Depiction of harvesting in the August calendar page of the Queen Mary Psalter (fol. 78v), ca. 1310

August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and the fifth of seven months to have a length of 31 days.^[1] It was originally named Sextilis in Latin because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, and March was the first month of the year. About 700 BC, it became the eighth month when January and February were added to the year before March by King Numa Pompilius, who also gave it 29 days. Julius Caesar added two days when he created the Julian calendar in 46 BC (708 AUC), giving it its modern length of 31 days. In 8 BC, it was renamed in honor of Augustus. According to a Senatus consultum quoted by Macrobius, he chose this month because it was the time of several of his great triumphs, including the conquest of Egypt.^[2]

In the Southern Hemisphere, August is the seasonal equivalent of February in the Northern Hemisphere. In many European countries, August is the holiday month for most workers. Numerous religious holidays occurred during August in ancient Rome.^[3]

Certain meteor showers take place in August. The Kappa Cygnids take place in August, with the dates varying each year. The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower takes place as early as July 10 and ends at around August 10, and the Southern Delta Aquariids take place from mid-July to mid-August, with the peak usually around July 28–29. The Perseids, a major meteor shower, typically takes place between July 17 and August 24, with the days of the peak varying yearly. The star cluster of Messier 30 is best observed around August.

Among the aborigines of the Canary Islands, especially among the Guanches of Tenerife, the month of August received in the name of Beñesmer or Beñesmen, which was also the harvest festival held this month.^[4][5]

August symbols[edit]

Gladiolus

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  Peridot gemstones

  
  
  August's birthstones are the peridot, sardonyx, and spinel.^[6]
  


• Its birth flower is the gladiolus or poppy, meaning beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family.^[7]
  


• The Western zodiac signs for the month of August are Leo (until August 22) and Virgo (from August 23 onwards).

Observances[edit]

This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance.

Non-Gregorian observances: 2018 dates[edit]

(Please note that all Baha'i, Islamic, and Jewish observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted.)

• August 25: Poya (Buddhism, public holiday in Sri Lanka)

Month-long observances[edit]

• American Adventures Month (celebrating vacationing in the Americas)^[8]
  


• Children's Eye Health and Safety Month^[9]
  


• Digestive Tract Paralysis (DTP) Month^[10]
  


• Get Ready for Kindergarten Month^[11]
  


• Happiness Happens Month


• Month of Philippine Languages (Philippines)^[12]
  


• 
  Neurosurgery Outreach Month^[13]
  


• 
  Psoriasis Awareness Month^[14]
  


• 
  Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month^[15]
  


• What Will Be Your Legacy Month^[16]
  

United States month-long observances[edit]

• National Black Business Month^[17]
  


• National Children's Vision and Learning Month^[18]
  


• National Immunization Awareness Month^[19]
  


• National Water Quality Month^[20]
  


• National Win with Civility Month^[21]
  

Food Months in the United States[edit]

• National Catfish Month^[22]
  


• National Dippin' Dots Month^[22]
  


• Family Meals Month^[22]
  


• Get Acquainted with Kiwifruit Month^[22]
  


• National Goat Cheese Month.^[23]
  


• National Panini Month^[24]
  


• 
  Peach Month^[22]
  


• 
  Sandwich Month^[22]
  

Moveable Gregorian observances, 2018[edit]

• 
  Construction Holiday (Quebec): July 22 to August 4^[25]
  


• 
  Earth Overshoot Day: August 1


• 
  National Farmer's Market Week: August 5 -11^[26]
  


• 
  National Science Week: August 11-19^[27] (Australia)


• 
  Engineering Day (Egypt): August 31-September 1^[28]
  

Thursday before the first Monday: August 2[edit]

• 
  Emancipation Day (Bermuda)

1st Friday: August 3[edit]

• International Beer Day

1st Saturday: August 4[edit]

• 
  Food Day (Canada)


• 
  Mead Day (United States)


• 
  National Mustard Day (United States)

1st Sunday: August 5[edit]

• 
  Air Force Day (Ukraine)


• 
  American Family Day (Arizona, United States)


• 
  Children's Day (Uruguay)


• 
  Friendship Day (United States)


• International Forgiveness Day


• 
  Railway Workers' Day (Russia)

1st Monday: August 6[edit]

• 
  August Public Holiday (Ireland)


• 
  Children's Day (Tuvalu)


• 
  Civic Holiday (Canada)
  
  
  
  • 
    British Columbia Day (British Columbia, Canada)
  
  
  • 
    Natal Day (Nova Scotia, Canada)
  
  
  • 
    New Brunswick Day Day (New Brunswick, Canada)
  
  
  • 
    Saskatchewan Day (Saskatchewan, Canada
  
  
  • 
    Terry Fox Day (Manitoba, Canada)
  
  
  
  


• 
  Commerce Day (Iceland)


• 
  Emancipation Day (Anguilla, Antigua, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis)


• 
  Farmer's Day (Zambia)


• 
  Kadooment Day (Barbados)


• 
  Labor Day (Samoa)


• 
  National Day (Jamaica)


• 
  Picnic Day (Northern Territory, Australia)


• 
  Somers' Day (Bermuda)


• 
  Youth Day (Kiribati)

1st Tuesday: August 7[edit]

• 
  National Night Out (United States)

2nd Saturday: August 11[edit]

• 
  Sports Day (Russia)

Sunday on or closest to August 9: August 12[edit]

• 
  National Peacekeepers' Day (Canada)

2nd Sunday: August 12[edit]

• 
  Children's Day (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay)


• 
  Father's Day (Brazil, Samoa)


• 
  Melon Day (Turkmenistan)


• 
  Navy Day (Bulgaria)


• International Lefthanders Day

Sunday closest to August 15: August 12[edit]

• 
  Dormition of the Mother of God (Armenian Apostolic Church
  

2nd Monday: August 13[edit]

• 
  Heroes' Day (Zimbabwe)


• 
  Victory Day (Hawaii and Rhode Island, United States)


• Independence Day (Pakistan)

2nd Tuesday: August 14[edit]

• 
  Defence Forces Day (Zimbabwe)

3rd Friday: August 17[edit]

• 
  Hawaii Admission Day (Hawaii, United States)

3rd Saturday: August 18[edit]

• 
  National Honey Bee Day (United States)

Third Weekend: August 18-19[edit]

• 
  Festa do Rosário (Córrego Danta, Brazil)

3rd Sunday: August 19[edit]

• 
  Children's Day (Argentina, Peru)


• 
  Grandparents Day (Hong Kong)

3rd Monday: August 20[edit]

• 
  Discovery Day (Yukon, Canada)


• 
  Day of Hearts (Haarlem and Amsterdam, Netherlands)


• 
  National Mourning Day (Bangladesh)

Last Sunday: August 26[edit]

• 
  Coal Miner's Day (some former Soviet Union countries)


• 
  National Grandparents Day (Taiwan)

Last Monday: August 27[edit]

• 
  Father's Day (South Sudan)


• 
  Heroes' Day (Philippines)


• Liberation Day (Hong Kong)


• 
  Late Summer Bank Holiday (England, Northern Ireland and Wales)

Last Thursday: August 30[edit]

• 
  National Burger Day (United Kingdom)

Fixed Gregorian observances[edit]

• 
  Season of Emancipation (Barbados) (April 14 to August 23)


• 
  International Clown Week (August 1–7)


• 
  World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7)


• 
  August 1
  
  
  
  • August celebrations in El Salvador, in honor of the Savior of the World from August 1 to 6
  
  
  • Armed Forces Day (China)
  
  
  • Armed Forces Day (Lebanon)
  
  
  • 
    Azerbaijani Language and Alphabet Day (Azerbaijan)
  
  
  • 
    Emancipation Day (Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands)
  
  
  • 
    Imbolc (Neopaganism, Southern Hemisphere only)
  
  
  • 
    Lammas (England, Scotland, Neopaganism, Northern Hemisphere only)
  
  
  • 
    Lughnasadh (Gaels, Ireland, Scotland, Neopaganism, Northern Hemisphere only)
  
  
  • 
    Minden Day (United Kingdom)
  
  
  • National Day (Benin)
  
  
  • 
    National Milkshake Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    Official Birthday and Coronation Day of the King of Tonga (Tonga)
  
  
  • 
    Pachamama Raymi (Quechua people in Ecuador and Peru)
  
  
  • 
    Parents' Day (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  
  
  • 
    Procession of the Cross and the beginning of Dormition Fast (Eastern Orthodoxy)
  
  
  • Statehood Day (Colorado)
  
  
  • 
    Swiss National Day (Switzerland)
  
  
  • 
    Victory Day (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam)
  
  
  • World Scout Scarf Day
  
  
  • 
    Yorkshire Day (Yorkshire, England)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 2
  
  
  
  • 
    Airmobile Forces Day (Ukraine)
  
  
  • 
    Day of Azerbaijani cinema (Azerbaijan)
  
  
  • 
    Our Lady of the Angels Day (Costa Rica)
  
  
  • 
    Paratroopers Day (Russia)
  
  
  • Republic Day (Republic of Macedonia)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 3
  
  
  
  • 
    Anniversary of the Killing of Pidjiguiti (Guinea-Bissau)
  
  
  • 
    Armed Forces Day (Equatorial Guinea)
  
  
  • 
    Esther Day (United States)
  
  
  • Flag Day (Venezuela)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Niger)
    
    • 
      Arbor Day (Niger)
    
    
  
  
  • 
    National Guard Day (Venezuela)
  
  
  • 
    National Watermelon Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    National White Wine Day (United States)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 4
  
  
  
  • 
    Coast Guard Day (United States)
  
  
  • Constitution Day (Cook Islands)
  
  
  • 
    Matica slovenská Day (Slovakia)
  
  
  • Revolution Day (Burkina Faso)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 5
  
  
  
  • 
    Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major (Catholic Church)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Burkina Faso)
  
  
  • 
    National Underwear Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian defenders (Croatia)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 6
  
  
  
  • Feast of the Transfiguration
  
  
  • 
    H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Accession Day. (United Arab Emirates)
  
  
  • 
    Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony (Hiroshima, Japan)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Bolivia)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Jamaica)
  
  
  • 
    Russian Railway Troops Day (Russia)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 7
  
  
  
  • 
    Assyrian Martyrs Day (Assyrian community)
  
  
  • 
    Battle of Boyacá Day (Colombia)
  
  
  • 
    Emancipation Day (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Ivory Coast)
  
  
  • 
    Republic Day (Ivory Coast)
  
  
  • 
    Youth Day (Kiribati)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 8
  
  
  
  • 
    Ceasefire Day (Iraqi Kurdistan)
  
  
  • 
    Father's Day (Taiwan)
  
  
  • 
    Happiness Happens Day (International observance)
  
  
  • International Cat Day
  
  
  • 
    Namesday of Queen Silvia of Sweden, (Sweden)
  
  
  • 
    Nane Nane Day (Tanzania)
  
  
  • 
    Signal Troops Day (Ukraine)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 9
  
  
  
  • 
    Battle of Gangut Day (Russia)
  
  
  • 
    International Day of the World's Indigenous People (United Nations)
  
  
  • National Day (Singapore)
  
  
  • 
    National Women's Day (South Africa)
  
  
  • 
    Remembrance for Radbod, King of the Frisians (The Troth)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 10
  
  
  
  • 
    Argentine Air Force Day (Argentina)
  
  
  • 
    Constitution Day (Anguilla)
  
  
  • 
    Declaration of Independence of Quito (Ecuador)
  
  
  • International Biodiesel Day
  
  
  • 
    National S'more Day (United States)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 11
  
  
  
  • 
    Flag Day (Pakistan)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Chad)
  
  
  • 
    Mountain Day (Japan)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 12
  
  
  
  • 
    Glorious Twelfth (United Kingdom)
  
  
  • 
    HM the Queen's Birthday and National Mother's Day (Thailand)
  
  
  • 
    International Youth Day (United Nations)
  
  
  • 
    Russian Railway Troops Day (Russia)
  
  
  • 
    Sea Org Day (Scientology)
  
  
  • World Elephant Day
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 13
  
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Central African Republic)
  
  
  • International Lefthanders Day
  
  
  • 
    National Filet Mignon Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    Women's Day (Tunisia)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 14
  
  
  
  • 
    Anniversary Day (Tristan da Cunha)
  
  
  • 
    Commemoration of Wadi al-Dahab (Morocco)
  
  
  • 
    Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland (Abkhazia)
  
  
  • 
    Engineer's Day (Dominican Republic)
  
  
  • 
    Falklands Day (Falkland Islands)
  
  
  • Independence Day (Pakistan)
  
  
  • 
    National Creamsicle Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    Pramuka Day (Indonesia)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 15
  
  
  
  • 
    Feast Day of the Assumption of Mary (Catholic holy days of obligation, a public holiday in many countries.
    
    
    
    • 
      Ferragosto (Italy)
    
    
    • 
      Māras (Latvia)
    
    
    • 
      Mother's Day (Antwerp and Costa Rica)
    
    
    • 
      National Acadian Day (Acadians)
    
    
    • 
      Virgin of Candelaria, patron of the Canary Islands. (Tenerife, Spain)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches)
    
    • 
      Navy Day (Romania)
    
    
  
  
  • 
    Armed Forces Day (Poland)**The first day of Flooding of the Nile, or Wafaa El-Nil (Egypt and Coptic Church)
  
  
  • The main day of Bon Festival (Japan), and its related observances:
    
    • 
      Awa Dance Festival (Tokushima Prefecture)
    
    
  
  
  • Constitution Day (Equatorial Guinea)
  
  
  • 
    End-of-war Memorial Day, when the National Memorial Service for War Dead is held. (Japan)
  
  
  • 
    Founding of Asunción (Paraguay)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Korea)
    
    
    
    • 
      Gwangbokjeol (South Korea)
    
    
    • 
      Jogukhaebangui nal, "Fatherland Liberation Day" (North Korea)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Independence Day (India)
  
  
  • Independence Day (Republic of the Congo)
  
  
  • 
    National Day (Liechtenstein)
  
  
  • 
    National Mourning Day (Bangladesh)
  
  
  • 
    Victory over Japan Day (United Kingdom)
  
  
  • 
    National Lemon Meringue Pie Day (United States)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 16
  
  
  
  • 
    Bennington Battle Day (Vermont, United States)
  
  
  • 
    Children's Day (Paraguay)
  
  
  • 
    Gozan no Okuribi (Kyoto, Japan)
  
  
  • The first day of the Independence Days (Gabon)
  
  
  • 
    National Airborne Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    National Rum Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    Restoration Day (Dominican Republic)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 17
  
  
  
  • 
    The Birthday of Marcus Garvey (Rastafari)
  
  
  • 
    Engineer's Day (Colombia)
  
  
  • 
    Flag Day (Bolivia)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Indonesia)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Days (Gabon)
  
  
  • 
    National Vanilla Custard Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    Prekmurje Union Day (Slovenia)
  
  
  • 
    San Martin Day (Argentina)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 18
  
  
  
  • 
    Arbor Day (Pakistan)
  
  
  • 
    Armed Forces Day (Macedonia)
  
  
  • Bad Poetry Day
  
  
  • 
    Birthday of Virginia Dare (Roanoke Island)
  
  
  • 
    Constitution Day (Indonesia)
  
  
  • 
    Long Tan Day (Australia)
  
  
  • 
    National Science Day (Thailand)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 19
  
  
  
  • 
    Feast of the Transfiguration (Julian calendar), and its related observances:
    
    
    
    • 
      Buhe (Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church)
    
    
    • 
      Saviour's Transfiguration, popularly known as the "Apples Feast" (Russian Orthodox Church and Georgian Orthodox Church)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 
    Afghan Independence Day (Afghanistan)
  
  
  • 
    August Revolution Commemoration Day (Vietnam)
  
  
  • 
    Birthday of Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Norway)
  
  
  • 
    Manuel Luis Quezón Day (Quezon City and other places in The Philippines named after Manuel L. Quezon)
  
  
  • 
    National Aviation Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    National Potato Day (United States)
  
  
  • World Humanitarian Day
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 20
  
  
  
  • 
    Indian Akshay Urja Day (India)
  
  
  • 
    Restoration of Independence Day (Estonia)
  
  
  • 
    Revolution of the King and People (Morocco)
  
  
  • 
    Saint Stephen's Day (Hungary)
  
  
  • World Mosquito Day
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 21
  
  
  
  • 
    Ninoy Aquino Day (Philippines)
  
  
  • 
    Youth Day/King Mohammed VI's Birthday (Morocco)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 22
  
  
  
  • Feast of the Coronation of Mary
    
  
  
  • 
    Flag Day (Russia)
  
  
  • 
    Madras Day (Chennai and Tamil Nadu, India)
  
  
  • 
    National Eat a Peach Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    National Pecan Torte Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    Southern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day (Chase's Calendar of Events, Southern Hemisphere)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 23
  
  
  
  • 
    Battle of Kursk Day (Russia)
  
  
  • Day of the National Flag (Ukraine)
  
  
  • 
    European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism or Black Ribbon Day (European Union and other countries), and related observances:
    
    • 
      Liberation from Fascist Occupation Day (Romania)
    
    
  
  
  • International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
  
  
  • 
    Umhlanga Day (Swaziland)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 24
  
  
  
  • 
    Flag Day (Liberia)
  
  
  • Independence Day of Ukraine
  
  
  • International Strange Music Day
  
  
  • 
    National Waffle Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    Nostalgia Night (Uruguay)
  
  
  • 
    Willka Raymi (Cusco, Peru)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 25
  
  
  
  • 
    Day of Songun (North Korea)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Uruguay)
  
  
  • 
    Liberation Day (France)
  
  
  • 
    National Banana Split Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    National Whiskey Sour Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    Soldier's Day (Brazil)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 26
  
  
  
  • 
    Herero Day (Namibia)
  
  
  • Heroes' Day (Namibia)
  
  
  • 
    Repentance Day (Papua New Guinea)
  
  
  • 
    Women's Equality Day (United States)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 27
  
  
  
  • 
    Film and Movies Day (Russia)
  
  
  • Independence Day (Republic of Moldova)
  
  
  • 
    Lyndon Baines Johnson Day (Texas, United States)
  
  
  • 
    National Banana Lovers Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    National Pots De Creme Day (United States)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 28
  
  
  
  • 
    Assumption of Mary (Eastern Orthodox Church (Public holiday in the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, and Georgia (country))
  
  
  • Crackers of the Keyboard Day
  
  
  • Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day
  
  
  • 
    National Cherry Turnover Day (United States)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 29
  
  
  
  • International Day against Nuclear Tests
  
  
  • 
    Miners' Day (Ukraine)
  
  
  • More Herbs, Less Salt Day
  
  
  • 
    National Lemon Juice Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    National Chop Suey Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    National Sports Day (India)
  
  
  • 
    Slovak National Uprising Anniversary (Slovakia)
  
  
  • 
    Telugu Language Day (India)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 30
  
  
  
  • 
    Constitution Day (Kazakhstan)
  
  
  • 
    Constitution Day (Turks and Caicos Islands)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Tatarstan, Russia, unrecognized)
  
  
  • 
    International Day of the Disappeared (International)
  
  
  • 
    Popular Consultation Day (East Timor)
  
  
  • 
    Saint Rose of Lima's Day (Peru)
  
  
  • Victory Day (Turkey)
  
  
  
  


• 
  August 31
  
  
  
  • 
    Baloch-Pakhtun Unity Day (Balochs and Pashtuns, International observance)
  
  
  • 
    Day of Solidarity and Freedom (Poland)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Federation of Malaya, Malaysia)
  
  
  • Independence Day (Kyrgyzstan)
  
  
  • 
    Independence Day (Trinidad and Tobago)
  
  
  • Love Litigating Lawyers Day
  
  
  • 
    National Language Day (Moldova)
  
  
  • 
    National Trail Mix Day (United States)
  
  
  • 
    North Borneo Self-government Day (Sabah, Borneo)
  
  
  
  

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to: August

Look up August in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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