July — seventh month of the Gregorian calendar

Calendar position and weekday relationships

July occupies the middle portion of the year: the nominal midpoint of a common year falls on or around July 2 (sometimes described as overnight between July 1 and July 2, depending on how the midpoint is measured). The month has fixed relationships with other months in terms of weekday alignment: July always begins on the same weekday as April, and in leap years it also begins on the same weekday as January. The weekday on which July ends is unique among months in common years, while in leap years its ending weekday coincides with January's.

History and name

In earlier Roman calendars the month now called July was known as Quintilis (literally "fifth month" in a calendar that began in March). After calendar reforms and the establishment of the Julian calendar, the month was renamed to honor Julius Caesar. The sequence of months and the length of July have remained stable through later adoption of the Gregorian calendar and widespread international use.

Climate, culture and observances

In the Northern Hemisphere July generally falls near the warmest part of the year and is associated with summer vacations, outdoor festivals, and many agricultural activities. In the Southern Hemisphere it corresponds to midwinter conditions. Several countries observe national holidays and civic events in July: for example, one of the best-known is Independence Day in the United States. The month is also associated with seasonal foods, regional fairs and cultural festivals in many temperate regions.

Astronomy, astrology and miscellany

Astronomically, July contains part of the year when the Sun is in the constellation of Cancer and then Leo by tropical zodiac definitions; in popular astrology the month spans the signs of Cancer and Leo. The night sky in July in the Northern Hemisphere offers prominent summer constellations and bright stars used for navigation and amateur astronomy. Other calendar curiosities include how July's dates align with other months and the occasional adjustment of holiday observances when fixed dates fall on weekends.

Quick facts

• Position: 7th month of the year.
• Days: 31.
• Name origin: honors Julius Caesar (formerly Quintilis).
• Midyear: midpoint usually falls on or around July 2.
• Weekday links: begins like April, and in leap years like January.
• Calendar note: ending weekday unique in common years.

For further reading on calendar history and civil observances see general references and national sources; online resources and printed calendars commonly list holidays, astronomical events and regional notes for July each year.