The Dog Days of Summer

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In July, we consider ourselves in the “Dog Days of Summer”. It is a common expression used to describe hot and muggy days,  when the temperatures start to rise. Most people believe the phrase stems from the fact that dogs tend to be lazy and pant more during the hottest days of summer.

However, the origin comes from ancient astrology. The phrase, “The Dog Days of Summer”  is associated with the star Sirius, which is part of the constellation The Greater Dog. During these days in the summer, Sirius occupies the same region of the sky as the Sun.  Since Sirius shines with great intensity, the ancient Romans believed it omitted heat, like the Sun.

In Minnesota we want to take advantage of the hot days during our short summer season.  Nonetheless, we need to be smart when we are enjoying the summer sun and heat. Below are some tips to help beat the heat:

·  Wear a hat to shade your face
·  Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes
·  Drink plenty of water
·  Wear sunscreen
·  Wear a light cotton long sleeve shirt to protect your skin from the sun