What about August?

And adds her voice to swell the song

That August’s here again.” — Winslow

Now that this month is about over, I’m going to give August some of the attention it misses on the calendar each year since it’s the only month without a designated national holiday or even a special day of some sort. March is deprived, too, but it has the first day of spring and sometimes Easter. Nothing was noted for August on any of the calendars I consulted except one day titled ‘Civic Holiday — Canada.” I looked through my related books and consulted Google and found a long list of interesting labels for various days in August, but none are apparently considered important enough to be listed on a calendar. They range from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Then I consulted our 1965 World Book Encyclopedia and found, besides the two rhymes I’m using here, a long list of history highlights for the month of August. Add what I found in “The Bathroom Trivia Almanac.” The following is a list of each day in August and some of the trivia (some quite strange and others we can relate to) and a few that are historically noteworthy. So, just for fun:

Aug. 1. This has always been a special day for me since it’s my sister’s birthday — her 98th this year. My sister has always been a good friend and inspiration.

1). Sister’s day — What better day to follow the above? Add National Ice Cream Sandwich Day.

2). International Beer Day. 1492 — Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain on his first voyage across the Atlantic.

3). National Clown Day and National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day.

4). Friendship Day — first Sunday in August.

5). Wiggle Your Toes Day (A reminder to exercise?).

6). National Lighthouse Day. 

7). 1863 — Great Train Robbery Day.

8). Book Lover’s Day. 1994 — Richard Nixon resigned the presidency.

9). Lazy Day (Remember that every Aug. 10 we are allowed to be lazy).

10). President’s Joke Day (Though our president is a joke, there is nothing to laugh about).

11). 1977 — Prototype Space Shuttle Enterprise maiden flight.

12). Left-hander’s Day.

13). 1945 — Japan surrenders to allies, ending World War II (I remember that vividly).

14). 1914 — Panama Canal opened to traffic.

15). National Tell a Joke Day (Don’t forget to laugh!).

16). 1784 — Davy Crockett born.

17). National Honey Bee Awareness Day.

18). National Potato Day. 1888 — First Beauty Contest — Held in Belgium. 

19). World Mosquito Day.

20). National Senior Citizen’s Day. “On this day we are encouraged to recognize and show appreciation for the value and contribution of elderly to home, family and society.” Ronald Reagan is quoted as saying: ”For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older.” (That’s one of the few things I would have agreed with him about).

21). Be an Angel Day (Whatever that means.)

22). Our oldest grandson’s birthday. 1989 — First girl to play in Little League World Series. 

23). 79 A.D. — The eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

24). Kiss and Make Up Day (Only on the 25th of August?).

25). 1920 — 29th Amendment to Constitution — Women’s Right to Vote.

26).  Our daughter’s birthday. 1965 — “Beatles had an audience with Elvis at his Los Angeles digs.” 

27). 1963 — Martin Luther King Jr. — “I have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C.

28). More Herbs, Less Salt Day.  

29). Frankenstein Day — (What!?).

30 and 31). Looking Forward to September Days (I made up this one since I found nothing else for these dates).

Now, are there any of these days that you think should be designated a national holiday? As you may have guessed, I would choose the 21st.

And don’t forget this old English proverb: “If the 24th of August be fair and clear, then hope for a prosperous autumn this year.”  

Since 1984, Dorothy Dimitre has written more than 950 columns for various local newspapers. Her email address is gramsd@aceweb.com.