July, named for Julius Caesar, is the seventh month on the Gregorian calendar. It used to be called Quintillis (meaning five) on the old Roman calendar since that calendar started in March. Usually the hottest month in the Northern Hemisphere but below the equator, since it is winter the coldest month. While people often think that the “Dog days of Summer” refers to canines panting due to the heat, it refers to an astronomic event. During July the star Sirius can be seen in the night sky along with the constellation Canis Major (the largest dog).

The July Supermoon (aka Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Hay Moon etc.) occurs when the moon is closest to Earth making it appear larger than normal. And it can be either a full or new moon. Buck Moon comes from noticing that deer shed their antlers every year and start growing new ones in July, hence Buck Moon. For a full list of July astronomical events, go to timeanddate.com.

Two major holidays occur during July: the Fourth of July in the U.S. and Bastille Day (14 July) in France. The Fourth of July (Independence Day) is celebrated on 4 July to celebrate the American colonies declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776. Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille in Paris on 14 July 1789 and considered the start of the French Revolution.

Old Adages for July

• Ne’er trust a July sky.
• If ant hills are high in July, the coming winter will be hard.
• As July, so next January.
• No tempest, good July,
  Lest the corn look ruely.
• Whatever July and August do not boil,
  September can not fry.

(Old Farmer’s Almanac)

For More Information

Catherine Boeckmann, “The Month of July 2026: Holidays, Fun Facts, Folklore,” Almanac.Com, last modified June 19, 2026, accessed June 30, 2026, https://www.almanac.com/content/month-july-holidays-facts-folklore.

Georg Rehberger, “July Is the Seventh Month of the Year,” TimeandDate, accessed June 30, 2026, https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/months/july.html.