Michigan Summers Explained: Why We Call Them the Dog Days

Summer officially arrived in Michigan and the Northern Hemisphere on June 20th.

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And mother nature has not been wasting any time when it comes to bringing the heat.

In June Michigan had 19 days with temperatures above average, 12 of those days we had highs in the 80's and five days with highs in the 90's, according to Fox 17.

Read More: 25 Things Michigan Is Known And Famous For

It's safe to say that the dog days of summer have arrived.

To me that saying means that it's really hot but what is the story behind the name?

Here is what I was able to find out.

Why We Call Them The Dog Days Of Summer

To find out how the name dog days of summer was created we have to take a trip back into ancient times and learn a little about constellations.

The Greeks and Romans noticed that the hottest time of the summer usually happened around the same time that Sirius, also known as the Dog Star would appear when the sun would rise and set.

They believed that the bright light and warmth of Sirius, when it appeared with the sun, actually added to the sun's heat, making those days extra hot and unbearable.

The Romans called this period "dies caniculares," which translates to "days of the dog star."

When English speakers adopted the phrase in the 1500s, it became "Dog Days of Summer."

After hearing these explanations it actually makes a lot of sense.

Regardless of how it got the name, I can't wait for them to be over because it's too hot for me.