Quelques journées internationales : juin

  • Le 3 juin: Journée mondiale du vélo: World Bike Day
    Very new.  Only since 2018. The French often use the expression « petite reine » for a bike.
    It is said the expression originated thanks to the little 9-year-old Queen of the Netherlands who in 1890 loved riding her bike. The French newspapers of the time called her « la petite reine bicyclette » The name spread to all bicycles.
  • Le 4 juin: Journée internationale des sentiers: World Trails Day
    France has an extensive network of 58.000 km of long distance walking trails and 120.000 km of local ones throughout the country. Whether you’re looking for a challenging hike or a leisurely walk, the GR routes in France, indicated by red and white strips, offer something for everyone. Walking at human speed  is a great way to discover the people, the culture, and nature. Interested ?  https://simply-france.com/15-incredible-hikes-along-frances-stunning-gr-routes/
  • Le 6 juin : Journée de la mini-jupe: Mini Skirt Day
    The mini skirt arrived in France in 1964 as an OMNI (Unidentified Fashion (Mode) Object). Courrèges popularised the fashion by dedicating his 1965 Spring-Summer Collection to the miniskirt
  • Le 8 juin : Journée Mondiale des océans: World Ocean Day
    France has 10% of the world’s coral reefs and is the only country to have coral reefs in 3 oceans.
  • Le 11 juin : Journée mondiale du tricot: World Knitting Day
    The 2023 speed knitting champion of France managed  247 stitches in 3 minutes !
    Qui dit mieux ? No mention can be found of the speed attained by les tricoteuses seated beside the guillotine in the 1790s.
  • Le 18 juin: Journée mondiale du surf : World Surf Day
    Tahiti  hosted the surfing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.  This venue broke the record for the furthest Olympic medal competition to be held outside the host city.
  • Le 20 juin : Journée mondiale du Tennis: World Tennis Day
    The aficionados de Roland-Garros will be in sleep recovery mode this year after the French Open final on June 11th. The venue is named after the famous French aviator Roland Garros who died in combat in the final stages of WW1. Roland was not a professional tennis player. However, his great friend Emile Lesieur was President of Paris rugby club “Stade Français”.  Charged with building a tennis stadium in Paris, Lesieur demanded the new stadium be named “in honour of this great hero of aviation”.  The airport in Roland Garros’s birthplace of La Reunion has also been named after him.
    Please note the hyphen in Roland-Garros.  French spelling rules dictate that in the name of a place or event named after a person, the elements of the name are joined with a hyphen.
  • Le 21 juin : Journée Internationale de la Lenteur: International Slowness Day
    Have to mention this again.  It has been slow to catch on.
    Invented in Quebec for the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, it was proposed to promote the benefits of slowness as a reaction against our rushed, stressed existence. Savour life slowly. It also happens to be International Yoga Day.
  • Le 24 juin : Journée mondiale des amoureux de l’Alsace: Alsace World Fan Day
    The Alsace region was part of Germany between 1870 and 1918. However, when it became French again, Alsace & Moselle kept the Germanic tradition of a holiday on December 26th and on Good Friday. These holidays are not observed in the other regions of France.
  • Le 29 juin : Journée mondiale du Petit Prince: The Little Prince World Day
    This symbolic day is new, only designated in 2020. If you haven’t read this tale by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, it isn’t too late. It carries a well-needed message of hope, peace, love and respect.
  • Tous les jours : Every day is Wordle Day – not yet officially a World Day but getting close.
    You can try it in French on https://wordlegame.org/fr