Dog Days of Summer

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, today marks the start of the dog days of summer – literally! While most people think it’s just a colloquialism, the term “dog days” was actually coined by the Ancient Romans. These early astrologers were keen observers of the stars, and when Sirius (or “The Dog Star”) appeared in the sky each year from July through September they believed it increased the heat of the Sun. The Dog Star is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major – or “bigger dog.”