica celebration happens (a day set aside for the ritual involved in the protection of grain cultures, but fruits too), for it is danger of drowning.

Although, if you can cross a water three times on Drăgaica day ans till make it to shore, then you will be safe from drowning for the remainder of the year…

Romanians are renowned for their sharp (black) humor…

Drăgaica was the name used for this celebration in greater Wallachia, while Sânziene was used in Moldavia. Discover s much more on Romanian folklore on my blog here.

As always, find my books on Amazon.

31 Replies to “June, Cireşar, a Month for the Young at Heart #Im4Ro”

  1. Sounds Good To Me; so Let’s Form a Committee and Discuss The Pros and Cons

    ……

  2. Where is my first comment? 🙁 Anyway, let me add that your post is very nostalgic. Let me hug you, from one Cireșar to another. 🙂

    1. Thank you, Jo. Hugs back.

      (Your previous comment dissipated with the clouds – it’s not even in Spam folder .

      1. Well, I was the first to say that. 🙂 But my comment dissipated with the clouds. Gone with the wind. 🙂

    1. Thank you, Jacqui. Glad you found it of interest.
      Have a marvelous summer! 🙂

  3. Interesting, I didn’t know there was so much to know about the month of June! I like the name as a woman’s name, too, but it’s not in style anymore as a baby name, so I know no young girls/women with the name.

    1. The only girl I know is the one from ‘Benny & Joon’ 🙂

      Although in my generation June (Iunie) gave us a girl’s name in Romanian, Iustina. Rare, though.

  4. Fun post Pat. 🙂 My son was born in June, so of course, I find it to be a stellar month. I never knew about the 24th of June though, thanks for the heads up! I’ll stay away from the beach that day. You always have an interesting twist/fact to learn. I love that.

    1. Melanie, it is so lovely to hear from you again 🙂
      I also think that June is a special month, two of me oldest friends are born now, special people, friendly and very energetic too 😉
      Thank you for your kind words.

      1. Of course! (And I can’t believe I forgot that it’s my wedding anniversary month too! 🙂 So, yes. it is special.) That makes me wonder since you’re experiencing winter now, do more people get married in the summer months of Nov., Dec, Jan in South Africa?

        1. Happy, HAPPY wedding anniversary, Melanie!!!

          Winters are very sunny here, with day temperatures going up to low twenties, and there’s no rain. I know there are more specials on venues too, even for holidays, so I think weddings happen all year round.

          1. Aww, thank you for your warm wishes Pat. 34 years! 🙂 Thank you for your info, I was just curious if there was a “traditional” season for weddings for you. Summer weddings used to be a big tradition in the States, but I think the fall season has surpassed summer in popularity. And even that is probably changing with the pandemic.

      1. Cred ca ai salivat cât timp ai scris… prea scumpe:( as vrea sa zic prea acre, dar sunt convinsă ca sunt bestiale

        1. Iti dai seama, desi de 20 de ani m-am obicnuit cu mai putine cirese, las’ sa se bucure copiii. (Reactie de mama romanca, dar s-a molipsit si tati).
          Sezonul de cirese aici e scurt, si doar in preajma de Craciun, cand e vara.

  5. Looks like the link (Frank Sinatra singing YOUNG AT HEART) didn’t ‘take’ for some reason — sorry about that!

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