AUGUST – THE FREEDOM MONTH

The number eight (8), is very significant for us. To some, the number eight (8) is when they would be expecting their breakthrough to be fulfilled whereas others too have an introspection of themselves in other to analysis what they have been able to achieve within the previous seven month.

Originally, the month of August was the sixth month in the Roman calendar. The Romans used to call the month of August Sextilis meaning the sixth not until when the month of January and February were added to the calendar thus becoming the eight month of the year. 

Because of the important events that happened to the life of the Roman Emperor, Augustus Caesar during his reign at the time, the month Sextilis was changed to Augustus in honour of the Emperor.

Initially, the month had 29 days until when Augustus granduncle, Julius Caesar created the Julian calendar in 45 BC, where two days were added to it giving the month 31 days. 

The Anglo-Saxons called the month of August Weod Monath which means Weed month because it was a month when weeds and other plants grow most rapidly. 

Among Roman rulers, it was only Julius and his grandnephew Augustus who permanently had months named after them.       

Giving a piece of jewelry containing a birthstone gem to a loved one will bring him or her with good luck and protection. Monthly birthstones symbolize the month of birth according to the Gregorian calendar. 

The birthstone for the month of August is Peridot which means love, truth, protection and loyalty whilst the flowers for the month are Gladiolus and Poppy. 

With the Peridot, it develop ones inner vision and the ability to look into the future as while as  freeing one from jealous thoughts and counteracts negative emotions.

“I have a dream” guessing what this speech is all about or probably who made such a speech. This speech became famous in 1963 by the renowned American civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King on August 28.

It is good for each and everyone to have his or her freedom as while as countries. Some of the countries that gained independence from the British Colony in August are Jamaica, India and Pakistan on 6^th, 15^th and 15^th respectively. 

Born in August will be of great joy since birthdays celebrated in this month have the same birthday with the First American African President, President Barack Obama of United State who is currently the 44th President. He was born on 4^th August 1961 as well as the 42^nd U.S President, Bill Clinton who was also born on August 19, 1946.

Great sports men who make the news headline whenever they are playing or running also have their birthdays in August. Talk of the most stubborn footballer, Mario Barwuah Balotelli and the fastest athletes in the world Usain Bolt. They all have their birthdays on August 12 and August 21 respectively. 

Within every month, there are some happenings in it. The month of August has some happenings that are marked. Some of them are Friendship Day, Women's Equality Day, National Literacy Month, National Hypnosis Awareness Month, International Breastfeeding Month, National Catfish Month, Harvest Month, National Water Quality Month, Golf Month, National Smile Month, Dream Day, and National Immunization Awareness Month amongst others.

Quote for the month of August

"We must show that liberty is not merely one particular value but that it is the source and condition of most moral values. 

What a free society offers to the individual is much more than what he would be able to do if only he were free.

We can therefore not fully appreciate the value of freedom until we know how a society of free men as a whole differs from one in which unfreedom prevails".

Friedrich August Hayek