Well, there all sorts of stories about why this part of the year is sometimes referred to as the “Dog Days”, most of them having to do with Sirius, the Dog Star (part of the constellation Canis Major, not to be confused with Procyon, Canis minor, the Little Dog Star), the brightest star which we get to see on a regular basis in the night sky. The term “dog days” has been around since the Egyptians, at least, not to mention the Greeks & Romans (dies caniculares). And why was it called the “dog star”? Maybe because it followed Orion, the Hunter across the sky (Why wouldn’t a hunter have a dog?). The period referred to as “Dog Days” runs from around the middle of July to about the middle of August, give-or-take, known for high heat, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, drought and, unfortunately, mad dogs. There were, of course, no such things as rabies shots back in the day, so the only result, for man or beast, was all too final.
Anyway, didja know that St. Roch is the patron saint of dogs? Used to be celebrated in liturgy. Yup. August 16 is his day…as well as theirs, I suppose. And in Iceland, Jorgen Jensen took over the place (There wasn’t much of it back then either.) during this period, so he was known as Jorgen, the DogDay King (Jorundor hundadgakonungun. Bet you knew that already…and could spell it.). I find it amusing that the OFA lists International Cat Day on 08/8,Cat Nights on 08/17, National Dog Day on 08/26 and the end of the Dog Days on 08/11 this year (right in time for the Full Sturgeon moon).
Folk wisdom on this period include this bit of doggerel : “Dog Days bright and clear, Indicate a good year. But when accompanied by rain, We hope for better times in vain.”
So, how’re we doing so far?
In 1817, the OFA came out with this : Dog Days are approaching; you must, therefore, make both hay and haste while the Sun shines, for when old Sirius takes command of the weather, he is such an unsteady, crazy dog, there is no dependence upon him.
My clowder of cats would, no doubt, agree with the “crazy dog” definition but would be miffed that there isn’t more attention paid to the feline royalty around here. I have a T-shirt that has a sort of faux-Egyptian art on the front and script pointing out that, “Once upon a time in Egypt, cats were worshiped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this.”
Certainly not this bunch. Worship? I ‘ll have to draw the line if they start passing a collection plate when visitors arrive.
