Subj : Dog Days
To   : All
From : Mike Dippel
Date : Tue Aug 04 2026 23:10:18

July 3-August 11

The Dog Days are known as the hottest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere 
and usually occur in July and early August. 

In ancient times, the sultry weather in Rome during these months often made people 
sick, and they blamed their illnesses on the fact that this was the time of year when 
Sirius, the Dog Star, rose at about the same time as the sun. 

Because Sirius was the brightest star, it was thought to add its heat to the sun, 
producing hot, unhealthy weather. 

The ancients used to sacrifice a brown dog at the beginning of the Dog Days to appease 
the rage of Sirius.

Although there are many different ways of calculating which days in any given year are 
the dog days, and how long they last, it is impossible to be precise. 

Nowadays it is generally assumed that they fall between July 3 and August 11 - slightly 
later than they occurred in ancient times.

Because of their association with the Dog Star, various beliefs have sprung up involving 
the behavior of dogs during this period. 

In the 16th century it was believed that dogs went mad during the Dog Star season. 

Another name for this time of year, the canicular days, comes from the Latin word canis 
meaning "dog."

Full story:
https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Dog+Days
 
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