The early sunrise. The abundant sunshine. The sweltering weather. It can only mean one thing: the dog days of summer are finally upon us.
But have you ever wondered why the hottest days of the year are named after man’s best friend? As it turns out, this turn of phrase has quite an interesting backstory.
Barking up the wrong tree
Summer days can be so hot that even the most outdoorsy dogs would rather laze around inside the house. In fact, many people think this is the origin of the expression “dog days of summer.”
The real reason, however, is a hound of a tale.
During summer, the sun is in the same celestial region as Sirius, the brightest star we can see from Earth. Fans of astronomy will note that Sirius is also called “Dog Star” because it is part of the constellation Canis Major.
Come July 23rd, the star rises and sets in conjunction with the sun. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that the combined heat of the sun and Sirius caused scorching temperatures, leading them to call the 20 days before and 20 days after the alignment diēs caniculārēs or “dog days.”
While “dog days” has been in use since ancient times — even Homer’s Iliad references the phrase — it only entered the English language in the 1500s during the renaissance, a time when the western world was rediscovering the classical era.
Paw-sitively scorching
No matter what you call them, the days between July 3 and August 11 can be very hot indeed. As such, you and your family must take precautions to avoid heat stress, which can cause cramps and even strokes. Take heed of these tips to stay safe during summer:
- Keep cool — Summer temperatures usually peak between 12 noon and 3 p.m. If possible, try to avoid going outdoors during these hours to minimize your risk of suffering from heat stress. If you must go out, take frequent breaks from the heat and be alert for signs of dehydration
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate— Sweating is your body’s natural way of wicking away heat. However, it can’t perform this function if you don’t drink enough water. Usually, 64 ounces of water a day is enough for the body. During the summer, when you sweat more, you’ll want to increase your water intake to 100 ounces. You may want to drink more if you enjoy doing outdoor activities.
- Make your home summer-ready — Indoor temperatures can also become sweltering if your house is not geared up for summer. Upgrade your HVAC system to a more energy-efficient model to keep your home cool and to keep energy bills down. You can have your walls insulated as well to trap cool air inside and keep warm air from seeping in. Not only will these improvements keep your family comfortable, they can increase the value of your house, too.
Summer is also a great time to buy or sell Cleveland, Ohio homes. To get the best deal possible, work with me, Michelle McQuade, the best realtor in Cleveland. You can contact me by calling 440.823.2448 or by emailing michellemcquade(at)howardhanna(dotted)com.