As if the year 2020 hasn’t been wild enough, brace yourself: On July 22, 2020, we entered a 32 day stretch in which ancient scientists warned that “men may behave as wild beasts” and that “the heat of the sun is so violent that men’s bodies at midnight sweat as at midday: and if they be hurt, they be more sick than at any other time, yea very near dead”. Because of the miseries and dangers associated with this time, the 1729 British Husbandman’s Practice advised men to “abstain all this time from women” and to “take heed of feeding violently”.
The days are known as the Dog Days of Summer and throughout Appalachia, they were closely followed by Granny Women and farmers alike.
MORE
