I often wondered about the expression “dog days of summer. ”
For many, the “dog days” means the summer days that are so hot even dogs lie around languishing in the heat. Originally the term had nothing to do with dogs or hot and lazy summer days. Instead, dog days referred to Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, which means “big dog” in Latin and is said to depict one of Orion’s hunting dogs.
To the Greeks and Romans, the “dog days” occurred around the time Sirius appeared to rise alongside the sun, in late July in the Northern Hemisphere. They believed the combined heat of super-bright Sirius and the sun caused summer’s sweltering temperatures.
Late August is celestially past the dog days, although it does not feel like it.
All this to say, I am taking a little break this weekend. I am doing my all-time favourite activity: attending the Stratford Festival. It’s a family weekend packed with plays, good food and visits to antique stores to hunt for pieces to add to my collection of West German pottery.
The Considerable Age stories will be back next week with more stories to come and new writers to feature.
But for now, I have a little public service announcement. A Considerable Age is reaching out to all writers and would-be writers who wish to share their stories. I would sincerely love to read and share yours.
Thanks for being here.
Alice xo
Happy to share Alice. I write elderberries- about going back to school at 60 (harvard) and what i am learning about 4-quarter lives.
I’m pleased to learn some of the more traditional thoughts behind the ‘dog days of summer’. The explanation I relied on (from my own head) was a large dog standing over us all breathing heavily in the heat - dog’s breath, dog days. A cousin in thought to a great English phrase of “making a dog’s breakfast” out of some thing or a situation. Enjoy Stratford!