What Were the Dog Days, Really?

Technically speaking, the Dog Days run for 40 days from July 3 through August, when the Dog Star—Sirius—rises with the sun (meaning you can see the bright star in the early morning eastern sky).

To ancient peoples, this celestial alignment signaled the most ominous time of the year. But here in the hills of West Virginia, the star’s alignment wasn’t something we talked about.  Folks just seemed to know when Dog Days had arrived.  I wish I had asked more questions about it.

You may have heard people say things like:

• “The beans won’t sprout right in Dog Days.”

• “If you get a cut now, it’ll fester.”

• “Don’t can during Dog Days or your jars won’t seal.”

Was it science? Maybe not always. But it was lived experience—and more often than not, they were right.

Almanacs, Moon Signs, and Gut Instincts

Before we had Google, we had the Farmer’s Almanac and Ramon’s Calendar. And these weren’t just for farmers.

That little almanac book sat next to the Bible in most homes.  Like the Bible, it was often consulted as a faithful guide to life. It told you the best days to plant vegetables, when to trim your hair for faster growth, and what the region could expect for year’s seasonal weather. 

Even more than the almanac, folks trusted the moon. Our grandmothers planted by it. Our grandfathers harvested by it. The signs weren’t just tradition—they were trusted signs directly from God himself.

Genesis 1:14: And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years.

In mid-life, many of us are rediscovering those simple tools. We crave slower, more intentional living. And there’s something comforting about realizing the old ways—though sometimes brushed off as folklore—were deeply rooted in patience and natural observation.

“Don’t Swim in the Dog Days” — An Old Wives’ Tale?

How many times did you hear that growing up?  Maybe it was Grandma who warned you: “We mustn’t be a-swimmin’ during Dog Days”.  We wasn’t sure why that was so, but we listened…usually.

It sounds like superstition, but there may be more truth to it than we thought.

Dog Days often bring a perfect storm of conditions—warm stagnant water, rising bacteria levels, unpredictable storms, and tired bodies worn thin from the sweltering heat.

Even now, health officials often report higher rates of waterborne illness or drowning incidents during this stretch. The old-timers didn’t need a study to tell them that. They just knew—this isn’t the safest time to be cooling off in the river.