June Weddings

By Joe Slater

    I’ve wondered why so many weddings occur in June. Is it because graduation is over so high school sweethearts seize the opportunity to tie the knot? While that sounds reasonable, the tradition of June weddings pre-dates modern educational practices. Here’s some interesting material from the internet:
    “June was traditionally the most popular month to marry, and still very common. Why? The goddess Juno (for whom June is named) was the protector of women in all aspects of life, but especially in marriage and childbearing, so a wedding in Juno’s month was considered most auspicious.
    “The idea of June weddings also comes from the Celtic calendar. On the Cross-Quarter Day of Beltane, or May Day (May 1), young couples would pair off to court for 3 months and then be wed on the next CrossQuarter Day (Lammas Day, August 1). Youths being impatient, the waiting period was shortened to midJune, and the popularity of June weddings was ensured.” ((https://www.almanac.com/content/wedding-traditionscustoms-and-etiquette)
    Now, that doesn’t mean you’re a Junoworshipper if you married in June! Scripture reveals no “right” date for a wedding. It places great weight, however, on the permanence of marriage (one man, one woman, for life, with one exception – Matthew 19:3-9). It emphasizes the relationship God wants between wife and husband (Ephesians 5:22-33). And it exalts the church as the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 21:9). 
    May God help us to pay heed to these matters, regardless of  when (or if) we married!

 - Joe Slater serves as minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com