Are you ready to kick off summer with family fun and holidays? The pages of our calendars have swiftly blown past June’s summer equinox and brought us to July. If June is the head of summer, then July is the heart.
It’s the peak season to vacation and enjoy some of your favorite water sports. July weather and heat are usually moderate until the latter part of the month. From then until late August, we typically swelter in the hazy, humid dog days of summer.
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Although June is technically the middle of the year since it’s the sixth month, most people consider July to be the countdown to fall harvest and winter season. Over the years, some traditions and folklore have revolved around July, many of them relating to agriculture. If you are a gardener, you’ve probably heard that corn needs to be “knee-high by the 4th of July”.
The month has also been used as a folk weather predictor. The size of anthills and the total weather patterns of July were often considered as signs for the coming winter. Some superstitions use certain days in July to predict rainy seasons.
People love the July holidays because the weather provides ample opportunity to remember their health and fitness. Remember making a resolution in January? No wonder July is a popular month for weight loss regimens. It is probably one of the most colorful months because everyone is sporting their vibrant summer wardrobe, and many communities take on a beach vibe.
Noteworthy Dates for Your Calendar
If you and your loved ones are ready to have a month full of food, fun, and adventure, here are some noteworthy dates to mark on your calendar.
Independence Day – 4th
It’s a good thing that Thomas Jefferson and our founding patriots saw fit to declare independence from England during the summer. Festive parades and group picnics just wouldn’t be the same in the middle of winter. The citizens of early America loved to party as much as we do today.
The new congress declared July 4th a national holiday. On the first anniversary of independence in 1777, Americans rejoiced with tolling bells, cannon salutes, picnics, and bonfires. The spirit of freedom and celebration remains the same after over two hundred years in our country.
Bastille Day – 14th
Just thirteen years after the American colonies declared independence from England, the French rebelled against their oppressive monarchy. The band of French revolutionaries stormed the French Bastille as a spark that caused the inferno of the French Revolution. A year later, the French government declared the day a national holiday called “ la Fete National.”
To the rest of the world who empathized with the French revolt against tyranny, the celebration became known as Bastille Day. Many people in Canada and America who have a French heritage or are genuine Francophiles commemorate this special day each year. You and your loved ones can celebrate with a meal of some of your favorite French dishes and maybe a little champagne.
World Emoji Day – 17th
Who among us doesn’t have a few beloved emojis used for text messaging? Even the least tech-savvy person usually enjoys adding a smiley face or one that is crying with laughter. If you need another reason to smile, you can celebrate National Emoji Day on July 17.
These addictive little faces were modeled after the iconic American smiley face that has been ubiquitous since the 1970s. At first, they were a novelty created in Japan for their cellphone users. The bubbly emotional faces became an instant sensation that has circled the globe and become a technology staple.
Over the past couple of decades, so many emojis have been added to the texting lexicon that an innovative blogger, Jeremy Burge, compiled them into an Emojipedia. It was also Burge who suggested that each July 17 is set aside as International Emoji Day. This whimsical holiday would be ideal for sending out some emoji-filled texts and emails to your friends and loved ones.
Dog Days of Summer – 22nd
While you anticipate the glorious weather and exciting leisure activities during summer, you probably dread the heat and humidity of late July and early August. It’s a full 30 days of high temperatures and miserable humidity. At least we have air conditioning because the Ancient Romans didn’t even have a fan. Like us, they didn’t enjoy these sultry days, which were probably hotter since they are in the Mediterranean region.
The Romans called this blazing time of year dog days, after the dog star prominent in the constellation Canis Major. Since the dog star was most visible during midsummer, the Romans assumed it was radiating extra heat down to earth. In modern times, we usually spend more time around the pool and anticipate the start of a new school year for the rowdy kids.
National Parents’ Day – 26th
President Bill Clinton proclaimed another recent addition to the July calendar in 1994. As a way to honor parents and their devotion to their children, Clinton and Congress chose the fourth day Sunday of each July as National Parents’ Day.
If you have children, this would be an excellent time to be together and appreciate your parental bond. As an adult, you could take advantage of this holiday and do something special for your senior parents. Maybe you could treat them to dinner and spend time reminiscing about some of your favorite memories.
With these and many other food holidays attributed to July, you’ll never be bored. There will always be something thrilling and memorable to do. Take some time and fill out your July calendar with upcoming events. Make memories with your friends and loved ones, and perhaps create new traditions to celebrate.
