Since man has been able to look into the heavens, he has observed the coming and going of the seasons of the year and the movement of the heavenly bodies.
Through the ages, he has associated these movements with the tides of the oceans and with his surroundings. He has even associated these movements with himself. He has calculated the rotation of the planets to the degree that he has planned his life in harmony with these movements.
Such a time that has endured the passage of the centuries is the period that begins July 28 and ends Sept. 5. This period, called “Dog Days” by the ancients, has been the topic of much discussion throughout man’s history.
Many legends derive from the past about Dog Days. Some of these carry a certain amount of truth; others are fantasy and myth that have survived the ages.
According to the legends, the star “Sirius” is known as the Dog Star. This star is the brightest of the heavenly bodies, excluding the sun. It is also the nearest star to earth, its light taking only nine years to travel the distance between us. Sirius is the head of the great constellation Canis Major, The Great Dog.
During the period from July 28 to Sept. 5, this great star rises with the sun and travels across the heavens in unison with the sun. The best time for this star to be seen is early morning and late evenings, at sunset.
Some of the legends about Dog Days are that during this time, birds do not sing, and that it’s best not to cultivate anything during this time in your garden.
One story states that no war should be fought during this period because the wounds inflicted will not heal. Another is that if it rains the first day of this period, it will rain the 40-odd days; and if it’s dry at the beginning, it will be dry for the duration of the 40-odd days.
Also, this is the hottest time of the year. Tempers are short during this time. It is not wise for a wife to nag her husband during Dog Days.
Many more tales and legends associate themselves with this period on our calendar. Some of these have proved to be true; others have gone unnoticed through the spans of time.
But whatever the season, or the time, it reaffirms the fact that God’s creation is without end, and the stars, the seasons and the man himself play a very minor part overall.
(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)
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