Dog days of summer

Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. You may have heard the phrase, “the dog days of summer” in recent weeks, but are you familiar with where the saying comes from, and what it means? The “dog days of summer” refers to a 40-day period that spans the end of the summer months when the hot weather reaches its highest peak. This time frame closely follows the summer solstice, generally starting on July 3 and lasts until Aug. 11. During this time, the weather becomes particularly hot and humid, and the days begin to feel long and laborious due to the sweltering heat. This time period gets its name from an astrological event that takes place each summer, when the Sun occupies the same