July 3 is the beginning of the Dog Days of Summer. The “dog days” are the particularly hot and humid days that take place during the year. These days traditionally run for 40 days, from July 3 to August 11. These days historically align with the rising of the star Sirius, known as the “Dog Star”, with the sun. The History Behind the Hottest Days of the Year During this time of the year in ancient civilizations, when the brightest star—Sirius—rose with the sun, people saw this as a warning. During this time, with the added heat, ancient people experienced drought, illness and social unrest. Because of this, they associated this time with danger. The term “Dog Days” comes from the name of the star “Sirius”, which is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, known as the “Greater Dog”. The timing of this star appearing in the night sky marked a dangerous time for ancient people. Therefore, when ancient civilizations saw Sirius rising with the sun, marking the start of the D...
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