The term “dog days” or the “dog days of summer” refers to the period of the year that is generally the hottest, sultriest and most inactive, languid, and dull. The term goes back to ancient Greece and Rome, and comes from the rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. The Dog Days originally were the days when Sirius, the Dog Star, and brightest star in the sky, rose just before or at the same time as sunrise. This is no longer the case due to the procession of the equinoxes. The ancients sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of the Dog Days to appease the rage of Sirius, believing that the star was the cause of the hot, sultry weather.
As you might expect, this bright star that can be seen from all the inhabited Earth, became associated with many myths and legends over the years. It has been said that the “Blazing Star” pentagram of Masonic Lodges represents Sirius, the “Guardian and Guide of our Souls.” Even today, speculation persists that the high and mighty of the world – presidents, prime ministers and financiers – gather in a place called Bohemian Grove on 23rd July to worship beings from the Sirius star system, including one Lucifer! Maybe the dog days are not so uneventful after all!!
Source: Democratic Undeground forum
