Malta Sette Giugno

Under British rule, the Maltese Islands helped the Allies during World War I. Although the war brought jobs to the country, many Maltese found it hard to make ends meet. These factors and others prompted riots in Valletta on June 7, 1919. During the riots, four Maltese were killed by British troops. This tragic event became known as the Sette Giugno Riots. Every year on June 7, Malta holds a commemorative ceremony in Valletta. The commemorative celebration includes marches and the playing of the national anthem, “L-Innu Malti,” as well as a moment of silence in memory of the four fallen men. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Paul Gauguin (1848)

First a sailor and then a successful stockbroker in Paris, Gauguin took up painting on weekends when he was in his mid-20s. Eventually, with the encouragement of Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro, he devoted himself completely to art, quitting his job and separating from his wife and five children. Today, he is recognized as a highly influential founding father of modern art whose bold experiments with color led directly to the Synthetist style. What did Gauguin and Van Gogh have in common? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Igloos

An igloo, which means “house” in the Inuit language, is a traditional, dome-shaped Eskimo dwelling with a low tunnel entrance constructed of blocks of snow placed in an ascending spiral. Although igloos are commonly associated with the Inuit, they were predominantly constructed by people of Canada’s Central Arctic and Greenland’s Thule area. What is a kudlik, and how did it help strengthen the structural integrity of igloos? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

First Drive-In Theater Opens in New Jersey (1933)

The drive-in theater was the creation of New Jersey chemical company magnate Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr. In 1932, Hollingshead nailed a screen to trees in his backyard and set a projector on the hood of his car. After applying for a patent for his creation, Hollingshead opened the first drive-in the next year. Though it only operated for three years, the concept soon caught on in other states. How many drive-ins are estimated to have existed in the US at the height of their popularity? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

South Korea Memorial Day

South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea) has designated June 6 as a national holiday to honor soldiers and civilians who sacrificed their lives for their country during the Korean War, 1950-1953. The main ceremony of remembrance is held at the National Cemetery in the capital city, Seoul. Throughout the country, officials and citizens pray and lay flowers at the graves of the war dead. Citizens display the flag of South Korea, which is called Tae-guk-gi, on the front doors of their homes to commemorate the civilians and soldiers who died in war. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799)

Among the giants of Russian literature, Pushkin was a poet and writer whose masterpieces include the poem The Bronze Horseman, the drama The Stone Guest, and his verse novel Eugene Onegin, which contains witty descriptions of 19th-century Russian society. Pushkin established the modern poetic language of Russia, using Russian history for the basis of many works, but his career was cut short when he died after a duel with a young Frenchman. How old was he when he died? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Irrawaddy River

The Irrawaddy, or Ayeyarwady, is Myanmar’s longest river and its most important commercial waterway. For many centuries, it was Myanmar’s principal communication route. The 1,000-mile (1,600-km) river bisects the country from north to south and empties into the Indian Ocean through a vast, nine-armed delta, which is one of the world’s great rice-producing regions. The Ayeyarwady lends its name to what animal found in its waters? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Six-Day War Begins (1967)

After a period of relative calm, border incidents between Israel and Syria, Egypt, and Jordan increased during the early 1960s. Palestinian guerrilla attacks on Israel from bases in Syria led to increased hostility between the two countries. After Egypt signed a defense treaty with Jordan, Israel launched a preemptive air strike against the three Arab states, capturing the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Old City of Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. How many were killed in the fighting? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary