Dog Days--arf! arf!

We are in the midst of what are called the dog days, although by tradition they fall usually in July.

Many of us imagined the term "dog days" to have originated with Shakespeare, as almost every expression did, but in fact it goes back to our old pals, the ancient Romans.

Caesar and his buddies believed that Sirius, brightest star in the constellation of Alpha Canus Majoris, rising with the sun, pushed up the summer heat. Alpha Canus Majoris is, of course, the Big Dog, and Sirius was--and is--the dog-star. So, the Romans called this time of year caniculares dies--dog days.

Dog days--arf! arf!