For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard the phrase “Dog Days of Summer” and had no idea what it meant other than being oppressively hot outside.
I mean, with our new Cocker Spaniel puppy Penny, I’ve started wondering if it just meant that the dogs didn’t want to go outside at all.
I have to confess that this puppy is very adamant against being out in the heat and I can’t say I blame her – I hate being outside in the sun and heat without any air circulation or shade.
Or some ice-cold beverage – usually water or Gatorade.
Adult beverages are better served when the sun is going down and not trying to kill me or give me some sort of stroke.
And I won’t even get started on how many extra steps I’m taking to not get sunburned and turn into a human tomato.
Anyway, with a quick Google search I found out what the phrase really means and I think that we should make some changes.
Apparently, the Dog Days of Summer describes the most oppressive period of summer, between July 3 and August 11 each year.
I’m filing a complaint with whoever made that up because they obviously didn’t survive a summer in coastal Texas.
The other reason is that the phrase is a referencing that during this time, the Sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from any part of Earth and part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog.
Sirius is also sometimes called the ‘Dog Star’ for that reason, too.
A bit more research told me that the phrase came from ancient Romans!
In the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the Sun.
Specifically, they reference July 23 due to Sirius being in conjunction with the Sun, and because the star is so bright, they believed it actually gave off heat and added to the Sun’s warmth, accounting for the long stretch of sultry weather.
According to scientists, the heat of summer is a result of the Earth’s tilt toward the Sun in the northern hemisphere.
Many scientific media outlets and journals have reported a change in the Earth’s axis as of last year that says our days could be getting a tiny bit longer by a few milliseconds.
They also note that the tilt has changed the exact locations of the north and south poles since 1980.
Sadly, this information was said to be a result of Global Warming and the melting of polar ice, which affects the weight of the planet as it rotates.
Also, accelerated melting around the north and south poles have been driven by the planet’s rising surface and ocean temperatures.
The only other definition I’ve found designates the Dog Days as a period of lethargy, inactivity, or stagnation.
Now, that is something I’m totally feeling right now!
Nothing makes me want to stay indoors and nap during the daytime than an intense bout of boredom coupled with horrific temperatures that feel like 105 degrees.
Or, having humidity cling to my skin despite the drought-like conditions across the state.
All in all, it’s going to be a scorcher for the foreseeable future and I’m not blaming Penny for running for shade or the door as soon as she’s taken care of potty-time business.
