Get to know this midsummer month with these entertaining and illuminating fun facts about July.
July Fun Facts
July is one of the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere.
In the Southern Hemisphere, July is the middle of winter.
Learn more about this 31-day month with these fun facts about July.
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10 Fun Facts About the Month of July
Check out these fascinating facts about July.
July Is Named After a Roman Ruler
Did you know July used to be the fifth month of the year?
In the ancient Roman calendar, the fifth month of the year was called Quintilis (“quint” means “five”).
When Julius Caesar reformed the Roman calendar, the Senate voted to change the month’s name.
They renamed the month Quinitilis “Iulius” after him (that is how they spelled the name “Julius”).
Later, the first “I” was spelled “J” by the French; that is how “Iulius” became “July.”
Rubies Are the Birthstone of July
Although every month has a birthstone, July’s is one of the most expensive.
A ruby is a rare and precious stone that symbolizes passion, contentment, and love.
The most prized rubies are deep red with a hint of purple. This color is called “pigeon’s blood.”
The July Birth Flower Is the Larkspur
July has two birth flowers: the white lily and the larkspur.
The white lily symbolizes purity and innocence. It is associated with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The larkspur symbolizes love, affection, and a pure heart.
It comes in many colors: purple, blue, red, yellow, and pink.
Many myths reference the larkspur.
In Greek mythology, the larkspur grew from the blood of the famous warrior Ajax.
Legend has it that three warriors in medieval Italy killed a dragon and wiped their swords on the grass.
The blue blood and venom became the larkspur (the plant is poisonous).
Certain Native American tribes prize the larkspur.
Legend has it that the tall blue larkspur formed from shattered pieces of the sky.
The Earth Is Farthest from the Sun in July
The Earth travels around the Sun in an elliptical path, which means it is farthest from the Sun at one point in the year.
That day is called the aphelion, and it is typically in early July (although the day may vary).
Although this does not affect the temperature (that is due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis), the aphelion does affect the length of seasons.
Because the aphelion occurs in July, the summer season is a few days longer in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere.
They have a longer winter (since July is in their winter).
If You Like Harry Potter, You Can Celebrate in July
Harry Potter fans have many reasons to celebrate the month of July.
The author, J.K. Rowling, was born on July 31.
Five of the seven books in the series debuted in July in the UK.
Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who played Harry in the film series, also has a July birthday: July 23.
July Holidays Are Extra Sweet
You may already know that American Independence Day falls on July 4 each year.
You may also know that Bastille Day in France is July 14.
But did you know that World Chocolate Day is July 7?
July is also National Ice Cream Month in the US.
Check out these other Weird Holidays in July.
Every July, Cyclists Race Through France
July is the month of the world’s most famous cycling race.
The Tour de France is one of the three major cycling races (called Grand Tours) and is the oldest and most well-known.
Teams of cyclists race through multiple stages to compete for the best overall team and individual races.
The lead cyclist is the winner of the yellow jersey.
The fastest sprinter wins the green jersey.
The best cyclist in the mountain stages wins the polka dot jersey.
And the fast rider under 26 wins the white jersey.
The race ends with the cyclists zipping through the cobblestone streets of Paris!
The Holly Is July’s Birth Tree
The Celts believed that your birth month corresponded to a tree whose symbols reflected your personality.
The Celtic birth tree for July is the holly tree, with its dark, pointy, tough leaves and bright red berries.
According to Celtic lore, the holly tree makes you determined and ambitious, a natural leader.
Stock Your Root Cellar in July
Many root vegetables are ready for harvest in July. This includes carrots, turnips, and beets.
Before grocery stores and refrigeration, people would harvest these plants from their gardens in July and store them for the winter in the “root cellars.”
Root cellars stay cool in summer but don’t freeze in winter (because they are underground).
July is the month to harvest many vegetables (depending on the climate where you live): tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, and eggplant.
The First Airship Flight Happened in July
Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin launched the first airship (also called a zeppelin) on July 2, 1900, in southern Germany.
The ship was inflated with 399,000 cubic feet of hydrogen gas. The flight lasted 18 minutes.
Airships, or zeppelins, still fly today. Many scientists believe they are the future of cargo transport since they are more fuel-efficient than ships and airplanes.
Interesting July Facts
These ten fun facts about July are perfect to share with someone born in July.
They are also a way to get to know and appreciate this midsummer month.
Who knew the month of July was so interesting?