August is characterized by warm but subtly darkening, magical evenings, with stars reappearing one after another in the night sky. It feels like encountering an old friend after a long time when you realize one evening that the starry sky is visible once again! After the sun sets below the horizon, the Big Dipper appears in the northwestern sky, with the North Star and the Little Dipper above it. As the nights grow darker, you may even spot several planets with the naked eye. Mid-August marks the time for the first autumn meteor showers, as the Perseids meteor shower streaks across the night sky between the northeast and east.
As migratory birds such as swans, cranes, and geese begin to gather, their mass migration is both beautiful and sorrowful to witness. Yet they haven’t left us just yet; instead, they fuel up on ripening grain fields and gather strength for their upcoming journey. Mornings are often misty, with damp air lifting a veil of night over the grass, and deciduous trees darken until they start donning their autumn attire towards the end of the month. Here and there, the first yellow leaves float on the surfaces of lakes and rivers, reminding us that summer is now coming to an end.
Gardens yield their bounty, apples ripen, and forests become filled with blueberries and lingonberries. If there’s enough rain, mushrooms start to appear here and there. The grain is ripe and ready to be harvested. The Finnish word for August, “elokuu,” originates from “elonkorjuu,” which literally translates as life’s harvest – it’s the harvest season. The word “elo” used to signify not only life but also grain, and it could also refer to other agricultural assets such as livestock or, in the north, reindeer herds. The Celts celebrated Lughnasadh in August, their first of three harvest festivals. In North America, the moon has been called, among other names, “Corn Moon” and “Sturgeon Moon.” The golden-hued, gently swaying cornfields in the August breeze are a beautiful sight in late summer, and the month was an important fishing season for many Native American tribes living in the Great Lakes region, hence the name “Sturgeon Moon,” resembling the appearance of the ancient, mythical looking fish.
In many languages, the name of August comes from the Roman Emperor Augustus. Augustus was one of the most significant rulers in Roman history, ascending to the throne in 27 BCE. He also wished to lend his name to a month, considering that July was named after his adoptive father, Julius Caesar. Before Augustus’s reign, the month of August was known as Sextilis, as it was the sixth month in the Roman ten-month calendar.
NAMES:
Elokuu (Finnish), the time of harvest
August, after the Emperor Augustus
Sturgeon Moon (Algonquin), Corn Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe), Harvest Moon (Dakota), Ricing Moon (Anishinaabe)
SPECIAL DAYS
- The traditional Celtic harvest festival of Lughnasadh
- Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples August 9th
- Finnish Nature Day (last Saturday of August)
- Tree Hugging Week (last week of August)
August Ritual: Celebrate Nature and Hug Trees
The last Saturday of August is dedicated to Finnish nature. Finnish Nature Day has been celebrated since 2017, and it became an official flag day in 2023. This makes Finland a unique country: we are reportedly the first nation in the world to have an official flag day dedicated to nature. It’s not surprising, as Finns have a strong relationship with nature. According to the Finnish Environment Institute’s Nature Barometer, most Finns feel that clean nature is an essential part of the Finnish identity.
The purity of nature and its easy accessibility are so self-evident to us that we don’t always realize its uniqueness. Therefore, it’s good to create a new annual ritual for yourself on the last Saturday of August to celebrate nature with friends and family. Spend the night outdoors, go on a forest hike, bake a blueberry pie with fresh berries, or have a harvest festival and a wonderful dinner with local natural ingredients by candlelight under the apple trees. Raise the flag and show gratitude to nature.
Also, the official Tree Hugging Week falls on the last week of August. The purpose of Tree Hugging Week is to show appreciation for trees, forests, parks, and nature trails. Find your favorite tree and take a picture. Share the photo on social media with the hashtag #TreeHuggingWeek, and you’ll be part of the national Tree Hugging Week. At the same time, you can explore the special powers of trees – perhaps you’ll even find your own power tree. You can read more about trees and their powers in the Fall chapter.
August Ritual: Spotting Shooting Stars
Throughout the summer, I eagerly anticipate the darkening nights of August and the return of stars to the sky. One of the highlights of late August nights is the arrival of the Perseid meteor shower. For several years now, my family has gathered for this magical August evening. We wrap ourselves in sleeping bags and warm clothes, settle into our deck chairs, and gaze towards the heavens. The Perseids are among the most prolific meteor showers: within an hour, one can witness over a hundred shooting stars if luck is on our side. It’s wise to have warm drinks in a thermos and some snacks (perhaps popcorn!) nearby as we prepare to witness the best celestial light show of late summer!
Would you like to learn more about rituals and live more in tune with the rhythms of nature? I share stories and insights about rituals now also in the form of a newsletter, approximately once a month. Join in!