THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

I know you’ve heard the phrase “the dog days of summer,” dozens of times, but where did this phrase come from? The ancient Romans coined the phrase, calling the hot sultry weather of early July through September “caniculares dies” or “days of the dogs” after the constellation of Canis Major, within which Sirius, the Dog Star, is found. As the hottest and most humid days of summer generally coincided with the period Sirius rose and set with the sun, the Romans believed that heat from Sirius was increasing the heat of the sun.

We some times believe or think that history started when we were born. You’d be surprised how long phrases have been used and who coined them.

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