THE MONTH OF AUGUST

August was named to honor the first Roman emperor (and grandnephew of Julius Caesar), Augustus Caesar (63 B.C..–A.D. 14). Find out the origin of each month’s name.

AUGUST CALENDAR

“After Lammas Day, corn ripens as much by night as by day.”

• August 1, traditionally known as Lammas Day, was a festival to mark the annual wheat and corn harvest. Lammas also marked the mid-point between the summer solstice and autumn equinox, and was a cross-quarter day. See more about Lammas Day.
• August 5 is a Civic Holiday in parts of Canada.
• August 9 starts the Islamic New Year, or the First of Muharram, beginning at sundown. Traditionally, it begins at the first sighting of the lunar crescent after the new Moon.
• August 10 is St. Lawrence’s Day. “Fair weather on St. Lawrence’s Day presages a fair autumn.” 
• August 11 marks the end of the Dog Days of Summer, which began on July 3.
• August 17 is when the Cat Nights begin, harking back to a rather obscure Irish legend concerning witches; this bit of folklore also led to the idea that a cat has nine lives.
• August 19 brings National Aviation Day, chosen for the birthday of Orville Wright who piloted the first recorded flight of a powered heavier-than-air machine in 1903.
• August 24 is St. Bartholomew Day. “At St. Bartholomew, there comes cold dew.”
• August 26 is Women’s Equality Day, which celebrates the 1920 ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment and, with it, women’s right to vote in the United States.

“Just for Fun” Days

Have fun with these strange celebrations!

• Aug. 1–7: International Clown Week
• Aug. 3: National Watermelon Day
• Aug. 8: “National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbors’ Porch Day” (Or, use up that bounty with our best zucchini recipes.)
• Aug. 10: National S’mores Day
• Aug 12: Vinyl Record Day
• Aug. 13: International Left-Handers Day
• Aug. 17: International Geocaching Day
• Aug. 17: World Honeybee Day
• Aug. 25: Kiss-and-Make-Up Day

August’s zodiac signs are Leo (July 23–August 22) and Virgo (August 23–September 22). Find out your zodiac profile.