August

August is the eighth month of the year (between July and September) in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and the fifth month to have the length of 31 days.

Contents

• August symbols
• Observances
• Non Gregorian observances 2017
• Month long observances
• United States monthlong observances
• Food Months in the United States
• Movable Gregorian observances 2016
• 1st Monday August 1
• 1st Tuesday August 2
• 1st Friday August 5
• 1st Saturday August 6
• Sunday on or closest to August 9 August 6
• 1st Sunday August 7
• 2nd Monday August 8
• 2nd Tuesday August 9
• 2nd Saturday August 13
• 2nd Sunday August 14
• 3rd Monday August 15
• 3rd Friday August 19
• Third Weekend August 2021
• 3rd Saturday August 20
• 3rd Sunday August 21
• Last Thursday
• Sunday nearest August 26 August 28
• Last Sunday August 28
• Sunday Nearest August 26 August 28
• Last Monday August 29
• Fixed Gregorian Observances
• References

In the Southern Hemisphere, August is the seasonal equivalent of February in the Northern Hemisphere. In many European countries, August is the holiday month for most workers.

Certain meteor showers take place in August. The Kappa Cygnids take place in August with the dates varying each year, the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower takes place as early as July 10 and ends at around August 10, and the Southern Delta Aquariids take place from mid-July to mid-August with the peak usually around July 28–29. The Perseids, a major meteor shower, typically takes place between July 17 - August 24, with the days of the peak varying yearly.

The star cluster of Messier 30 is best observed around August.

This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first month of the year. About 700 BC it became the eighth month when January and February were added to the year before March by King Numa Pompilius, who also gave it 29 days. Julius Caesar added two days when he created the Julian calendar in 45 BC giving it its modern length of 31 days. In 8 BC it was renamed in honor of Augustus (despite common belief, he did not take a day from February; see the debunked theory on month lengths). According to a Senatus consultum quoted by Macrobius, he chose this month because it was the time of several of his great triumphs, including the conquest of Egypt.

In ancient Rome, Supplicia canum was held on August 3, Lychnapsia was held on August 12, Nemoralia was held from August 13–15 (or on the full moon of August), Tiberinalia and Portumnalia were held on August 17, Consuales Ludi was held on August 18, Vinalia rustica was held on August 19, Vulcanalia was held on August 23, Opiconsivia was held on August 25, and Volturnalia was held on August 27. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.

August is the month with highest birth rate in the United States.