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9 June: what is celebrated today
9 June seems a date made of paper and pulse: on one side, the memory kept in folders that survive generations; on the other, the popular culture that has accompanied us since childhood; and, alongside it, a necessary conversation about health and prevention. Today, what we celebrate is not just an anniversary: it is the way a society tells its own story, laughs at its stumbles and learns to care for itself.
International Archives Day
International Archives Day is celebrated every 9 June to underline the value of documents as the basis of historical and cultural memory. The date is linked to the founding, in 1948, of the International Council on Archives, created with UNESCO support to protect humanity’s documentary heritage.
Archives are not merely silent repositories: they are spaces where the past continues to converse with the present. Their holdings preserve decisions, conflicts, agreements and everyday gestures that explain who we were and why we are the way we are. In times of accelerated change, archives also represent transparency and the right to information: accessible memory is a form of justice.
International Archives Week (9–13 June)
Around this date, International Archives Week takes place, an invitation to open doors and screens. For several days, archives around the world organise exhibitions, guided visits, professional meetings and digital activities to bring their collections closer to the general public.
In recent years, attention has shifted towards accessibility and inclusion: it is not enough to digitise documents; it is also necessary for different communities to see themselves reflected in them. The week proposes rethinking which memories are preserved, how they are told and who is given a voice within the collective narrative.
Donald Duck Day
9 June is also an unexpectedly cheerful date: Donald Duck Day, which recalls the character’s first appearance in 1934. Since then, Donald has become one of animation’s most recognisable faces, with his explosive temperament, persistent bad luck and unmistakable sailor suit.
Unlike other perfect heroes, Donald succeeds precisely because of his flaws. He makes mistakes, gets angry, fails and tries again, time after time. His humour connects with what is human, with that ability to laugh at ourselves when things do not turn out as we expected. That is why he remains relevant, decade after decade.
International Men’s Health Week (9–15 June)
International Men’s Health Week also begins today, dedicated to raising awareness of preventable diseases and care habits among boys and men. The initiative focuses on prevention, regular check-ups and the need to speak openly about physical and mental health.
Beyond statistics, this week proposes a cultural change: stop normalising pain, stress or silence. Taking care of oneself is not a sign of weakness, but a form of responsibility towards oneself and others. Health, understood in this way, becomes a daily, shared commitment.