A collection of trivia and fun facts about August that will warm your heart
August is packed with events like fireworks displays, Obon, and beach trips! Still, many of us might feel it’s just too hot to go outside.
In times like that, why not learn something new in the comfort of a cool room? In this article, we’ll share trivia and fun facts about August.
From seasonal events and flavors to various perspectives, we’ve gathered topics that make the sweltering month of August a bit more interesting.
Be sure to check them out and enjoy August in a whole new way!
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Trivia & Fun Facts About August That Warm the Heart (11–20)
Shaved ice has been eaten since the Heian period.
Shaved ice is a treat you crave in the hot summer.
It’s a classic dessert where finely shaved, ice-cold ice is topped with sweet syrup, but its roots go back to the Heian period.
Aristocrats of that era stored ice cut in winter in icehouses and shaved it to eat in summer.
Back then, instead of syrup like we use today, they poured a sweet liquid made from a plant called amakazura over the ice.
Knowing the history of shaved ice might make this quintessential summer delight taste even better.
The shouts of “Tamaya” and “Kagiya” heard during fireworks displays are the names of the shops that used to make the fireworks.
A fireworks festival coloring the summer night sky.
Have you ever heard the shouts of “Tamaya!” and “Kagiya!” that ring out whenever people look up? These phrases aren’t just cheers—they hide a deep history.
In fact, “Tamaya” and “Kagiya” trace back to the names of fireworks shops from the Edo period.
Fireworks launched by two houses—the original Kagiya and its spin-off Tamaya—were admired, and people would call out the name of the shop whose technique and beauty they felt was superior.
Shouting the trade names of Edo-era pyrotechnicians toward the night sky remains one of Japan’s traditional customs to this day.
In Spain, the Tomato Festival is held on the last Wednesday of August every year.
Do you know the festival where people throw bright red tomatoes at each other? In the town of Buñol in Spain’s Valencia region, a unique festival called La Tomatina is held on the last Wednesday of August every year.
It’s striking to see more people than the town’s population gather from around the world to throw ripe tomatoes.
The entire town gets covered in tomatoes, turning it into what looks like a red sea.
There are rules, such as crushing the tomatoes before throwing them and not tearing people’s clothes, and it is enjoyed as a global event that attracts thousands of participants every year.
The Gozan Okuribi bonfires are held even during typhoons.
Gozan no Okuribi, held as a hallmark of Kyoto’s summer, takes place every year on August 16 and carries the meaning of sending off the ancestors who were welcomed during Obon.
It is one of Kyoto’s four major annual events and has not been canceled for over 50 years, even in years with heavy rain or typhoons.
The ritual to send off ancestral spirits proceeds even if a typhoon approaches.
However, in some years it has been conducted with safety measures in place—such as prohibiting entry to the Kamo River’s riverbank when there was a risk of flooding.
This traditional Japanese event is beloved for the large bonfire characters that light up the night sky on the five mountains.
The English word for August, “August,” comes from the name of a Roman emperor.
Some months derive their names from gods or people.
The English word for August comes from the name of a Roman emperor.
In ancient Rome, August was called “Sextilis,” meaning “the sixth month.” When Augustus reformed the calendar, he gave his own name to this month, leading to the current name.
It also helps to remember that in ancient Roman times, the year had ten months rather than twelve, so August was counted as the sixth month.