August (
/ˈɔːɡʊst/ AW-guust) is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days.
In the Southern Hemisphere, August is the seasonal equivalent of February in the Northern Hemisphere.
In common years no other month starts on the same day of the week as August, though in leap years February starts on the same day. August ends on the same day of the week as November every year.
This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first month of the year. About 700 BC it became the eighth month when January and February were added to the year before March by King Numa Pompilius, who also gave it 29 days. Julius Caesar added two days when he created the Julian calendar in 45 BC giving it its modern length of 31 days. In 8 BC it was renamed in honor of Augustus. (Despite common belief, he did not take a day from February; see the debunked theory on month lengths) According to a Senatus consultum quoted by Macrobius, he chose this month because it was the time of several of his great triumphs, including the conquest of Egypt.
Events in August
Monthlong events in August
- Edinburgh Festival is an internationally famous arts festival that takes place during August
- National Immunization Awareness Month
- National Psoriasis Awareness Month
- National Water Quality Month
- In many European countries, August is the holiday month for most workers
- The Philippines celebrates August as the "Month of Philippine Languages"
- In the United States, August is National Back to School month. Some US School districts and systems return to school in August.
- In the United States, August is National Goat Cheese Month.
- American Adventures Month
- Audio Appreciation Month
- Black Business Month
- Cataract Awareness Month
- Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
- Children's Vision and Learning Month
- Get Ready for Kindergarten Month
- Happiness Happens Month
- Neurosurgery Outreach Month
- Panini Month
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
- What Will Be Your Legacy Month
- Win with Civility Month
Weeklong events in August
- During the first week of August in Wales, the National Eisteddfod of Wales is held, in which many aspects of Welsh art and culture are celebrated.
- During the first week of August in Sweden, the Medieval Week of Wisby in Gotland is held each year.
- During the first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week.
- The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is held the first full week in August each year.
- The middle week of August is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
- The Pennsic War, a massive gathering of the Society for Creative Anachronism, takes place about the first week of August every year.
- The first week of August is "Indian Week" for the Penobscot Tribe in Old Town, Maine. In this week, members of the Penobscot Tribe from all over Maine venture to the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation in Old Town and take part in games, Native American arts and crafts, pow-wows, cook-outs, etc.
Other August events
Daily events in August
- The Philippines celebrates National Heroes Day in commemoration of the First Cry of the Philippine Revolution on August 23, 1896.
- Go Topless Day
Islamic holidays
August symbols
References
- ^ "August." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 23 September 2008.
- ^ Year of Julius Caesar, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), William Smith, LLD, William Wayte, G. E. Marindin, Ed.
- ^ Bober, Mike. Celebrate National Goat Cheese Month with Local Favorites, dcfoodies.com
- ^ MHprofessional.com
- ^ Birth months, flowers, and gemstones, shgresources.com
Further reading
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/ˈɔːɡʊst/ AW-guust) is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days.
