August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian calendar, Julian and Gregorian calendars, and the fifth of seven months to have a length of 31 days. Its zodiac sign is Leo (astrology), Leo and was originally named ''Sextilis'' in Latin because it was the 6th month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus and Remus, Romulus in 753 BC, with March being 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 Ab urbe condita, AUC), giving it its modern length of 31 days. In 8 BC, it was renamed in honor of Emperor 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. Commonly repeated lore has it that August has 31 days because Augustus wanted his month to match the length of Julius Caesar's July, but this is an invention of the 13th century scholar Johannes de Sacrobosco. Sextilis in fact had 31 days before it was renamed, and it was not chosen for its length. In the Southern Hemisphere, August is the seasonal equivalent of February in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, August falls in the season of summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, the month falls during the season of winter. In many European countries, August is the holiday month for most workers. Numerous religious holidays occurred during August in ancient Rome. 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.

August symbols

August's birthstones are the peridot, sardonyx, and spinel. *Its birth flower is the gladiolus or poppy, meaning beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family. *The Zodiac, Western zodiac signs for the month of August are Leo (astrology), Leo (until August 22) and Virgo (astrology), Virgo (from August 23 onwards).. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.

Observances

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

Non-Gregorian observances: dates

(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.) *List of observances set by the Bahá'í calendar *List of observances set by the Chinese calendar *List of observances set by the Hebrew calendar *List of observances set by the Islamic calendar *List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar

Month-long observances

* American Adventures Month (celebrating vacationing in the Americas) * Children's Eye Health and Safety Month * Digestive Tract Paralysis (DTP) Month * Get Ready for Kindergarten Month * Secret Society of Happy People, Happiness Happens Month * Month of Philippine Languages or Buwan ng Wika (Philippines) * Neurosurgery Outreach Month * Psoriasis Awareness Month * Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month * What Will Be Your Legacy Month

United States month-long observances

* National Black Business Month * National Children's Vision and Learning Month * National Immunization Awareness Month * National Princess Peach Month * National Water Quality Month * National Win with Civility Month

Food Months in the United States

* National Catfish Month * National Dippin' Dots Month * Family meal, Family Meals Month * National Goat Cheese Month. * National Panini (sandwich), Panini Month * Peach Month * Sandwich Month

Moveable Gregorian observances

*National Science Week (Australia) *See also Movable Western Christian observances *See also Movable Eastern Christian observances

Second to last Sunday in July and the following two weeks

*Construction Holiday (Quebec)

1st Saturday

*Food Day (Canada) *Brewers Association, Mead Day (United States) *List of food days#August, National Mustard Day (United States)

1st Sunday

*Armed Forces Day#Ukraine, Air Force Day (Ukraine) *American Family Day (Arizona, United States) *Children's Day (Uruguay) *Friendship Day (United States) *Forgiveness, International Forgiveness Day *Public holidays in Russia#List of other public holidays, commemorative and professional days, Railway Workers' Day (Russia)

First Full week of August

*National Farmer's Market Week (United States)

1st Monday

*Public holidays in the Republic of Ireland, August Public Holiday (Republic of Ireland, Ireland) *Children's Day (Tuvalu) *Civic Holiday (Canada) **Civic Holiday, British Columbia Day (British Columbia, Canada) **Civic Holiday, Natal Day (Nova Scotia, Canada) **Civic Holiday, New Brunswick Day (New Brunswick, Canada) **Civic Holiday, Saskatchewan Day (Saskatchewan, Canada **Terry Fox#Honours, Terry Fox Day (Manitoba, Canada) *Public holidays in Iceland, Commerce Day (Iceland) *Emancipation Day (Anguilla, Antigua, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis) *Public holidays in Zambia, Farmer's Day (Zambia) *Public holidays in Barbados, Kadooment Day (Barbados) *Public holidays in Samoa, Labor Day (Samoa) *National Day (Jamaica) *Picnic Day (Australian holiday), Picnic Day (Northern Territory, Australia) *Public holidays in Bermuda, Somers' Day (Bermuda) *Youth Day (Kiribati)

1st Tuesday

*National Night Out (United States)

1st Friday

*International Beer Day

2nd Saturday

*Public holidays in Russia#List of other public holidays, commemorative and professional days, Sports Day (Russia)

Sunday on or closest to August 9

*National Peacekeepers' Day (Canada)

2nd Sunday

*Children's Day (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay) *Father's Day (Brazil, Samoa) *Melon Day (Turkmenistan) *Navy Day#Bulgaria, Navy Day (Bulgaria) *National Day (Singapore)

2nd Monday

*Public holidays in Zimbabwe, Heroes' Day (Zimbabwe) *Victory Day (Hawaii and Rhode Island, United States)

2nd Tuesday

*Public holidays in Zimbabwe, Defence Forces Day (Zimbabwe)

3rd Saturday

*National Honey Bee Day (United States) *Independence Day (India)

3rd Sunday

*Children's Day (Argentina, Peru) *National Grandparents Day, Grandparents Day (Hong Kong)

3rd Monday

*Discovery Day (Yukon, Canada) *Hartjesdag, Day of Hearts (Haarlem and Amsterdam, Netherlands) *National Mourning Day (Bangladesh)

3rd Friday

*Hawaii Admission Day (Hawaii, United States)

Last Thursday

*List of food days#United Kingdom, National Burger Day (United Kingdom)

Last Sunday

*Alexey Stakhanov#Biography, Coal Miner's Day (some former Soviet Union countries) *National Grandparents Day (Taiwan)

Last Monday

*Father's Day (South Sudan) *National Heroes' Day#National Heroes.27 Day in the Philippines, National Heroes' Day (Philippines) *Liberation Day (Hong Kong) *Bank Holiday, Late Summer Bank Holiday (England, Northern Ireland and Wales)

Fixed Gregorian observances

*Emancipation Day, Season of Emancipation (Barbados) (April 14 to August 23) *International Clown Week (August 1–7) *World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7) *August 1 **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) **List of food days#August, National Milkshake Day (United States) **Culture of Tonga#Public Holidays, Official Birthday and Coronation Day of the King of Tonga (Tonga) **Pachamama Raymi (Quechua people in Ecuador and Peru) **Public holidays in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Parents' Day (Democratic Republic of the Congo) **Feast of the Cross#August 1, Procession of the Cross and the beginning of Dormition of the Theotokos#Dormition fast, Dormition Fast (Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodoxy) **Statehood Day (Colorado) **Swiss National Day (Switzerland) **Victory Day (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam) **Scouts' Day#World Scout Scarf Day, World Scout Scarf Day **Yorkshire Day (Yorkshire, England) *August 2 **Armed Forces of Ukraine#Military holidays, Airmobile Forces Day (Ukraine) **Cinema of Azerbaijan, Day of Azerbaijani cinema (Azerbaijan) **Virgen de los Angeles, Our Lady of the Angels Day (Costa Rica) **Armed Forces Day#Russian Federation, Paratroopers Day (Russia) **Republic Day (North Macedonia) *August 3 **Public holidays in Guinea-Bissau, Anniversary of the Killing of Pidjiguiti (Guinea-Bissau) **Public holidays in Equatorial Guinea, Armed Forces Day (Equatorial Guinea) **Esther Earl#Esther Day, Esther Day (United States) **Flag Day (Venezuela) **Independence Day (Niger) ***Arbor Day (Niger) **Armed Forces Day#Venezuela, National Guard Day (Venezuela) **List of food days#August, National Watermelon Day (United States) **List of food days#August, 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) **Public holidays in Burkina Faso, Independence Day (Burkina Faso) **Freshpair#National Underwear Day, National Underwear Day (United States) **Victory Day (Croatia), Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian defenders (Croatia) *August 6 **Feast of the Transfiguration **Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Accession Day. (United Arab Emirates) **Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony (Hiroshima, Japan) **Public holidays in Bolivia, Independence Day (Bolivia) **Public holidays in Jamaica, Independence Day (Jamaica) **Public holidays in Russia#List of other public holidays, commemorative and professional days, Russian Railway Troops Day (Russia) *August 7 **Assyrian culture#Premta d-Simele.3B Martyr.27s Day, Assyrian Martyrs Day (Assyrian people, Assyrian community) **Public holidays in Colombia, Battle of Boyacá Day (Colombia) **Public holidays in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Emancipation Day (Saint Kitts and Nevis) **List of national independence days, Independence Day (Ivory Coast) **Republic Day (Ivory Coast) **Youth Day (Kiribati) *August 8 **Public holidays in Iraq, Ceasefire Day (Iraqi Kurdistan) **Father's Day (Taiwan) **Happiness Happens Day (International observance) **National Cat Day, International Cat Day **Flag flying days in Sweden, Namesday of Queen Silvia of Sweden, (Sweden) **Nane Nane Day (Tanzania) **Armed Forces of Ukraine#Military holidays, Signal Troops Day (Ukraine) *August 9 **Days of Military Honour, Battle of Gangut Day (Russia) **International Day of the World's Indigenous People (United Nations) **National Day (Singapore) **National Women's Day (South Africa) **Ásatrú holidays#The Troth, Remembrance for Radbod, King of the Frisians (The Troth) *August 10 **Armed Forces Day#Argentina, Argentine Air Force Day (Argentina) **Public holidays in Anguilla, Constitution Day (Anguilla) **Public holidays in Ecuador, Declaration of Independence of Quito (Ecuador) **Biodiesel#Historical background, International Biodiesel Day **List of food days#August, National S'more Day (United States) *August 11 **Flag Day (Pakistan) **List of national independence days, Independence Day (Chad) **Mountain Day (Japan) *August 12 **Glorious Twelfth (United Kingdom) **Sirikit, HM the Queen's Birthday and Mother's Day, National Mother's Day (Thailand) **International Youth Day (United Nations) **Public holidays in Russia#List of other public holidays, commemorative and professional days, Russian Railway Troops Day (Russia) **Scientology holidays, Sea Org Day (Scientology) **World Elephant Day *August 13 **Public holidays in the Central African Republic, Independence Day (Central African Republic) **International Lefthanders Day **List of food days#August, National Filet Mignon Day (United States) **Women in Tunisia, Women's Day (Tunisia) *August 14 **Public holidays in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Anniversary Day (Tristan da Cunha) **Public holidays in Morocco, Commemoration of Wadi al-Dahab (Morocco) **Public holidays in Abkhazia, Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland (Abkhazia) **Engineer's Day (Dominican Republic) **Falklands Day (Falkland Islands) **Independence Day (Pakistan) **List of food days#August, National Creamsicle Day (United States) **Gerakan Pramuka Indonesia, Pramuka Day (Indonesia) *August 15 **Assumption of Mary, Feast Day of the Assumption of Mary (Catholic Church, Catholic Holy day of obligation, 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 Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches) ***Navy Day#Romania, Navy Day (Romania) **Armed Forces Day (Poland)**The first day of Flooding of the Nile, or ''Wafaa El-Nil'' (Egypt and Coptic Orthodox Church, Coptic Church) **The main day of Bon Festival (Japan), and its related observances: ***Awa Dance Festival (Tokushima Prefecture) **Constitution Day (Equatorial Guinea) **Shūsen-kinenbi, End-of-war Memorial Day, when the National Memorial Service for War Dead is held. (Japan) **Founding of Asunción (Paraguay) **Gwangbokjeol, Independence Day (Korea) ***Gwangbokjeol (South Korea) ***Gwangbokjeol, Jogukhaebangui nal, "Fatherland Liberation Day" (North Korea) **Independence Day (India) **Independence Day (Republic of the Congo) **Public holidays in Liechtenstein, National Day (Liechtenstein) **National Mourning Day (Bangladesh) **Victory over Japan Day (United Kingdom) **List of food days#August, National Lemon Meringue Pie Day (United States) *August 16 **Bennington Battle Day (Vermont, United States) **Children's Day#Paraguay, Children's Day (Paraguay) **Gozan no Okuribi (Kyoto, Japan) **The first day of the Public holidays in Gabon, Independence Days (Gabon) **National Airborne Day (United States) **List of food days#August, National Rum Day (United States) **List of holidays by country#Dominican Republic, Restoration Day (Dominican Republic) *August 17 **Rastafari#Grounding, The Birthday of Marcus Garvey (Rastafari) **Engineer's Day (Colombia) **Flag Day (Bolivia) **List of national independence days, Independence Day (Indonesia) **List of national independence days, Independence Days (Gabon) **List of food days#August, National Vanilla Custard Day (United States) **Public holidays in Slovenia, Prekmurje Union Day (Slovenia) **Public holidays in Argentina, San Martin Day (Argentina) *August 18 **Arbor Day#Pakistan, Arbor Day (Pakistan) **Armed Forces Day#North Macedonia, Armed Forces Day (North Macedonia) **Thomas Roy#List of days, Bad Poetry Day **Virginia Dare#Tourism and advertising, Birthday of Virginia Dare (Roanoke Island) **Constitution Day (Indonesia) **Battle of Long Tan, Long Tan Day (Australia) **Public holidays in Thailand#National observances, National Science Day (Thailand) *August 19 **Feast of the Transfiguration (Julian calendar), and its related observances: ***Buhe (Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church) ***Transfiguration of Jesus, Saviour's Transfiguration, popularly known as the "Savior of the Apple Feast Day, Apples Feast" (Russian Orthodox Church and Georgian Orthodox Church) **Afghan Independence Day (Afghanistan) **Public holidays in Vietnam, August Revolution Commemoration Day (Vietnam) **Flag flying days in Norway, Birthday of Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Norway) **Public holidays in the Philippines, Manuel Luis Quezón Day (Quezon City and other places in The Philippines named after Manuel L. Quezon) **National Aviation Day (United States) **List of food days#August, National Potato Day (United States) **World Humanitarian Day *August 20 **Indian Akshay Urja Day (India) **List of national independence days, Restoration of Independence Day (Estonia) **Public holidays in Morocco, Revolution of the King and People (Morocco) **Public holidays in Hungary, Saint Stephen's Day (Hungary) **World Mosquito Day *August 21 **Ninoy Aquino Day (Philippines) **Youth Day/Mohammed VI of Morocco, King Mohammed VI's Birthday (Morocco) *August 22 **Feast of the Coronation of Mary **Flag Day (Russia) **Madras Day (Chennai and Tamil Nadu, India) **List of food days, National Eat a Peach Day (United States) **List of food days, National Pecan Torte Day (United States) **Thomas Roy#List of days, Southern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day (Chase's Calendar of Events, Southern Hemisphere) *August 23 **Days of Military Honour, 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: ***King Michael's Coup, Liberation from Fascist Occupation Day (Romania) **International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition **Umhlanga (ceremony), Umhlanga Day (Eswatini) *August 24 **Public holidays in Liberia, Flag Day (Liberia) **Independence Day of Ukraine **Patrick Grant (composer), International Strange Music Day **Waffle Day, National Waffle Day (United States) **Nostalgia Night (Uruguay) **Willka Raymi (Cusco, Peru) *August 25 **Public holidays in North Korea, Day of Songun (North Korea) **Public holidays in Uruguay, Independence Day (Uruguay) **Liberation Day (France) **List of food days#August, National Banana Split Day (United States) **List of food days#August, National Whiskey Sour Day (United States) **Army Day#Brazil, 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) **List of food days#August, National Banana Lovers Day (United States) **List of food days#August, National Pots De Creme Day (United States) *August 28 **Assumption of Mary (Eastern Orthodox Church (Public holiday in North Macedonia, Serbia, and Georgia (country)) **List of food days#August, Crackers of the Keyboard Day **Thomas Roy#List of days, Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day **List of food days#August, National Cherry Turnover Day (United States) *August 29 **International Day against Nuclear Tests **Public holidays in Ukraine, Miners' Day (Ukraine) **List of food days#August, More Herbs, Less Salt Day **List of food days#August, National Lemon Juice Day (United States) **List of food days#August, National Chop Suey Day (United States) **National Sports Day (India) **Public holidays in Slovakia, Slovak National Uprising Anniversary (Slovakia) **Gidugu Venkata Ramamoorty, Telugu Language Day (India) *August 30 **Kazakhstan#Public holidays, Constitution Day (Kazakhstan) **National Day, Constitution Day (Turks and Caicos Islands) **Independence Day (Tatarstan, Russia, unrecognized) **International Day of the Disappeared (International observance, International) **Culture of East Timor#Public holidays, Popular Consultation Day (East Timor) **Saint Rose of Lima's Day (Peru) **Victory Day (Turkey) *August 31 **Baloch-Pakhtun Unity Day (Baloch people, Balochs and Pashtuns, International observance) **Public holidays in Poland, Day of Solidarity and Freedom (Poland) **Independence Day (Malaysia), Independence Day (Federation of Malaya, Malaysia) **Independence Day (Kyrgyzstan) **Public holidays in Trinidad and Tobago, Independence Day (Trinidad and Tobago) **Thomas Roy#List of days, Love Litigating Lawyers Day **Limba noastră (public holiday), National Language Day (Moldova) **List of food days#August, National Trail Mix Day (United States) **North Borneo Self-government Day (Sabah, Borneo)