St Swithin was buried in the churchyard he served. About a hundred years later the congregation started to remove his remains to a location in a Cathedral plot more befitting his stature (he was a Bishop). Before they could start it began to rain–and it continued for 40 days. The congregation decided to give up the idea of moving him–thus the above poem…and many others.
This led to the old wives’ tale (folklore) that if it rains on St Swithin’s Day (July 15th), it will rain for the next 40 days in succession, and a fine 15th July will be followed by 40 days of fine weather.
However, according to the Met Office, this old wives’ tale is nothing other than a myth. It has been put to the test on 55 occasions*, when it has been wet on St Swithin’s Day and 40 days of rain did not follow.
Why you SOB Jae…–:lol:–…I was going to head to the Liquor Store and get ready for the St. Swithin’s Day blow-out tonight…I already called all my friends (Brian Kelly, the only friend I have)::)))…and he said he would be over my house tonight for the Festivis…UNTIL I READ THIS QUOTE ABOVE after a Google search (because I HATE missing holidays)…!!!
I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU LIED–:^o-- ON AN OPEN MESSAGE BOARD…!!!
YOU RUINED MY EVENING PLANS—DAMMIT JAE—:lol:…!!!—:margarit:
Of couse it’s a myth–it usually doesn’t rain 40 days it it rains on SS’s day.
The legend is of the first time–not after. Poets sang about it after the first rainy period, but it really never was considered to be true.
More recently, “Rain Day” is celebrated in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, where it has rained 110 out of the past 133 years on July 29. Let’s see if it will rain today!
And about the 18th of July some Native American tribes referred to July’s full Moon as the Full Buck Moon, indicating the time when the bucks began growing new antlers. This full Moon was also known as the Full Thunder Moon, because thunderstorms are so frequent during this month.
What else would you not like to know that I can offer??
Clover contracts its leaves at the approach of a storm. If corn husks are thicker than usual, a cold winter lies ahead. If flowers keep open all night, the weather will be wet the next day. The faster a cricket chirps](http://www.almanac.com/go/ofanews071508e), the warmer the temperature. Lightning in the south is a sure sign of drought. Bees will not swarm,*** [FONT=Verdana]Before a near storm.*[/FONT]******
Now we should all be better prepared to go out and inspect things with this knowledge.