Professional Opticians of Florida

July 2019

Hello and welcome to summer! We have all heard about the “dog days” of summer but few know what the expression means.

Per the Farmers’ Almanac:  “Some say that it signifies hot sultry days “not fit for a dog,” others suggest it’s the weather in which dogs go mad. The Dog Days of Summer describes the most oppressive period of summer, between July 3rd and August 11th each year. But where did the term come from? And what does it have to do with dogs? The phrase is actually a reference to the fact that, during this time, the Sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from any part of Earth and part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog. This is why Sirius is sometimes called the Dog Star.

In the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the Sun. On July 23rd, specifically, it is in conjunction with the Sun, and because the star is so bright, the ancient Romans believed it actually gave off heat and added to the Sun’s warmth, accounting for the long stretch of sultry weather. They referred to this time as diēs caniculārēs, or “dog days.” Thus, the term Dog Days of Summer came to mean the 20 days before and 20 days after this alignment of Sirius with the Sun - July 3 to Aug. 11.”

So what does it mean for you? Well, Summer Showcase has found a new home this year at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, August 9‑11, 2019! We are very excited about this great new education venue and our vendors are looking forward to it as well. Don’t miss this great opportunity to complete your education requirements AND enjoy a cool and relaxing beach vacation at the same time!

See you there in just a few short weeks!

Jerry W. Campbell, LDO, ABOC, NCLEC
Board Certified Optician
President