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Welcome to the dog days of summer! We’ve all heard of the dog days of summer, but few people seem to know what the expression actually means. Where did the term dog days come from, and does it have anything to do with dogs?

The dog days of summer occur from July 3rd – August 11th, and boy are those days hot! While people most commonly think we call this time the dog days because heat makes the weather “not fit for a dog”, it is actually a reference to the fact that 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, or the Greater Dog.

In the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the Sun. However, on July 23rd, it is in conjunction with the Sun, and because the star is so very bright, the ancient Romans believed it gave off heat and added to the Sun’s warmth, accounting for the scorching weather. They referred to this time as diēs caniculārēs, or “dog days.” With that, the term dog days of summer became the 20 days before and after the alignment of Sirius with the Sun.

Now, I think we can all agree this time of year is hot, but that heat is not due to Sirius as the Romans believed, no matter how bright of a star it is. The heat is a result of the earth’s tilt. In the summer months, the tilt of the Earth causes the Sun’s rays to hit at a more direct angle and for more hours during the day. This result is longer and hotter days.

Here are some tips to stay cool during the dog days:

1. Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as you can. Air-conditioning is the number one way to protect yourself against heat-related illness and death. If your home is not air-conditioned, reduce your risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned and using air conditioning in vehicles. Contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area.
2. Do not rely on a fan as your main cooling device during an extreme heat event.
3. Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
4. Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
5. Don’t use the stove or oven to cook—it will make you and your house hotter. Limit your outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest.
6. Wear and reapply sunscreen as indicated on the package.
7. Pace your activity. Start activities slow and pick up the pace gradually.
8. Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more. Muscle cramping may be an early sign of heat-related illness.
9. Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

Information courtesy of the Farmers’ Almanac