National Days in June and How to Observe Them

Kirsten O'Rourke

By 

Kirsten O'Rourke

Published 

Jun 9, 2023

National Days in June and How to Observe Them

Here in the United States, thanks to what are known as “National Days,” there’s always a reason to celebrate! While only twelve federal holidays are recognized annually, there are currently over 1,500 National Days in existence, according to NationalDayCalendar.com. What’s more, that list continues to grow as new National Days are added. Regardless of the reason, it’s good to know that there will always be cause for celebration!

The following is a list of some of the National Days that are celebrated throughout the month of June, and ways they can be observed locally:

June 1st: National Say Something Nice Day

Did you know that a simple act of kindness, whether giving or receiving it, boosts levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, increasing feelings of satisfaction and well-being? Celebrate by paying someone a compliment, writing them a handwritten note of appreciation, or highlighting their strengths publicly. Regardless of how you choose to celebrate the day, the benefits of kindness are endless!

June 2nd: National Doughnut Day

National Donut Day pays homage to the donut, and the ladies of the Salvation Army who served the tasty treat, which was often cooked in oil inside metal helmets, to soldiers during WWI. Celebrate with a trip to Shipley, Nuvo, Best Donuts, Donut Palace, or any of our numerous local donut shops to commemorate the day!

June 3rd: National Trails Day

Whether exploring the trails of Bledsoe Creek, Moss-Wright, Long Hunter State Park, or the Jackson Webb Nature Trail, National Trails Day highlights the recreational benefits of federal, state, and local trails, while exposing nature lovers to the beauty that surrounds our communities. Bring a friend and explore!

June 4th: National Hug Your Cat Day

While some felines may be purr-fectly happy to ignore this holiday, other, more cuddly kitties might revel in the opportunity to be doted on by the humans in their lives! Looking for ways to celebrate National Hug Your Cat Day if you don’t have a cat in your life? Love on your neighbor’s cat (with their permission, of course!), or consider adopting a cat from your local shelter.

June 5th: National Moonshine Day

National Moonshine Day commemorates one of the most notoriously known beverages in history. While historically, moonshine was illegally distilled from corn mash, in recent years, the legendary spirit has been rebranded as a couture farm-to-bottle product that is currently produced in small-batch distilleries. Taste a bit of Tennessee history by visiting the TN Shine Company, or by taking a trip to the Ole Smoky Mountain Tennessee Distillery!

June 6th: National Drive-In Movie Day

On June 6, 1933, Richard M. Hollingshead Jr. of Camden, New Jersey, created the first drive-in theater. Since then, the drive-in experienced a boom in the 1950’s, a decline in the 1980’s, and a resurgence in the modern-day era. Looking for a way to celebrate the holiday? You’re in luck! Tennessee is home to thirteen drive-in theaters, including the Stardust, Banilla Moon, Pink Cadillac, and Swingin’ Midway. Stuff a carload full of friends and take a short drive. It's movie time!

June 7th: World Caring Day

World Caring Day is an opportunity to practice caring for one another with compassion and love. All acts of caring, whether big or small, can impact the way we view the world. Ways to show you care include sincerely asking how someone’s day went, holding the door open for the next person, allowing someone to “cut,” in front of you in line, and taking the time to get to know someone better. Caring for others is connection, and connection fosters compassion. Who doesn’t need more of that?

June 8th: National Best Friends Day

In the truest sense, a best friend is a reflection of who we are, who we were, and who we will be. Everyone needs at least one person in life, their person, who will remind them of this. On June 8, honor your person on Best Friends Day. Celebrate the day by letting your best friend know how much they mean to you! Send a note, make a phone call, take them to dinner, or find a way to let them know that they are your best friend.

June 9th: National Movie Night

There are many ways to celebrate National Movie Night, but they all begin with popcorn! Whether you’re in the mood for a comedy, horror, action, or romance film, invite some friends, grab some blankets, and settle into your favorite spot on the couch. If you’d prefer a night out relaxing in a deluxe movie theater recliner or taking in the ambiance of the oldest silent movie theater in the South, check out current offerings at NCG, Regal, or the Palace Theaters!

June 10th: National Iced Tea Day

Whether sweetened or unsweetened, with or without lemon, herbal, infused, fruity, or spiked, iced tea is the summertime drink of choice! Visit the Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Beacon Light Tea Room, Teavine, or the Music City Tea Shop for iced teas from traditional to

unique. There’s only one question left to ask- Is the glass half full or half empty?

June 11th: National Children’s Day

In the words of the incomparable Dr. Seuss, “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” National Children’s Day honors the children in our lives by taking time to cherish them, and by reflecting on the ways they have enriched our lives. Ways to celebrate include baking together, flying kites, exploring the outdoors, telling family stories, or having a dance party! Ultimately, the best way to make children feel important is by listening to them, or by giving them the gift of your time.

June 12th: National Red Rose Day

June 12 commemorates a flower that has become a symbol of love and romance: the red rose. This is the time of year that red roses are in bloom, filling the air with their sweet scent, and adorning gardens and yards with their beauty! Favorite ways to share the beauty of the red rose include gifting someone you love with a single rose or bouquet of roses, planting a rose bush in honor of someone close to you, or pressing roses in a book to preserve a memory.

June 13th: International Axe Throwing Day

International Axe Throwing Day is a day that both competitive and amateur axe throwers are encouraged to unleash their inner Viking, logger, or lumberjack, by grabbing a handle and heaving a few sharp blades at a smallish target. Fortunately, axe throwing has grown in popularity in recent years, leading to the birth of local axe throwing establishments such as BATL and Bad Axe. Make no mistake, axe throwing is designed to be a family-friendly experience, with throwers of all ages participating.

June 14th: National Bourbon Day

In 1785, settlers in the Kentucky county known as Bourbon distilled corn and shipped the liquid in barrels down the Ohio River to New Orleans, where it was in high demand. Tennessee soon followed suit by establishing its own distilleries. In celebration of National Bourbon Day, revelers wishing to relive the history of Bourbon in Tennessee can visit the Jack Daniels or George Dickel distilleries.

June 15th: National Nature Photography Day

Whether they’re taken by amateur or professional photographers, images of wildlife, foliage, landscapes, or weather phenomena inspire an awe of nature, and an awe of nature inspires us to preserve nature. To celebrate this holiday, take a walk through the Rockland Recreation Area, Bledsoe Creek, Dunbar Cave, or another local park, and know that every image that inspires us to care for our surroundings and preserve them for future generations celebrates the day.

June 16th- National Wear Blue Day

Wear Blue Day is part of the campaign that includes Men’s Health Month and Men’s Health Week. Wearing blue encourages the men in our lives to assess their current health choices and become more aware of their health risks. Ways to commemorate the day include wearing blue, encouraging those around you to wear blue, and sponsoring a workplace fundraiser for the Wear Blue campaign.

June 17th-Global Garbage Man Day

On June 17th, Global Garbage Man Day encourages us to recognize the efforts of the men and women who keep our communities clean. Ways to show your appreciation include leaving a handwritten note of thanks for sanitation workers, leaving a snack or small gift, or contacting your waste removal company to express your appreciation for the sanitation workers who help keep our neighborhoods clean.

June 18th-Father’s Day

Held on the third Sunday in June, Father’s Day recognizes both fathers and father figures by honoring the role they play in our lives. On this day, we acknowledge the fathers and father figures who lead by example and who help to guide us. Ways to celebrate include encouraging fathers to share their stories, playing games together, hosting a gathering to celebrate, and simply taking the time to be together.

June 19th- Juneteenth

Each year, Juneteenth commemorates the official ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19th, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform residents that the Civil War was over, and that all slaves were officially free. Celebrations of this historical event may include attending a festival, reading stories about Juneteenth, or reading the Emancipation Proclamation.

June 20th-National Vanilla Milkshake Day

National Vanilla Milkshake Day celebrates the familiar and frosty concoction of vanilla ice cream, vanilla, and milk that dates all the way back to 1885! Whether you blend it in the comfort of your own home or take a trip to Swaney Swift’s on the Square, Bruster’s, Deja Moo, or another local ice cream shop, be sure to share this holiday with a friend!

June 21st-National Selfie Day

Perhaps the most modern-era holiday, National Selfie Day owes its very existence to social media and the smartphone. Self-expression is at the heart of National Selfie Day, and those who celebrate are encouraged to find local hot spots to take creative self-portraits and share them with the online world. Whether your forte is Duck Face, Model Pout, or Squinch, National Selfie Day has you covered!

June 22nd-National Kissing Day

Displays of affection, public or private, are the name of the game on National Kissing Day! Whether the kiss is for a significant other, your child, or beloved pet, it’s time to pucker up and show your true feelings!

June 23rd-National Pink Day

Did you know that in the world of Color Theory, Pink is technically a “tint,” of red, and not technically a color itself? Shhhhh…we won’t tell! Especially not on National Pink Day, when everything pink is celebrated. Fun ideas for the day include planting pink flowers, painting your nails pink, dressing in pink clothing, and eating pink foods such as cotton candy from Twisted Sugar in Greenbrier.

June 24th-National Pralines Day

Originating with French settlers in New Orleans in the 19th century, the praline is a confection made from chocolate, nuts, and sugar syrup. As it spread throughout the South, its popularity grew so quickly that June 24th was designated National Pralines Day! Celebrating the praline might involve making your own or taking a short drive to Matchmaker Chocolates or The Nashville Chocolate and Nut Company. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this down-home delicacy!

June 25th-National Catfish Day

Not to open a can of worms so to speak, but the catfish is a tasty fish that can be prepared in a variety of ways, including coating it in cornmeal and deep frying, baking it with lemon and butter, and grilling. Regardless of how it’s prepared, many have fallen for the catfish, hook, line, and sinker. Locally, Drake’s Creek Park, Rockland Recreation Area, Tightlines, and Old Hickory Lake promise incredible fishing spots that are off the hook. Time to throw in a line. You never know what you might reel in!

June 26th-National Beautician’s Day

What better day to show your appreciation for those who make it their business to make us look beautiful! Not only are beauticians tasked with highlighting our best qualities while diminishing our worst, some become friends and close confidants along the way. On National Beautician’s Day, consider giving your beauty consultant a card, cup of coffee, or simply a kind word of appreciation to let them know you care.

June 27th-National Ice Cream Cake Day

This holiday honors not one, but two tasty treats, layered together in a deliciously divine dessert! Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, a winning team, or a workplace extravaganza, ice cream cakes are the perfect complement to any occasion. On June 27, Baskin-Robbins, Bruster’s, the Marble Slab Creamery, or another local ice cream parlor will happily design the perfect ice cream cake to your specifications!

June 28th-National Insurance Awareness Day

On June 28th each year, National Insurance Awareness Day encourages us to review our insurance policies to ensure that we won’t be caught off guard should a disaster strike. National Insurance Awareness Day is the perfect time call Mark Reid Insurance in White House– they are the Insurance Experts for our Stay Positive News family!

June 29th-National Handshake Day

Did you know that the handshake is one of the oldest forms of non-verbal communication? Believe it or not, the handshake dates back to the days of medieval knights, who used the gesture as a method of checking for hidden daggers. On National Handshake Day, consider observing the holiday by shaking the hand of at least one person you would not have any other day. You never know what you might learn about them or yourself in the process!

June 30th-National Meteor Watch Day

Meteors are caused by debris from space entering the Earth’s atmosphere at a high rate of speed. They’re often referred to as shooting or falling stars because the temperature rises until the debris becomes a ball of fire plunging through space. On June 30, National Meteor Watch Day reminds us to look up into the sky. Why not pack a blanket, grab a friend, and head out to Triple Creek or any of our local parks, in hopes of spotting a meteor!

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