Month July

July About this sound (pronunciation) (help·info)  is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. It is, on average, the warmest month in most of the Northern hemisphere (where it is the second month of summer) and the coldest month in much of the Southern hemisphere. The second half of the year commences in July. The birthstone for July is a red ruby. In the Southern Hemisphere, July is the seasonal equivalent of January in the Northern Hemisphere.

In the Northern hemisphere:

    * Dog days begin in early July, when the hot sultry weather of summer usually starts.
    * Summer school is under way for many students.
    * Spring lambs, born in late winter or early spring, are usually sold before July 1.

Previously, it was called Quintilis in Latin, since it was the fifth month in the ancient Roman calendar, which traditionnally set March as the beginning of the year before it was changed to January at the time of the decemvirs about 450 BC. The name was then changed by Augustus to honor Julius Cesar. In the ancient Roman calendar the ides of July fell on the 15th day of the month.

July starts on the same day of the week as April every year, and January in leap years.