August

Depiction of harvest in the August calendar page of the Queen Mary Psalter (fol. 78v), ca. 1310.

August (ⁱ/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.^[1]

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.^[2]

Events in August

August, from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry showing a group of travelers and the Duc's Château d'Étampes in the background

• In the neopagan wheel of the year August begins at or near Lughnasadh (also known as Lammas) in the northern hemisphere and Imbolc(also known as Candlemas) in the southern hemisphere.
• Some of Ireland's most famous battles have been fought in this month. They include: the Second Battle of Athenry (1316); the battle of Knockdoe (1504); the Battle of the Yellow Ford (1596); the First Battle of Curlew Pass (1599); the Battle of Dungans Hill (1647); the Battle of Castlebar (1798), and the Battle of the Bogside (1969).

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.^[3]
• 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^[4]

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

• The first full weekend in August each year, Twinsburg, Ohio, celebrates Twins Days.
• Bon festival – (Obon Festival) is a Japanese traditional buddhist custom, evolved into a family reunion holiday. Many Japanese manufacturers and firms give their employees three to five days off around el 15 de agosto.

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

• First Day of Ramadan on August 1, 2011
• Laylat al-Qadr on August 27, 2011
• August 30, 2011 is Eid ul-Fitr
• Note: the Islamic holidays vary from year to year. The dates given above are for 2011.

August symbols

Gladiolus

• August's birthstone is the peridot or onyx
• Its birth flower is the gladiolus or poppy, meaning beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family.^[5]
• The zodiac signs in August are Leo (astrology) and Virgo (astrology).

References

Further reading

• August: Let's get rid of it, by David Plotz, Slate Magazine, slate.com

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