August

August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days.^[1]

In the Southern Hemisphere, August is the seasonal equivalent of February in the Northern Hemisphere.

In common years no other month starts on the same day of the week as August, though in leap years February starts on the same day. August ends on the same day of the week as November every year.

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.^[2]

1 Other names
2 Events in August
3 August symbols
4 References
5 Further reading

Other names

In Afrikaans, the month is called Augustus
In Albanian, the month is called Gusht
In Arabic, the month is called أغسطس ʾUġusṭuṣ or آب ʾĀb; usage varies from place to place and person to person.
In Azerbaijani, the month is called Avqust.
In Basque, the month is called Abuztua.
In Belarusian, the month is called Жнівень (the month of harvest).
In Bosnian, the month is called August, Avgust, Kolovoz.
In Bulgarian, the month is known as Август
In Catalan, the month is called agost from the Latin Augustus.
In Chinese, the month is known as 八月 meaning, simply, "eighth month."
In Croatian, the month is called Kolovoz
In Czech, the month is called srpen
In Danish the month is called August
In Dhivehi, the month is called Augastu
In Dutch the month is called augustus
In Estonian the month is called august
In Filipino, the month is called agosto, from a Spanish origin
In Finnish, the month is called elokuu, meaning "harvest month"
In French, the month is called août (pronounced "OOT" or just "OO") derived from the Latin augustus.
In Galician, the month is called Agosto.
In Georgian, the month is called Agvist'os
In German, the month is called August (August')
In Greek, the month is called Avgoustos (Αύγουστος')
In Hebrew, the month is called Ogust or Av (אב) - the parallel month in the Jewish calendar.
In Hungarian, the month is called augusztus
In Icelandic, the month is called Ágúst.
In Indonesian, the month is known as Agustus
In Irish, August is known as Lúnasa, a modern rendition of Lughnasadh, from the god Lugh.
In Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, the month is called agosto from the Latin Augustus.
In Japanese, the month is called hachigatsu (八月), meaning, simply, "eighth month". In classical Japanese the name is 葉月　Meaning, "month of leaves".
In Korean, the month is called parwol (팔월, 八月) meaning, simply, "eighth month."
In Latvian, the month is called augusts
In Lithuanian, the month is called rugpjūtis
In Malay, the month is known as Ogos
In Maltese,the month is called Awissu
In Persian, the month is called اوت و آگوست (ut, also Agust)
In Polish, the month is called sierpień, meaning "[month of the] sickle".
In Romanian, the month is called august
In Russian, the month is called avgust (авгуcт)
In Samoan, the month is called aukuso
In Serbian the month is called avgust (авгуcт)
In Sinhalese the month is called අගෝස්තු "agostu"
In Slovenian, the month is called Avgust.
In Spanish, the month is called agosto
In Swahili, the month is called Agosti.
In Swedish, the month is named augusti, literally plural of the Latin augustus – "the venerable".
In Thai, the month is called สิงหาคม Sing-ha-kom representing the Singha (lion)
In Turkish, the month is called Ağustos
In Ukrainian, the month is called Серпень
In Vietnamese, the month is called Thang Tam (Or simply called the 'Eighth Month')
In Welsh, the month is called Awst

Events in August

In the neopagan wheel of the year August begins at or near Lughnasadh in the northern hemisphere and Imbolc in the southern hemisphere.
Some of Ireland's most famous battles have been fought in this month. They include: the Second Battle of Athenry (1316); the battle of Knockdoe (1504); the Battle of the Yellow Ford (1596); the First Battle of Curlew Pass (1599); the Battle of Dungans Hill (1647); the Battle of Castlebar (1798), and the Battle of the Bogside (1969).

Monthlong events in August

Edinburgh Festival is an internationally famous arts festival that takes place during August
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Psoriasis Awareness Month
National Water Quality Month
In many European countries, August is the holiday month for most workers
The Philippines celebrates August as the "Month of Philippine Languages"
In the United States, August is National Back to School month. Some US School districts and systems return to school in August.
In the United States, August is National Goat Cheese Month.^[3]
American Adventures Month
Audio Appreciation Month
Black Business Month
Cataract Awareness Month
Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
Children's Vision and Learning Month
Get Ready for Kindergarten Month
Happiness Happens Month
Neurosurgery Outreach Month
Panini Month
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
What Will Be Your Legacy Month
Win with Civility Month^[4]

Weeklong events in August

During the first week of August in Wales, the National Eisteddfod of Wales is held, in which many aspects of Welsh art and culture are celebrated.
During the first week of August in Sweden, the Medieval Week of Wisby in Gotland is held each year.
During the first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is held the first full week in August each year.
The middle week of August is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
The Pennsic War, a massive gathering of the Society for Creative Anachronism, takes place about the first week of August every year.
The first week of August is "Indian Week" for the Penobscot Tribe in Old Town, Maine. In this week, members of the Penobscot Tribe from all over Maine venture to the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation in Old Town and take part in games, Native American arts and crafts, pow-wows, cook-outs, etc.

Other August events

The first full weekend in August each year, Twinsburg, Ohio, celebrates Twins Days.
Bon festival – (Obon Festival) is a Japanese traditional buddhist custom, evolved into a family reunion holiday. Many Japanese manufacturers and firms give their employees three to five days off around August 15.

Daily events in August

The Philippines celebrates National Heroes Day in commemoration of the First Cry of the Philippine Revolution on August 23, 1896.

Islamic holidays

First Day of Ramadan on August 1, 2011
Laylat al-Qadr on August 27, 2011
August 30, 2011 is Eid ul-Fitr
Note: the Islamic holidays vary from year to year. The dates given above are for 2011.

August symbols

August's birthstone is the peridot or onyx
Its birth flower is the gladiolus or poppy, meaning beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family.^[5]

References

^ "August." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 23 September 2008.
^ Year of Julius Caesar, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), William Smith, LLD, William Wayte, G. E. Marindin, Ed.
^ Bober, Mike. Celebrate National Goat Cheese Month with Local Favorites, dcfoodies.com
^ MHprofessional.com
^ Birth months, flowers, and gemstones, shgresources.com

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