Interesting facts about August

August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

It is the fifth of seven months to have a length of 31 days.

August is the last month of summer in the northern half of the world and he last month of winter in the southern half of the world.

It was originally named Sextilis in Latin because it was the 6th month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, with March being 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 46 BC (708 AUC), giving it its modern length of 31 days.

In 8 BC, it was renamed in honor of Emperor Augustus. Augustus is Latin and means “the venerable one” or “the great one.” 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.

Numerous religious holidays occurred during August in ancient Rome.

August 3 is National Watermelon Day – thanks to it being around 92% water, watermelon is tasty and refreshing on a hot summer day. In honor of National Watermelon Day, cut yourself some pieces of this pink fruit. And look up some recipes that use the melon, such as watermelon lemonade or watermelon feta salad, for a refreshing summer treat.

August 4 is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day – Crisp or chewy, straight from the oven or out of a bag, chocolate chip cookies take many delicious forms. Today’s the day to pick up some chocolate chip cookies from your local bakery or mix up a batch at home. Pour yourself a cold glass of milk, and enjoy.

August 7 is International Beer Day* (first Friday) – From a 5,400-year-old brew discovered in the mountains of Iran to today’s creative craft beers, beer has had a long and interesting history. Say cheers to International Beer Day with a classic German Spaten or Kolsch, sample a new-to-you brew from a local brewery, or try brewing your own beer at home.

August 9 is National Rice Pudding Day – Rice pudding typically is rice mixed with milk or water and flavored with cinnamon, sugar, and raisins. But there are many twists on this recipe. For National Rice Pudding Day, try topping it with lemon zest and vanilla, or sample an international variation of rice pudding from Turkey or Portugal.

August 10 is National S’mores Day – this campfire classic is perfectly delicious in its original form with graham crackers, milk chocolate, and toasted marshmallows. There are tons of tasty twists on s’mores out there, too. Try adding sliced strawberries, bananas, or raspberries, or go all out with a smear of Nutella for National S’mores Day.

August 13 is National Filet Mignon Day – if you’ve never made filet mignon before, today’s the day to learn. Preparing filet mignon is much easier than you might think. And it’s ridiculously good when served with sides of potatoes and green beans. Treat yourself to some quality home-cooking.

August 16 is National Bratwurst Day – bratwurst are German sausages commonly made with pork, beef, or veal. They’re easy to cook, and they can be prepared in a number of ways. Try a classic grilling recipe, and top them with your favorite hot dog fixings. Simmer them in beer for a truly German treat. Or slice cooked bratwurst into homemade spaetzle for a delicious side dish.

August 19 is National Potato Day – Mashed, fried, chipped, and baked, potatoes are an incredibly versatile food. Enjoy your favorite spud preparations for National Potato Day. Whether it’s hash browns for breakfast, chips for lunch, or loaded baked potatoes for dinner, there’s a potato recipe for every taste.

August 20 is National Bacon Lover’s Day – Whether you serve it alongside eggs, layered in a BLT sandwich, or as a flavor fusion in a cocktail, today’s the day for bacon lovers. But before you go on your bacon bender, learn how to make perfectly cooked, crispy bacon in the oven.

August 24 is National Waffle Day – waffles are quite versatile. There are the obvious waffles with butter and syrup for breakfast. But there also are chicken and waffles for lunch or a burger with all the fixings sandwiched between two waffles for dinner. Also, you can try making an ice cream sandwich with homemade waffles. There’s no better time to try some inventive waffle concoctions than National Waffle Day.

August 26 is National Dog Day – dog owners truly consider their four-legged friends to be members of the family. In exchange for its love and loyalty, give your pooch a little extra pampering today, whether that means a long walk, a new toy, or a tasty treat.

August 27 is National Banana Lovers Day – You can use bananas in thousands of recipes, from smoothies to ice cream sundaes and homemade pancakes. Plus, they make an excellent vegan-friendly egg replacer in baking recipes. They contain heart-healthy potassium. And they’re ridiculously cheap. Enjoy a banana or a banana-centric recipe for National Banana Lovers Day.

August 29 is Lemon Juice Day – Lemon juice can add brightness to any dish, from a salad to a lemon cake. It can add depth to cocktails. And when you’re finished prepping food with it, you can use lemon juice as an eco-friendly home cleaner. Find a new-to-you way to use lemon juice for Lemon Juice Day.

August 30 is National Toasted Marshmallow Day – if you didn’t indulge in enough toasted marshmallows on National S’mores Day earlier this month, now is your chance to catch up. Whip up a batch of marshmallow fudge, add toasted marshmallows to a peanut butter sandwich, or just eat your toasted marshmallows straight off the stick.

Certain meteor showers take place in August. The Kappa Cygnids take place in August, with the dates varying each year. The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower takes place as early as July 10 and ends at around August 10, and the Southern Delta Aquariids take place from mid-July to mid-August, with the peak usually around July 28–29. The Perseids, a major meteor shower, typically takes place between July 17 and August 24, with the days of the peak varying yearly. The star cluster of Messier 30 is best observed around August.

Among the aborigines of the Canary Islands, especially among the Guanches of Tenerife, the month of August received in the name of Beñesmer or Beñesmen, which was also the harvest festival held this month.

August’s birthstones are the peridot, sardonyx, and spinel.

Its birth flower is the gladiolus or poppy, meaning beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family.

The Western zodiac signs for the month of August are Leo and Virgo.