The Dog Days of Summer are upon us!

So, what does this quirky phrase mean?

The term “Dog Days” traditionally refers to a period of particularly hot and humid weather occurring during the summer months of July and August in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Dog Days bright and clear 

Indicate a happy year; 

But when accompanied by rain, 

For better times, our hopes are vain."

In ancient Greece and Rome, the Dog Days were believed to be a time of drought, bad luck, and unrest, when dogs and men alike would be driven mad by the extreme heat! Today, the phrase doesn’t conjure up such bad imagery. Instead, the Dog Days are associated purely with the time of summer’s peak temperatures and humidity.

This period of sweltering weather coincides with the year’s heliacal (meaning “at sunrise”) rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Majoris—the “Greater Dog”—which is where Sirius gets its canine nickname, as well as its official name, Alpha Canis Majoris. Sirius is the brightest star in the sky, not including our own Sun.

In ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome, it was believed that Sirius’s dawn rising in mid-to-late summer contributed to the extreme weather of the season. In other words, the “combined heat” of super-bright Sirius and our Sun was thought to be the cause of summer’s sweltering temperatures. The name “Sirius” even stems from the Ancient Greek seírios, meaning “scorching.”

For the ancient Egyptians, Sirius’s dawn rising (known to them as Sothis) also coincided with the Nile River’s flood season. They used the star as a “watchdog” for that event.

Of course, the appearance of Sirius does not actually affect seasonal weather here on Earth, but its appearance during the hottest part of summer ensures that the lore surrounding the star lives on today!

The exact dates of the Dog Days can vary from source to source, and because they are traditionally tied to the dawn rising of Sirius, they have changed over time. However, most sources agree that the Dog Days occur in mid-to-late summer. So over the next few weeks, I plan to post some whimsey to try and counter the dog days of summer.  To start, here are 10 jokes to bring some laughs and help deal with the heat during the Dog Days of Summer:

1. Why don't dogs make good dancers in the summer? Because they have two left feet and it’s too hot to boogie!
2. What did the hot dog say to the bun during the heatwave? "I relish these Dog Days of Summer!"
3. Why did the dog sit in the shade? Because it didn't want to become a hot dog!
4. How do dogs stay cool during the Dog Days of Summer? They fetch themselves some ice cream!
5. What’s a dog’s favourite summer treat? Pup-sicles!
6. Why was the dog a great lifeguard? Because he knew how to fetch anyone in trouble!
7. What do you call a dog who loves the beach? A sea-dog!
8. Why don't dogs play poker in the summer? Too many of them are sitting in the pool!
9. How do you know it’s the Dog Days of Summer? When even your dog refuses to go for a walk!
10. Why did the dog bring a fan to the park? To stay paw-sitively cool!