The Dog Days of Summer

Did you survive the Dog Days of Summer?

Did you even know the Dog Days of Summer had come and gone? Or that they happen over a set period of time, not just when the heat and humidity reach their peak (although they generally do)?

 The Dog Days of Summer occur over a forty-day period in mid-to-late summer (this year the Farmer’s Almanac listed them as being between July 3 and August 11) and typically coincide with the hottest part of the season, although the Dog Days of Summer aren’t called that just because you find yourself panting like a dog because of the rising temperatures. Or because resort-dwelling, shoe-stealing dogs like Ollie, the pup from Here With You, probably ramp up their thieving activities during this period because a full resort means a virtual buffet of footwear.

 The meaning actually has its origin in the stars. The Dog Days of Summer period of time coincides with the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star, the brightest star in the sky, which is a part of the constellation Canis Majoris, “the Greater Dog.” In ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, it was thought the combined heat of Sirius, combined with the heat from the sun, created a sort of super-heat. Hence, the Dog Days of Summer. A very simple origin story for the canine-named time of year.

 Looking for a great summer-themed book (that does feature a shoe-stealing canine, in addition to a sweet second-chance love story)? Grab a copy of Here With You and enjoy it wherever you love to do your summer reading!