It is already mid-June, and schools are officially done for the year. We have celebrated Flag Day and the Army's birthday. What is next for the second half of June? There are a handful of fun and festive events for the summer season; Juneteenth, Father's Day, Summer Solstice
Emancipation Proclamation & Juneteenth
On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation declared that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in the states currently engaged in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, henceforward, and forever free.” The document applied only to enslaved people in the Confederacy, and not to those in the border states that remained loyal to the Union.
Black Americans were permitted to serve in the Union Army for the first time, and nearly 200,000 would do so by the end of the war. The Emancipation Proclamation paved the way for the abolition of slavery in the United States. By the end of January 1865, both houses of Congress had passed the 13th Amendment which was ratified that December.
Juneteenth is important because it is the oldest, nationally celebrated remembrance of the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved ALL enslaved were considered free.
For more information on Emancipation Proclamation or Juneteenth, please use the links below.
Happy Father's Day
The first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Washington state. It wasn't until 1972, 58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official, that Father's day became a nationwide holiday in the United States.
A woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, one of six children raised by a widower, tried to establish an official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents. She talked to local churches, YMCA, shopkeepers and government officials to drum up support for her idea. Washington State celebrated the nation’s first statewide Father’s Day on June 19, 1910.
Click here for more information on Father's Day.
Use these links below for gift, craft and decor ideas. Have fun with it!
https://www.allfreeholidaycrafts.com/Fathers-Day-Ideas/Napkin-and-Banner-Fathers-Day-Decorations
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/fathers-day/g19694848/fathers-day-crafts-preschool/
Summer Recipes
I have a couple of light and fresh recipes that are perfect for the summer months. The first time I tried this salad, I was at a Girl Scout retreat. It was very tasty, light and hydrating. This is a wonderful recipe to take to a June activity and share with others.
I came across the recipe for the grilled corn salad by pure happenstance. It had ingredients that I and my family enjoy. We all like it and it turned out to be a crowd-pleaser at a pool party potluck. I hope you enjoy them as well.
Watermelon Salad
Watermelon
Red Onion
Feta Cheese
Mint
Dressing – 1.5 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar, 5 TBSP Olive Oil, 3 TBSP Basil
Grilled Corn Salad
6 ears fresh corn
2 TBSP Canola Oil
Salt & Pepper
2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1 small red bell pepper (chopped)
4 scallions (chopped)
2 cups Arugula
Dressing
1 lemon juiced, 4 TBSP Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper, Neely’s Barbeque Seasoning
Preheat the grill or broiler to medium heat.
Rub corn with 2 TBSP of canola oil and season with salt & pepper. Grill/broil corn for 7 minutes or until ears are lightly browned. Remove from grill and allow to cool. Remove the kernels from the cob and place in a large mixing bowl along with the cherry tomatoes, red pepper, scallions and arugula.
(I have found frozen charred grilled corn at Trader Joe’s)
In a small bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking together lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and Neely’s Barbeque Season to taste.
Toss the salad with the dressing and serve at room temperature.
Recipe from Down Home with the Neely's – Food Network
Substitute for the Neely's Barbeque Seasoning
INGREDIENTS
1 1⁄2 C - Paprika
3⁄4 C - Sugar
3 3⁄4 TBSP - Onion powder
1 TBSP - Garlic powder
1 tsp - Fresh Ground Black Pepper
DIRECTIONS
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- Stir together all ingredients in a small bowl.
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- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
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- Seasoning will last up to 6 months.
https://www.food.com/recipe/the-neelys-barbeque-seas
Fun and Festive Event Ideas for the Summer Season
Ready to Plan a Party?
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