Sextilis

And The Roman Senate decreed:

"Whereas the Emperor Augustus Caesar, in the month of Sextilis*, was first admitted to the consulate, and thrice entered the city in triumph, and in the same month the legions, from the Janiculum, placed themselves under his auspices, and in the same month Egypt was brought under the authority of the Roman people, and in the same month an end was put to the civil wars; and whereas for these reasons the said month is, and has been, most fortunate to this empire, it is hereby decreed by the senate that the said month shall be called Augustus."

*Those keeping track remember that August was the 6th month of the original 10 month Roman calendar year.

The Celts knew that August 1st. was time for the festival of Lughnasadh, from the Irish god Lugh, it's the first harvest festival. Lugh dedicated the festival to his foster mother,Tailtiu. On her deathbed Tailtiu promised that if funeral games were held in her honor, the Irish would never be without song. Both sides have kept their end of the bargain.

The ancient Lughnasadh festival is responsible for creating the wedding custom of "tying the knot." More on that tomorrow.

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