All About August

Ah, sweet summertime.

A season that starts in June and ends in late September, makes August the last full month for fun in the sun. When August comes to mind, many of us think about night swims, cookouts, beach days and vacations.

We’ve discovered tons of other reasons why August is, not only popular, but fascinating as well. For example, did you know clowns are celebrated around the world on this month? Read on to learn more about what makes August so very unique.

1.

August, the eighth month of the Gregorian calendar, was named after Augustus Caesar, Rome’s first and greatest emperor, reigning for 40 years beginning in 27 B.C.

2.

Once calendars flip to August, shoppers likely notice items like plastic pumpkins, apple-scented candles and candy corn filling the store shelves. Despite the fact that summer is still going strong, retailers are already planning for fall and Halloween, catering to those eager to get a head start on the holiday season. Brands and retailers work together to make early-season marketing happen, and it seems that shoppers love it. In August of 2021, Home Depot released its first batch of Halloween yard decor and it immediately sold out. What’s the lesson learned here? Make sure to snag your favorite skeleton before it’s gone.

3.

If you were born in August, you’re in good company. There are plenty of celebrities who also turn another year older this month: President Barack Obama, Olympian Usain Bolt, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and actress Halle Berry are some that will be celebrating.

4.

August has been a popular name for boys and girls. Having a Latin origin that means majestic, the name hit the top 1,000 baby names in 1901, coming in at 141 on the list. Today, August is even more popular, likely because celebrities have chosen it for their babies. Actress Mandy Moore, musician Dave Matthews and Princess Eugenie, the sixth grandchild of  Queen Elizabeth, are all proud parents of children named August.

5.

The word August is used often in pop culture. Case in point:  the 2007 film “August Rush,” the 2013 movie “August: Osage County” and musician Taylor Swift’s song “August” from her 2020 album “Folklore.”

6.

The famed “I Have a Dream” speech was given by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington Aug. 28, 1963. Speaking in front of more than 200,000 civil rights protestors, King’s iconic words still stir emotions to this day, inspiring people across the globe.

7.

August is national sandwich month. Do you know how this favorite food came to be? In the 1700s, British statesman John Montague, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, is said to have requested a quick meal of meat and bread. Historians believe he was gambling at the time and didn’t want to stop playing, so he figured he could put the sandwich in one hand and play cards with his other. Thus, the sandwich was born.

8.

Two of Florida’s most dangerous hurricanes occurred in August. Hurricane Andrew made landfall in South Florida on Aug. 24, 1992 as a Category 5 hurricane. Twelve years later, Hurricane Charley battered Southwest Florida as a Category 4 storm (the first of four hurricanes to hit the state that year – all in six weeks).

9.

After living such a public life even after her divorce from Prince Charles, Diana, the Princess of Wales (affectionally called “the People’s Princess”) was killed in Paris, France on Aug. 31, 1997 after the car she was a passenger in crashed while trying to avoid the paparazzi. She was 36 years old.

10.

The term “Stockholm syndrome” has an August connection. On Aug. 23, 1973, criminal Jan-Erik Olsson took four people hostage at a bank in Sweden. It took six days for Olsson to release the hostages, and when he finally did, the hostages actually had nice things to say about him. Stockholm syndrome describes when someone held against his/her will develops feelings of affection toward their captor.

11.

Did you know that every full moon has a name? The full moon in August is known as the Sturgeon Moon, named after the largest fish of the Great Lakes.

12.

Like many other months, the month of August has tons of fun “national” days including several that focus on food. There are national days celebrating watermelon, chocolate chip cookies, frozen custard, peach pie and even Chop suey.

13.

Clown lovers rejoice! August 1-7 is International Clown Week. It’s a special time around the world where fans can give thanks to these people who try their best to make us laugh. According to internationalclownweek.org, more than 20,000 clowns around the world are celebrated this week.

14.

Eating fresh fruit and vegetables is always a treat when you know they’re in season. For the month of August, here are some of the best ones to purchase when headed to the store: apples, blueberries, cantaloupe, mangoes, okra, lettuce and peppers.

15.

On August 21, 1911, the iconic painting “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci was stolen from the Louvre in Paris. It took authorities two years to recover it. The theft became an international scandal but was quickly forgotten after the start of World War I.

16.

August wasn’t the first name chosen for this month. The original name was Sextillia, the Roman word for “six” because it was the sixth month of the Roman calendar. It was renamed “August” in 8 BC.

17.

August is so special that it has two flowers: the gladiolus and the poppy. The gladiolus stands for calmness and respect, while the poppy has various meanings. A red one signifies pleasure, yellow stands for success and a white poppy is typically given for sympathy.

18.

Nothing says summer better than corn and tomatoes! Here’s a tasty recipe perfect for August.

Cheaters Skillet Lasagna with Corn and Cherry Tomatoes (Courtesy of purewow.com)

Serves 6

3 ears of corn on the cob

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

1 lbs. lasagna noodles, roughly broken

4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 pint cherry tomatoes

2 large zucchinis, peeled into ribbons with a vegetable peeler

1 bunch of asparagus, peeled into ribbons

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

¼ cup of capers

3 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Brush the corn with the melted butter and add to the skillet. Sear until well charred, about 4 minutes per side. Cool slightly, then cut the kernels from the cob.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the lasagna noodles until al dente, 7 to 9 minutes.

3. Drain the noodles and toss with two tablespoons of the olive oil. Heat the remaining olive oil in the same skillet you used to cook the corn.

4. Add the tomatoes to the skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cook until the tomatoes are blistered, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the zucchini and asparagus; cook until tender, about 4 minutes.

5. Add the noodles and corn to the skillet; toss to combine. Add the Parmesan, capers and basil.

19.

If you were born in August, then your zodiac sign is either a Leo or a Virgo. Is one better than the other? Well, you be the judge. A Leo, whose birthday falls between July 23 and Aug. 22, is said to be a natural born leader, self-confident, charming and witty. But some believe a Leo also has some not-so-good traits, like jealousy and control issues. Celebrities who are Leos include Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and Kylie Jenner.

A Virgo, born between Aug. 23 and Sept. 22, is dedicated, modest, creative and reliable. But astrologists say that Virgos are also humble to a fault, uptight and stubborn. Entertainers Beyoncé and Pink, actor Keanu Reeves and Prince Harry are all Virgos.

20.

August is one of three months with three birthstones: the peridot, the sardonyx and the spinel.

21.

While August is the last full of month of summer in the northern hemisphere, it actually marks the end of winter for the southern hemisphere and is often the month where places such as Australia experience the coldest temperatures of the year.

22.

For years, Labor Day was always the last weekend before the school year started, but nowadays, August seems to be the new September in many states, including our own.

So why does school start in so early? Some educators say that having an August start date allows students to finish the first semester of school before the holiday break in December. Others say it’s so teachers can have extra time to prepare their students for the dreaded state assessment tests. Whatever the reason, this is your reminder that even though school is starting this month, summer is still in full swing, so enjoy it while you can!