Fun Facts About August
From gold to gladiolus, jazz musicians to shooting stars, these fun facts about August will amaze and delight you!

Basic Facts About August
August is sometimes called the harvest month because it is the last summer month in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is also the last month of winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
Get to know more about this month with some fun facts about August.
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10 August Fun Facts
These fun facts about August will help you learn more about the dog days of summer!
August Is Named After a Roman Emperor
When Augustus Caesar became emperor of Rome, he got a month named after him.
August refers to Augustus.
Before 8 BCE, the month was called Sextilus (that’s Latin for “sixth month”).
Sextilus wasn’t even the sixth month in 8 BCE! Rome’s former ruler had changed the calendar from 10 to 12 months by adding January and February.
So, the month of Sextilus was ripe for a name change! It’s been August ever since.
The Peridot Is August’s Birthstone
Peridot is a lime-green gemstone that is the birthstone for August.
It has even been found in meteorites!
Because of its green color, peridot is associated with money, prosperity, and luck.
Over the years, people have mistaken peridot for emeralds.
August Has Two Birth Flowers
August is a month with two birth flowers: the gladiolus and the poppy.
The gladiolus is a tall flower that symbolizes strength and honor.
The poppy represents sleep, comfort, and success.
Both of these flowers have a common meaning: remembrance.
August Is a Great Month for Stargazing
If you like to look at the night sky, the month of August holds a special treat.
It is the month of the Perseid meteor shower.
The meteors are fast and bright, with long trails of light. Meteors are also called shooting stars.
At their peak, you can see up to 100 meteors per hour.
The meteors get their name because they seem to start from the constellation Perseus, although that is not what causes them.
The meteors are leftover bits from asteroids that burn up as they enter Earth’s atmosphere.
Two Famous Armstrongs Had August Birthdays
Many famous people from history had August birthdays, including jazz musician Louis Armstrong and astronaut Neil Armstrong.
Astronomer Maria Mitchell, penicillin-discoverer Alexander Fleming, actress Lucille Ball (from I Love Lucy), and director Alfred Hitchcock all had August birthdays.
Many famous people today also have August birthdays: Presidents Bill Clinton and Barak Obama, quarterback Tom Brady, and “Thor” actor Chris Hemsworth.
You Can Celebrate Your Pets in August
August has no federal holidays but plenty of minor holidays and observances.
This includes two pet-related holidays: International Cat Day (August 8) and National Dog Day (August 26).
National Air Force Day is on August 1 since that was the day the Air Force was established in 1947.
August has many summer-related holidays.
These include National Watermelon Day (August 3), National Relaxation Day (August 15), and National Ice Cream Sandwich Day (August 2).
Do you want to know more? Check out this list of weird holidays in August.
The Little League World Series Is in August
The Little League World Series is a baseball tournament for children between 10 and 12.
It is held every August in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The tournament began in 1947. Although it was initially a national tournament, it also has international teams.
Many Major League Baseball Players played in the Little League Tournament as children.
Surprisingly, a sizable number of NFL and NHL players also played in the Little League Tournament.
The August Birth Tree Is the Hazel Tree
In Celtic tradition, each month has a birth tree that tells something about the person born that month.
The August birth tree is the hazel tree. (That’s where hazelnuts come from).
According to Celtic belief, Hazel trees symbolize knowledge, so a person born in August is wise (and perhaps also writes poetry).
The wise men of the ancient Celts snacked on hazelnuts to boost their brain power!
The Alaskan Gold Rush Began in August 1896
On August 16, 1896, American prospector George Carmack discovered gold in Rabbit Creek, one of the tributaries of the Klondike River.
When news got out, Alaskan miners flocked to the area. The Klondike Gold Rush (also called the Alaskan Gold Rush) had begun.
By the following summer, word had spread outside of Alaska. Over 100,000 gold prospectors moved to the state.
A few struck it rich, but most made little to no fortune.
Fruit Lovers Rejoice in August
In many growing regions in the Northern Hemisphere, August is the peak month for fruits.
If you love fruits, August is the time to get fresh, local fruits such as raspberries, peaches, plums, cantaloupes, and watermelons.
Interesting Facts About August
These August fun facts are ideal to share with people who have birthdays in August.
They will also entertain anyone curious about what this month has to offer.
August has more to offer than just perfect beach weather. Learn more about August with these August fun facts!