The month of August was named after Roman emperor Augustus Caesar. In Latin, augustus meant auspicious or venerable.
Before 8BC the Romans called it sextilis as it was the sixth month in their calendar.
The Anglo-Saxons, though, called August “weod-monath” (weed month).
In the USA August is the month that has the highest birth rate; in the UK it is September.
Traditionally the season for eating crayfish in Sweden begins on the second Thursday in August.
In the USA August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month.
August was the 18th most common name given to a baby boy in Denmark last year.
In 2009 the Icelandic Naming Committee declared August unacceptable as a child’s name. Augustus is also not allowed.
Henry VI Part I and The Tempest are the only Shakespeare plays that mention the month of August. Cymbeline is The Bard’s only play mentioning the Emperor Augustus or anyone else of that name.
August 1 is celebrated as both Yorkshire Day and World Scout Scarf Day.
