Sunday, August 1, 2010

August Already?

Holy smoly! I can't believe it's August already... seems like it was just July yesterday. Oh wait, lol, it was!!! In keeping with my custom of ushering in the months by sharing a bit of trivia about the new month with you, here are my facts and folklore about this month named in honor of Augustus Caesar!

August is one of the seven months of the Gregorian calendar that has 31 days. It originally had 30 days, but not to slight this grand-nephew of Emperor Julius Caesar whose month had 31 days, a day was added to August.

Peridot is the modern birthstone for the month of August, its fiery green sparkle owing to the fact that this gemstone has its beginning in volcanic activity. It is mined in Burma, Norway, Brazil, Australia, Hawaii, the Congo, and Arizona. The green crystal was considered protective against evil and when set in gold, especially helpful against night terrors. It was also ground to powder and used as a remedy for asthma and as a cure for thirst brought on by fever. (Peridot Ring by mastergoldcraft)

The traditional birthstone for August is sardonyx, a type of translucent or opaque quartz with alternating parallel bands of brownish red and white. Sardonyx can be found in India, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Brazil, and Uruguay. Worn as a talisman by the ancient Egyptians, it is believed to protect against infections and evil. Today it is highly polished and carved into beautiful beads and cameos. A gift of this stone symbolizes happiness with a relationship. (Sardonyx and Copper Bracelet and Earrings by Return2Edan)

The honor of being the month of August's birth flowers is shared by the gladiolus and the poppy!

Do you share an August birthday with any of these famous August born people?

August arrives in the sign of Leo, giving way to the sixth sign of the zodiac cycle - Virgo, the sign of the Virgin - on August 23 2010 at 5:27 AM (GMT).

The Native American names for the full Moon this month are the Green Corn Moon, Sturgeon Moon, Full Red Moon, or Grain Moon, depending on the locale of the tribe. The full moon occurs on August 24th. (Total Lunar Eclipse art print by artbyakiko)

Month-long celebrations for August include National Golf Month, Home Business Month, Cataract Awareness Month, National Psoriasis Awareness Month, What Will Be Your Legacy Month, National Literacy Month, and Happiness Happens Month - among so many others! This is also the month of the Edinburgh Festival, an internationally famous arts festival that takes place during August.

The angel for the month of August is Hamaliel, who is the "Angel of Logic". This angel aids us by increasing our abilities to think in a logical and orderly manner.

August's trees are the Poplar, Cedar and Pine. The pine tree symbolizes creativity, life, longevity and immortality.

The bird of the month for August 2010 is the Owl. (Horned Owl by DarleneDube)

According to the Chinese agricultural calendar, August is the month of the Monkey.

There are so many more interesting facts, legends and folklore surrounding the month of August, but I'm hoping you've enjoyed the few that I've shared with you!

I'd like to say thank you to the featured shops for the display of their items to illustrate my post. Please be sure to visit them all, as well as the other great Etsy shops that are featuring August related items!

4 comments:

artbyakiko said...

Thank you so much for featuring my Raven & Red Moon painting!!!

ViKotas said...

horned owls are such beautiful creatures, unfortunately there are none in my neighborhood

Sandy said...

Left you a brief message over on the hive; but wanted to pop in here at your blog to look around a bit. I've asked several people but haven't hit pay dirt yet. I've collected wine corks (love wine), to collect them. Now that I have a good number I've tried to think of something to do with them. Would any corks work into a design with your jewelry making?

If you have an idea, sing out. Perhaps I could highlight your blog on my blog while you make something with the corks? Aside from using the corks, it would be a way for us to promote each other perhaps.

Sandy

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