The Month of August

August is the eighth month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. August is one of seven months with 31 days. The other six months are January, March, May, July, October, and December.

August is the last month of summer when people usually go on vacation before their children go back to school after the summer break.

August is a much calmer month compared with the other months of summer. June is a busy month with graduations, weddings, Juneteenth, and Father's Day. July is also a busy month with picnics, Fourth of July celebrations, political conventions, and family reunions.

So, what is significant about August? The summer is winding down with last-minute vacations and preparations for children to go back to school.

August is a nice break from the rainy days of June when the average precipitation was 3 inches of rain. It is also a nice break from the hot, sweltering days of July. In August the average temperature is 81.4 degrees.

Since August has fewer rainy days, people are able to get more doses of natural Vitamin D from the sun which gives them strong bones, healthy teeth, and good hair. The sun in August also provides serotonin which makes people happier.

Things to Celebrate in August

August has no official holiday like July, the month that precedes it, or like September, the month that follows it.

August Flower

The birth flower of August is the gladiolus, an upright-growing flower named from the Latin "gladius," meaning "sword." Gladiolus also means "splendid beauty." It is a flower that symbolizes beauty, strength of character, love, marriage, and family.

August Birthstones

1. Peridot is olive green. It is one of the few gemstones that is made up of only one color.

2. Sardonyx is lesser-known. It is a white- and brown-banded gemstone once believed to have mystical powers.

3. Spinel is a durable and vibrant gemstone available in red, blue, pink, purple, and black.

August Zodiac Signs

• Leo: from July 23 to August 22

• Virgo: from August 23 to September 22

August Celebrities' Birthdays

• Tony Bennett: August 3, 1926

• Martin Sheen: August 3, 1940

• Tom Brady: August 3, 1977

• Martha Stewart: August 3, 1941

• Barack Obama: August 4, 1961

• Jeff Gordon: August 4, 1971

• Meghan Markle: August 4, 1981

• Deion Sanders: August 9, 1967

• Anna Kendrick: August 9, 1985

• Kylie Jenner: August 10, 1997

• Chris Hemsworth: August 11, 1983

• Cara Delevingne: August 12, 1992

• Halle Berry: August 14, 1966

• Mila Kunis: August 14, 1983

• Jennifer Lawrence: August 15, 1990

• Joe Jonas: August 15, 1989

• Madonna: August 16, 1958

• Austin Butler: August 17, 1991

• Bill Clinton: August 19, 1946

• John Stamos: August 19, 1963

• Demi Lovato: August 20, 1992

• Kristin Wiig: August 22, 1973

• Michael Jackson: August 29, 1958

• Cameron Diaz: August 30, 1972

Presidents Born in August

1. Barack Obama: August 4, 1961

2. Herbert Hoover: August 10, 1874

3. Bill Clinton: August 19, 1946

4. Benjamin Harrison: August 20, 1833

5. Lyndon Baines Johnson: August 27, 1908

President Who Died in August

Only one United States President died in August. Warren G. Harding died on August 2, 1923 of congestive heart failure.

August Observances

• August 3: National Watermelon Day

• August 5-11: National Smile Week

• August 16: Singer Elvis Presley died in 1977.

• August 28: Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech was given in 1963.

'August Is a Wicked Month'

August is a Wicked Month is the fourth novel published by Edna O'Brien in 1965. O'Brien writes about a young, attractive mother who is separated from her husband. She goes on vacation alone in August. She meets some unusual people and does some unusual things with them.

The month is considered "wicked" because the woman gets her needs and desires met through unconventional means. She is unable to deal with her life without having men in it. August turns out to be a tragic one for the main characters in the book.

August is a Wicked Month, like many of O'Brien's early books, was banned in several places because of its content.

Some people use the phrase "August is a wicked month" when talking about the weather, gas prices, fashions, politics, and other popular topics.

Whatever you plan to do in August, may all your wishes come true, and the month will be a joyous time for you.