St. Swithin’s Day And The 40 Days’ Weather Prophecy
Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - July 15 is the feast day of St. Swithin, an Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Winchester who died in 862 A.D.
His name is associated with a weather prophecy lasting 40 days. According to folklore, weather for a subsequent period is dictated. Most think it will rain for the next 40 days, starting on July 15, but this doesn't have to happen. It's also possible the Sun will shine for the next 40 days.
Born around 800 A.D., St. Swithin was well-known for his charitable gifts and the building of churches. He was a respected man in Britain, and his fame reached other countries, like Norway, where he is commemorated at Stavanger Cathedral. There is little information about his life, but historians have confirmed he served as a counselor to Kings Egbert and Aethelwulf of the West Saxons.
St. Swithin's name is still associated with an old meteorological superstition: St. Swithin's feast day means rain for 40 days. The first textual evidence for the weather prophecy appears to have come from a 13th- or 14th-century entry in a manuscript at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
The name of Swithun is best known today for a British weather lore proverb:
St Swithun's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St Swithun's day if thou be fair
For forty days 'twill rain nae mare
There is also a Buckinghamshire variation that reads:
If on St Swithun's day it really pours
You're better off to stay indoors.
According to legend, shortly before St. Swithin died, he asked to be buried outside so that his grave could easily be reached by members of the parish and the rainfall from the heavens. His wish was fulfilled, and everything was fine for about 100 years.
On July 15, 971 A.D., his body was removed from the grave. A huge storm ensued while his body was being transported to a new shrine in the Cathedral. It was believed that the Saint marked his displeasure towards those removing his remains. This led to the old superstition that the land was cursed with 40 days of rain.
On the other hand, if the weather is nice on July 15, it will be followed by 40 days of fine weather.
St. Swithin at Stavanger Cathedral, Norway. Credit: Nina Aldin Thune, CC BY-SA 2.5
"This tale predates the twelfth century and was passed along through the years. It is said that Henry VIII wanted to put an end to all the myths surrounding St. Swithin, so much so that he had the shrine at Winchester destroyed (looted). This was a bit bizarre as it was also the location of his late brother's birth! Everything from the original shrine was demolished in the middle of the night so as to avoid public outcry. "1
St. Swithin died of natural causes and is the patron saint of Hampshire, Winchester, Southwark, and, of course, the weather.
As for the weather prediction – all one can say is - let's wait until July 15 and see what happens.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for references- Lisa Graves, Tricia Cohen - A Thyme and Place: Medieval Feasts and Recipes for the Modern Table
More From Ancient Pages
-
Ancient Tradition And True Meaning Of Candy Canes
Ancient Traditions And Customs | Dec 24, 2015 -
Skull Of Biblical Giant Goliath Is Buried On The Hill Golgotha In Jerusalem – New Claim
Archaeology | Nov 7, 2019 -
Rare Viking Graffiti And Artifacts Found In Dublin – Depiction Of God Odin Riding Sleipnir Followed By Huginn And Muninn?
Archaeology | Mar 31, 2018 -
Rare 2nd Temple-Era Etchings Of Menorah And Cross Discovered In The Judean Hills
Archaeology | Jan 8, 2017 -
Kokopelli – Popular Trickster God Of The American Southwest Brought Happiness To People
Featured Stories | May 11, 2020 -
Headless remains related to Huns or Sarmatians puzzle archaeologists in Kazakhstan
News | Aug 30, 2015 -
Native Americans And European Legends Tell Peculiar Beings From The Sky Still Live On The Earth
Featured Stories | May 16, 2018 -
Ancient Roman Statues of Goddess Venus And Other Precious Artifacts Found In A Trash Pit In France
Archaeology | Apr 8, 2023 -
On This Day In History: Albertus Magnus – Medieval Person Of Great Historical Importance Died – On Nov 15, 1280
News | Nov 15, 2016 -
Treasures From Ancient City Of Hippos-Sussita Displayed In Exhibition For The First Time
Archaeology | Jan 3, 2018 -
Myths And Legends Reveal Ancient Turtle Worship Linked To The Creation Of The World
Featured Stories | Jun 24, 2020 -
Giant Mimir And The Well Of Wisdom In Norse Beliefs
Featured Stories | Apr 11, 2018 -
12,000-Year-Old Ice Age Stone Tools Found – Earliest Dated Evidence For Human Activity in Scotland
Archaeology | Oct 10, 2015 -
Mysterious Deaths In A Dangerous Valley May Be Related To Ancient Events
Featured Stories | Mar 14, 2022 -
Mystery Of The Ancient Reptilian Gods Remains A Complex Subject – Memories Of The Past – Part 1
Featured Stories | Feb 6, 2022 -
5,000-Year-Old Mystery: Decoration Of Eggs Predates Our Easter Tradition
Archaeology | Apr 9, 2020 -
Qijia Culture – Its Disappearance Remains An Ancient Mystery
Civilizations | Feb 5, 2021 -
On This Day In History: Ramesses II Became Pharaoh Of Ancient Egypt – On May 31, 1279 BC
News | May 31, 2016 -
Enigma Of 3,000-Year-Old Sculpted Head Of Biblical King Discovered In Israel
Archaeology | Jun 11, 2018 -
Can Early Stone Tools Offer Proof Our Ancestors Were Becoming Human, Both Mentally And Culturally?
Archaeology | Jul 7, 2022