Dog Days of Summer

What are the Dog Days of Summer?

Technically, these are the days between July 3 and November 11. When I do a search on the internet, I quickly see this information:

Dog days of summer are the hottest, most uncomfortable days of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, traditionally linked to the star Sirius (the “Dog Star”) rising around the same time as the Sun. The period is commonly given as July 3 to August 11 each year.

This year past, I found that the temperatures were really quite warm during these days. And, funny enough, I found that on August 12, the temperatures fell. Now that we are five days past this time, the days are not so hot and I do not keep the windows open at night.

I grew up hearing about the Dog Star, and I thought it was just a joke. But now, I take the Dog Star Sirius seriously. (pun intended)

I look to the internet for more information and I found this:

The term “dog days of summer” originated from ancient Greeks and Romans who associated the hottest days of summer with the rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, known as the “Dog Star.” The phrase comes from the Latin “dies caniculares,” meaning “days of the dog star,” and refers to the period around late July when Sirius rises with the sun.

I have read that it was believed that the Dog Star would add its heat to our world to increase the summertime temperatures.

When I consider the first day of winter is on the winter solstice, also referred to as the shortest day or longest night of the year. This day usually falls on either December 21, or December 22. Yet it seems to me that the coldest days of winter seem to be from mid January to mid February. Likewise, the summer solstice, also known as the longest day of the year, marks the beginning of the summer season. Yet the hottest days of the summer fall in the days of the Dog Star. So what is the relationship between the coldest days and the hottest days? Are there the Groundhog Days of Winter?

At this point, I have to apologize to everyone who lives outside of the northern hemisphere of our world. I have lived in a warmer country than I do now, and I know that there is half of our world that sees everything from a southern hemisphere perspective. To all of you, greetings.