DLTK's Crafts for Kids
The Dog Days of Summer - Late Summer each year
Photograph by Mel Elias on Unsplash.com
The Dog Days of Summer aren't technically a recognized holiday, however the title has been applied to late summer (around the end of July) for centuries! In ancient Egypt and Greece, they noticed that during late July the star called Sirius would be in the same part of the sky as the Sun, in fact they are so close at that time of year that they appear to rise and fall together. That time of year is also marked by extreme heat, which was observed to be connected to environmental challenges like drought and thunderstorms and changes in human behaviour like being tired or more angry and aggressive.
The star Sirius is actually the brightest star in the sky and it belongs to the Canis Major (or Great Dog) constellation. It's nicknamed the Dog Star. So, when these connections were made by the ancient Romans, they termed that time of year "The Dog Days of Summer" to signify the connection between the star Sirius and the unpleasant changes that the hottest time of the year brings with it.
Traditionally, people called the period between July 3rd and August 12th the Dog Days of Summer. However, the exact dates can depend on the time of year and location. It is also interesting to note that the star Sirius only rises and falls with sun like this in the Northern Hemisphere.
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Dog Crafts for Kids: |
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Star Crafts for Kids: |
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Summer Crafts for Kids: |
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Other Holidays You May Be Interested In:
- Summer – June to September
- National Ice Cream Month – July