Teach the Spanish Months of the Year: June in Spanish

El mes de junio (June in Spanish) is the sixth month of the Gregorian and Julian calendar and has 30 days. June is a month full of summer celebrations and commemorations! 

Some experts say that the name June came from the latin “Iunius” and that name is a reference to two important figures in Roman history. The first one was Lucius Junius Brutus, the founder of the Roman Republic. The other is the goddess Juno, the patron of Rome. With time, the name evolved to June in English and junio in Spanish.

June is a month of changes. In many countries in the northern hemisphere, June marks the end of the school cycle and the beginning of summer. Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, June is when winter begins. 

Keep reading to learn more about June in Latin America and Spain!

June in Spanish: Weather

June is the first month of verano (summer) in the northern hemisphere. After the mild days of spring, summer brings hot weather. During summer vacation, many families go to the beach, concerts, pools, and festivals. Use this vocabulary to talk about summer in Spanish:

Invierno

When talking about June in Spanish, you may want to discuss winter with South Americans. Here’s a vocabulary list so you are ready to talk about it like a pro:

June in Spanish: Solstice

On June 21, el Solsticio (solstice) occurs when the Earth’s poles have their maximum tilt toward the Sun. Here are some words in Spanish to talk about the Solstice:

Celebrations in June in Spanish

Now, let’s zoom in on some celebrations that take place in Latin America and Spain in June. 

Día del Padre

El Día del Padre (Father’s Day) is a day to celebrate fathers and father figures. The dates of el Día del Padre in Latin America are not the same as in Spain, where it is celebrated in March. 

Latin American countries that celebrate Father’s Day in June include

• Guatemala and El Salvador – June 17
• Nicaragua – June 23
• Chile, Panama, Paraguay, Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela – the third Sunday of June

You can’t talk about June in Spanish and not talk about Father’s Day. Here are some words to practice. 

La Fiesta de San Juan

La fiesta de San Juan (Saint John’s Eve) is a celebration that takes place on June 24 and commemorates the birth of Saint John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, who according to the Bible, was born six months before Jesus. 

La fiesta de San Juan overlaps with some pagan celebrations for the summer because of its proximity to the summer solstice. Pagan rites, like lighting up bonfires, are part of the celebration of Saint John’s, especially in European countries.

Here are some examples on how this celebration takes place in Spanish-speaking countries.

España

In Andalusia, they burn rag dolls called “Juanes.” 

In Almeria and Malaga they celebrate with the popular Hogueras de San Juan (bonfires) along the beach. 

In Alicante, a “ninot”, which means doll in Valencian, is made with cardboard, paper, and flammable materials to burn on the night of June 24.

Argentina

In Argentina, la Fiesta de San Juan takes place near the winter solstice, and they burn bonfires called fogaratas. In some places, people cook potatoes around the fire with the family or jump over the bonfire as a challenge.

Bolivia

In Bolivia, people used to light up bonfires and burn old wooden furniture as a way to get rid of the old to make way for the new. Nowadays, la fiesta de San Juan is celebrated with barbecues instead of bonfires to minimize environmental damage.

Inti Raymi

On June 24, Inti Raymi celebrates the winter solstice and the Incan new year. “Inti Raymi” is the Quechua name for a celebration known in Spanish as Fiesta del Sol, which translates to “sun party” in English. La fiesta del Sol is a traditional and ancestral ceremony of the Inca and Andean communities in South America. 

In the writings of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, he explains that during precolonial times, while the Incas were in their golden era, the celebration of the  “Wawa Inti Raymi” meant that the Sun, known as tata Inti, was reborn. People honored Inti for 15 consecutive days with dances, ceremonies, and sacrifices. 

To this day, the Inti Raymi is an important ritual for many indigenous Andean communities in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. 

Día del Orgullo LGBTQI+

As in the United States, several countries of Latin America commemorate gay pride during June with marches, parades, and parties.

Although the majority of Latin American countries are conservative, in recent years, Latin and Spanish LGBTQI+ collectives haven’t let that stop them from celebrating their diversity and displaying their pride in public. 

The biggest Pride festivals and parades in Latin America take place in São Paulo, Brazil;

Bogotá, Colombia; Montevideo, Uruguay; Quito, Ecuador; Lima, Perú; and Guadalajara, Mexico.

June in Spanish: Activities

June is a month full of celebrations and events, and a lot of free time thanks to Summer vacations! So why not do something different to celebrate June in Spanish? Here are some ideas:

1. Learn a Father’s Day Poem

El Día del Padre is one of the most important celebrations during June in Latin America, and what a better way to celebrate dad than learning a poem for him? Here is a short and sweet poem that dad will surely love to hear:

Mi papito es muy bueno – My daddy is very good

Source: conmishijos.com

Mi papito es muy bueno,
igualito a mi mamá,
se levanta muy temprano,
yo lo voy a saludar.

Yo me subo a sus rodillas,
y me pongo a cabalgar,
ico, ico caballito,
qué bueno que es mi papá.

My daddy is very good, 
Just like my mom,
He gets up very early 
I go to greet him.

I get on his knees,
And I start to ride,
Ico, ico, little horse,
My dad is so great.

2. Make Helados de Hielo 

El helado de hielo (ice pop) is a popular snack through all of Latin America, where you can find them in almost any neighborhood store and are homemade most of the time. Is perfect for those hot, long Summer afternoons, and you can do it at home to enjoy them any time! 

Ingredientes — Ingredients

• 4 ½ tazas de de jugo de naranja natural – 4 ½ cups of natural orange juice 
• 1 papaya grande – 1 large papaya
• 1 piña – 1 pineapple
• 6 bananos – 6 bananas
• Azúcar o miel al gusto – sugar or honey to taste

Instrucciones — Instructions

1. Parte la papaya, los bananos y la piña en trozos pequeños, ten cuidado de quitar todas
   las semillas. 
   Dice the papaya, the bananas and the pineapple. Be careful to take out all the papaya seeds. 
2. Una vez partida la fruta, mezclala con el jugo de naranja y agrega miel o azúcar al gusto.
   Once the fruit is diced, mix it with the orange juice and add honey or sugar to taste.
3. Pon la mezcla en los moldes de helado y mete a la nevera de 3 a 4 horas, o hasta que se congele por completo. 
   Put the mix in popsicle molds and put in the freezer for 3 to 4 hours, or until it is completely frozen.
4. Si no quieres los trozos de fruta, puedes licuar la mezcla antes de poner en los moldes.
   If you don’t want the pieces of fruit, you can use a blender to liquify the mix before placing it in the molds.
5. ¡Disfruta! 
   Enjoy! 

Take Advantage of Your Summer Vacation!

Here at Homeschool Spanish Academy, we know that vacations are sacred! But you can enjoy your summer vacation and also learn and practice Spanish! With our tailored Spanish packages and flexible schedules, you will make the most of time. Sign up for a free 1-on-1 class with a native Spanish speaker teacher and join more than 24,000 monthly enrolled students that share your passion and thirst for knowledge. What are you waiting for? 

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Carmen Rizzo

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I’m a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala with a B.A. in Psychology. I have a passion for teaching Sunday school in my spare time and for learning and sharing valuable information. I'm a cat lover who gets excited over cartoons, anime, and video games. I dabble in digital illustration and animation. I'm inspired by sharing my culture, traditions, food, and beliefs with others, while learning about theirs in return.

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