Latest news with #celebration
CTV News
3 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
ADVERTISEMENT Milestones Milestones – June 20 and 21, 2025 See which Maritimers are celebrating a birthday or anniversary on June 20 and 21, 2025.
Milestones See which Maritimers are celebrating a birthday or anniversary on June 20 and 21, 2025.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Irish shop workers stunned by sale of EuroMillions jackpot-winning ticket
A shop in Ireland is preparing for a "big celebration" after it was revealed to have sold the winning €250 million EuroMillions jackpot ticket. Clifford's Centra on Shandon Street in Cork city has been identified as the lucky outlet. admitting he initially thought it was a "wind up" when informed on Thursday evening. Amidst sweltering temperatures across Ireland on Friday, Mr Clifford quipped: "It is definitely going to be the hottest day of the year at Shandon Street." He added that this isn't the first time the shop has been a hub for big wins, having previously sold other significant prize tickets. 'It is fantastic news – this all kicked off on New Year's Eve when we sold a 100,000 euro ticket to a local person,' Mr Clifford remarked. 'That's when our luck, or winning streak, started.' Mr Clifford, who is the third generation owner of the store which has been operating for 95 years, said he is 'proud to be part of the community'. Speaking on RTE radio's Morning Ireland, he sent his 'warmest congratulations' to the winner and their family. Asked if he knows who that might be, he replied: 'I have no idea, it's a busy shop – there's a lot of people in and out. 'Hopefully they will have good fortune with their money.' Mr Clifford said it is a 'life-changing amount of money', but the National Lottery will support the winner. The shop owner said he will use 25,000 euros in prize money for the shop to have a 'big celebration' with the staff. He said there was a 'great buzz' and 'a lot of people around' following the announcement. The winner of the jackpot has already contacted the National Lottery. It is the 18th Irish winner and the largest ever Irish win of the EuroMillions jackpot. The winning numbers from Tuesday's draw were 13, 22, 23, 44 and 49, with lucky stars 3 and 5. Earlier in the week, Cian Murphy, chief executive of the Irish National Lottery, had offered advice to the then-unidentified winner, urging them to "stay calm" as the "massive" win could come as a shock. The EuroMillions jackpot is capped once it reaches 250 million euro – or £208 million on current currency conversions. This jackpot reached the maximum amount on Friday June 6 after rolling over several times. In total, more than 92,000 players in Ireland won prizes in the EuroMillions and Plus games. The last Irish winner of the EuroMillions jackpot was in February 2022, when a person won 30.9 million euro with a quick pick ticket they purchased at a service station in Ballina, Co Tipperary.
The Guardian
8 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘We danced and sang songs to pagan gods': readers' favourite midsummer trips
I enjoyed midsummer at a rented beachside cottage in the Skåne village of Bjärred, north of Malmö, with Swedish friends. We ventured to the local church to enjoy the dancing round a midsummer pole decorated with vibrant blue and red flowers, with many local residents adorned in intricately decorated flower crowns. After taking a dip in the Öresund strait along the long jetty with its bathhouse, we towelled off to indulge in deliciously sweet strawberries and sip Briska ciders into the late hours of We spent the afternoon paddling with one foot in the Baltic and the other in the North Sea at the top of Grenen, North Jutland, Denmark. Then, we headed southwards along the beaches and through the sand dunes to Skagen to enjoy the midsummer celebration at Vippyfyret, where many hundreds gathered, having travelled mostly on foot or by bicycle to experience an evening of music with songs and recital. Artists, composers and poets were among the throng round a great bonfire which was a sight to Jones Guardian Travel readers' tips Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage - For an easy midsummer escape from Stockholm, Vaxholm is unbeatable. A fast ferry gets you to the archipelago's capital in under an hour. My tip is to spend the afternoon exploring the town, with its classic Falu-red wooden houses and gardens overflowing with flowers. But don't take the last ferry back. Instead, find a spot by the water and watch as the midsummer sun refuses to set, bathing the islands in golden, pink light for hours. It's a simple, accessible way to experience the magic of Sweden's endless daylight without straying far from the Last summer, while having a break in Valencia, I found out Spanish people mark 23 June as the beginning of summer by celebrating the festival of San Juan. For a few nights around the actual date of San Juan, bonfires, wine and music on the beaches seemed to go on until dawn. The local family I was staying with invited me to choose some old furniture to burn on a beach bonfire and helped me throw it on before we danced round the fire holding hands and singing songs to pagan gods to burn the evil of the previous year! We barbecued anchovies and sausages we had bought at Valencia's marvellous Mercado Central at midnight before throwing ourselves into the Med at 2am – a feelgood way to celebrate midsummer, full of food, friendship and fire!April I've really enjoyed Ride to the Sun – a 100-mile overnight bike ride from Carlisle to Edinburgh held on 21 June. It's inclusive, joyous, community-filled and fabulous. From the Moffat chippy queue to the midnight rave to the toasting of the sunrise on Cramond beach, it's the best way to spend the shortest We stumbled upon the midsummer Noche de San Juan in Cudillero in Asturias. Religious processions gave way to paganistic bonfires where people tossed mementoes of their year to forget. Next up were fireworks and a Brazilian samba troupe. Locals explained that the mayor could justify the expense because it was a prerequisite of getting re-elected. After midnight we headed to the beach for a party fuelled by calimocho (red wine and cola, don't ask). We retired at 8am for a breakfast of chorizo and fried eggs just as a live DJ started Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion Our midsummer stay in Le Pin, a hamlet in southern France between Bordeaux and Toulouse was rich with natural wonders, not always seen but very much heard. From shrieking swifts diving through the 19th-century market hall in nearby Auvillar to a turtle dove purring beside a rural road, it was this bird lover's idyll. We heard nightingale melodies throughout the day as well as after dark, and caught the calls of cirl buntings, hoopoes and black redstarts. And it wasn't just birds. One night, crickets and frogs provided a chirruping and croaking medley – a memorable midsummer nocturne. Sharon Pinner Hiring a bike and exploring Paris for Fête de la Musique was a brilliant way to spend an urban solstice. Every year on 21 June, the city turns into one big free festival, with stages of all sizes springing up outside famous landmarks and local neighbourhood bars. Beginning in the heart of the city to catch some psychedelic guitar outside the Centre Georges Pompidou, we then pedalled past brass ensembles outside jazz bars near Jardin du Luxembourg, classic French techno along the banks of the Seine and scuzzy metal bands in squares of the 13th arrondissement. Lizzy C In the golden light of midsummer, Serralunga d'Alba's rolling vineyards (about 35 miles south-east of Turin) come alive. Staying at Cascina Meriame, a working winery with panoramic views, I savoured barolo and barbaresco wines during intimate tastings led by passionate hosts. Evenings were spent watching the sun set over the Langhe Hills, a Unesco world heritage site, while enjoying local cheeses and nebbiolo wines. The nearby medieval castle added a touch of history to the serene landscape. For a tranquil midsummer retreat blending culture, cuisine and nature, this Piedmont gem is Ifan Morgan ap Dafydd We travelled to Grímsey from Akureyri for the island's summer solstice festival. Arriving early, we hiked to the marker sign and received official certificates to confirm we had crossed the Arctic Circle. Celebrations began at Krian, the only restaurant on the island, and continued well into the night at the schoolhouse. The drink flowed and there was a treasure hunt, dancing, traditional songs and homemade food. Families came together for picnics on the wildflower-covered hillsides, outdoor chess tournaments were played at midnight and, local or stranger, all were welcomed. It was truly
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Celebrate the summer solstice in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
A number of events will take place on Saturday for people to attend and celebrate the official start of picnics to entertainment, there are plenty of activities to attend across East Yorkshire and summer solstice is the longest day of the year and will take place at 03.42 BST in the UK this year when the sun is at its highest position in the many it is a spiritual celebration and this year it falls on 21 June. Hull and East Yorkshire solstice events ROOTSTOCKIf you fancy some free entertainment to mark the occasion this event will take place on Saturday from 12:30 to 19:30 at Rooted on St Peter Street in fourth annual summer gathering will include live bands, comedy, creative arts, stalls and homecooked, homegrown will also be a drumming workshop for people to join SWIMThe Flamborough Flippers are inviting swimmers to take a dip in the North who would like to take part in the Saturday social are asked to be in the water at Bridlington's North Beach by 04: Sara Miles said: "This promises to be an atmospheric and unforgettable event. For us, it's not just about the swim - it's about the mental, physical, and social benefits that come from immersing ourselves in cold water and connecting with nature and one another."HOLISTIC EVENTIf you fancy something to recharge for the summer, a guided meditation and movement event is taking place on Monday, 23 June between 10:00 and 13: event at Pearson Park in Hull will be run in three different languages; in English, Polish and event is free however organisers are asking people to donate £5 towards are asked to bring a mat or blanket and can even bring flowers or a poem to share. Lincolnshire solstice events NATURE WALKVisitors to the Sandilands Nature Reserve in Mablethorpe can bring a picnic or pick up something to eat at a nearby kiosk and enjoy the sea air and open free event starts at 17:00 and at 18:30 there will be gentle walk through the nature reserve where people can hear about the long-term plans for the evolving coastal WALKPeople are invited to take part in an eight-mile (13km) evening walk at the former RAF Binbrook base in the Lincolnshire event will take place on Saturday 20: are £12.50 per person and people are asked to bring good footwear and warm AT THE CATHEDRALLincoln Cathedral will host an evening of music on Midsummer Prom begins at 19:00 and will include especially chosen works that include familiar classics and a "spirited finale" to bring the longest day of the year to a "spectacular" close. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
CNN
9 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Biden shares message of unity and action during Juneteenth celebration at historic Black church
Former President Joe Biden celebrated Juneteenth on Thursday at a historic Black church in Texas, calling for Americans to come together to push the country forward. 'I don't come here today to only commemorate the past. I come here because we know the good Lord isn't done with us yet,' Biden said, adding, 'We have work to do. We need to keep pushing America forward.' 'We're the United States of America,' Biden said. 'There's nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we act together.' Biden's remarks at the historic Reedy Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Galveston, Texas, come nearly four years after he made Juneteenth a national holiday — the first federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. Biden said he was 'very proud' to sign the bipartisan legislation. 'It made me proud. Proud that we were united,' Biden said. 'Proud, despite all our differences, we can still come together for things that matter most.' Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery, commemorating the day Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston and told a group of slaves that the Civil War had ended and they were free — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. 'Juneteenth is a day of liberation, a day of remembrance and a day of celebration,' Biden said. 'Juneteenth represents both the long and hard night of slavery and subjugation and the promise of joyful morning to come.' 'Our federal holidays say … who we are as Americans,' Biden later added. 'What we celebrate says what we value.' President Donald Trump — who has not signed a proclamation this year observing Juneteenth — took to social media on Thursday to criticize the number of non-working holidays in the United States. 'Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed,' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding, 'It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Trump's post comes as he continues to make the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs a centerpiece of his second administration, ordering a ban on DEI programs in federal agencies on his first day in office. Without mentioning Trump by name, Biden reflected on the nation's history and the current political climate. 'We need to be honest about our history,' Biden said on Thursday, pointing to 'efforts to erase history from our textbooks and our classrooms.' Biden's administration — which came in the aftermath of widespread protests against racial injustice following George Floyd's killing in 2020 — embraced diversity and DEI efforts. Biden ran alongside the first Black, South Asian and woman vice president in 2020, and he had the most racially diverse presidential Cabinet in US history. Biden also nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the first Black woman Supreme Court justice. Biden also signed legislation to rename nine military bases that were named after Confederate leaders. The Trump administration has since moved to restore the names of each of the bases. Biden's Thursday remarks come two months after his office announced that the former president, 82, has been diagnosed with an 'aggressive form' of prostate cancer that spread to his bones. Late last month, the former president struck an optimistic tone when he spoke publicly for the first time about his cancer diagnosis, telling reporters: 'We're going to be able to beat this.' He similarly ended on an energized chord Thursday, telling the churchgoers in Galveston, 'Let's get the hell to work and get more done.'
