Notes • July 5, 2025by johnataylor on TwosFun Facts—July Edition: In the northern hemisphere, as the second month of Summer, July is, on average, the warmest month of the year. Its southern hemisphere equivalent is January. Early July is often called the “dog days of summer”. Historically they were observed within Ancient Roman and Greek astrology and were connected with bad luck, mad dog attacks, unexpected thunderstorms, heat, and drought. They gained their name as “dog days” as they were connected with the star Sirius, which is part of the Canis Major (Greater Dog) star system. Nowadays, “the dog days” refers to when the hottest days of Summer. Coincidentally, it was in July that the rabies vaccine was first successfully given to a patient. The French microbiologist Louis Pasteur administered the vaccine to nine-year-old Joseph Meister on July 6, 1885. The child had been bitten by a rabid dog, and Louis Pasteur, unsure whether the vaccine would be successful, decided it was worth testing. Fortunately for the boy, it worked! On July 5, 1946, the world’s first bikini was unveiled in the famous Piscine Molitor swimming pool in Paris. Just in time for the heat of Summer, the bikini was modeled by showgirl Micheline Bernardini. While two-piece forms of swimwear previously existed, none used as little fabric as the bikini. July isn’t just the month for Independence Day in the United States. There are plenty of other great holidays observed around the world! July 2nd is World UFO Day, while July 3rd is Stay out of the Sun Day. In the US, July 6th is a pretty delicious day, as it’s National Fried Chicken Day! At the end of the month, we also have International Tiger Day on July 29th. Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission. Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st, commemorating the formation of Canada as a country in 1867.