“Now came the dog days, day after day of hot, still summer, when for hours at a time light seemed the only thing that moved…” Watership Down, by Richard Adams
We have reached the hottest, most uncomfortable stretch of the summer season. These long, sultry days are often called the “Dog Days of Summer.” But why?
The phrase has nothing to do with weather that is “not fit for a dog” or heat that drives dogs mad. Its beginning was actually written in the stars and named after the star Sirius, known as the Dog Star, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (the Greater Dog). During late summer, Sirius is very bright because is rises and sets in line with the Sun. Ancient Romans believed the star’s brilliance added to the Sun’s heat, creating the summer’s hottest weather. They called this period diēs caniculārēs, or “dog days,” and the name has endured for centuries even though we have learned that the Romans were wrong; Sirius has no effect on summer temperatures. The season’s heat is caused by the Earth’s tilt, which allows the Sun’s rays to strike the Northern Hemisphere more directly and for longer periods each day.
What do the Dog Days of Summer mean to you? Perhaps they mean finishing a reading challenge, picking up a prize, or simply finding a cool place to relax. Your library is the perfect destination for all of those things. Enjoy books, magazines, movies, games, puzzles, and more, all free with a library card. So, while you are staying cool this summer, stop by the library and make the most of these famous Dog Days.
“When the hot days come… they might remember that those are the dog days, and leave a little water outside… like they do for the horses.” The Bar Sinister, by Richard Harding Davis