FACTS ABOUT THE MONTH OF AUGUST.

                                                             FACTS ABOUT THE MONTH OF AUGUST. 

            Flower of the month: Gladiolus.

                           Gemstone: Agate.

August is the eighth month of the year and the sixth in the Roman calendar. The Romans called this month Sextilis, which means sixth. In the the year 8 B.C., they changed it to Augustus in honour of

the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar.

Roman Emperor
Augustus Caesar.

The Anglo – Saxon name for this month was Weod monath, ( Weed Month ) because it is the month

that weeds and other plants grow most rapidly.

August is in the height of the summer holiday season, tourists and holiday makers are everywhere as it falls in the main school holiday of the year when all state run schools have closed for six weeks.

Southend-on-Sea.

Rhossili Beach, Wales.

Weather – lore, Beliefs and Sayings.

The hottest days of the year often fall in the month of August.

'Dry August and warm doth the harvest no harm'

'If the first week of August be warm, then the winter will be white and long'

Festivals and Traditions.

August 1^st is Lammas day and was the start of Thanksgiving time in Britian. The word Lammas

comes from the Anglo – Saxon word 'Hlafmaesse' which means 'Loaf Mass'.

The festival of 'Lammas' is the start of the harvest, when people went to their local church to give thanks for the first corn to be cut. This celebration predates what is now called the Harvest Festival.

On Lammas Day farmers would make bread from the first cut of the seasons harvested wheat crop and give it to their local church. The bread would then be used as the Communion bread during the

special mass that celebrated and gave thanks to God for the harvest. This custom ended when King Henry V111 broke away from the Catholic church. The festival was replaced with the one we now celebrate on Michaelmas Day September 19^th, which is now traditionally the last day of the harvest season.

Also taking place this month is The Edinburgh Festival. This festival dates back to 1947 and it is a festival celebrating the peroforming arts.

Edinburgh Castle.

We also have this month the Royal National Eisteddfod which takes place in Wales. This festival can be traced back to the 12^th century and was to celebrate poetry and music. Originally held under the auspices of Lord Rhys at his castle in Cardigan in 1176. A chair at the Lord's table was awarded to the best poet and musician, a tradition that still prevails at the festival. It lasts for eight days, commencing the first week of the month.

Cardigan Castle.

The Notting Hill Carnival also takes place this month on the Summer Bank Holiday, the last Monday of August. Originating in the mid 1960s as a way of celebrating and maintaining the cultural traditions of the Caribbean immigrants who live and work around the Notting Hill area of London.

Other Notable Dates.

August 1^st. Lammas Day.

August 3^rd. Christopher Clumbus set sail on his first voyage in 1492. He made his way to the

Canary Islands.

August 4^th. The First World War broke out in 1914 lasting just over 4 years.

August 8^th. The Great Train Robbery took place in 1963.

August 12^th. The Glorious 12^th. The start of the Grouse shooting season in Britian.

Red Grouse on the Moor.

August 14^th World War 11 ended 1945.

August 15^th. World War 11 VJ Day – Victory over Japan in 1945.

August 22^nd. The International Red Cross was formed in Genevea.

August 22^nd. The Battle of Bosworth took place in 1483 – Henry V11 beat Richard 111.

August 27^th. Julius Caesar landed in Britian with 10,000 men from the 7^th and 10^th Roman Legions

in 55 BC.

August 27^th. Francis Chichester set sail from Plymouth aboard the Gypsy Moth to sail around the

world single handed.

August 31^st. Princess Diana died in a tragic car accident in France.