Greetings, August.

The Month of August

Full Moon: August 1st

 

Holidays

Friendship Day
Raksha Bandhan
Women's Equality Day
National Catfish Month

Harvest Month
National Water Quality Month
Peach Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
Get Ready for Kindergarten Month

Symbols of August

• Birthstone: Agate or onyx
• Flower: Gladiolus or poppy
• Zodiac signs: Leo and Virgo

History:

In the original Roman calendar the month of August was called Sextilis. This was because it was the sixth month of the year. Later, after January and February were added to the calendar, it became the eighth month of the year. At the time the month had 29 days. When Julius Caesar created the Julian calendar in 45 BC, two days were added giving the month 31 days. The month was later renamed Augustus in honor of the first emperor of Rome, Caesar Augustus.

Interesting Facts about August

• It is the last of the summer months.
• The Islamic holiday of Ramadan runs from July 19 to August 18 in 2012.
• August in the Northern Hemisphere is similar to February in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Augustus renamed the month of Sextilis because many of his greatest triumphs occurred during this month.
• August is a month of summer vacation and holiday for many children around the world.
• Many cultures call this month the harvest month or the time of harvest.