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Glite Dictionary
June 23

June 23

2.9
The night before Midsummer Day when people in some countries celebrate with bonfires and festivals
  • noun
translation icon : 23 de junio
  • According to a press release, the week-long program that ran from Monday, June 16, to Monday, June 23, was called

Examples

  • New York, NY, June 23, 2010 -- Despite having the most expensive health care system, the United States ranks last overall compared to six other industrialized countries -- Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom -- on measures of health system performance in five areas: quality, efficiency, access to care, equity, and the ability to lead long, healthy, productive lives, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report.

    Blog text (23)

  • Many people gather to celebrate on June 23, marking Midsummer's Eve with festivities and bonfires.

  • Anthony Polis, Saturday, June 23, 2012.

    Blog text (23)

  • In Scandinavian countries, June 23 is often celebrated with traditional dances and feasts to welcome summer.

  • On June 23, families often enjoy outdoor celebrations that include music, food, and lighting bonfires.

Synonyms

Midsummer Eve
vsJune 23
1 8.4

The evening before Midsummer Day when people celebrate with bonfires and dances

is the date's night used to mean that evening in some cultures
Midsummer Night
vsJune 23
1 6.8

A night around the longest day of the year when people celebrate with fires and dancing

is the same night but more exactly the calendar evening before that day
St John's Eve
vsJune 23
  • UK
8.9

The evening before Midsummer Day when people light bonfires and celebrate

is the same night but labeled by date rather than by religious tradition
St John's Night
vsJune 23
  • UK
8.9

The night before Midsummer Day that people in some countries celebrate with bonfires and songs

is the same night but referenced by calendar date instead of this common name

Surface Forms

June 23 singular

Morphology

June + 23

The form 'June 23' is fully compositional as month + day so a B1 learner who knows 'June' and '23' will understand it denotes a calendar date. However, the additional culturally specific meaning ('the night before Midsummer Day' and associated celebrations) is not derivable from the constituents and requires extra cultural knowledge. Because the basic date meaning is transparent but the festival connotation is not, this is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

June 23 used to be the 'night before' 'Midsummer Day'. People lit big bonfires, picked special herbs, and stayed up to see the sunrise. That's why June 23 often means a night of traditional celebration.