If you are on your summer holiday or have children/grandchildren who may soon be breaking up from school, you are probably hoping for a bit of sun. But what if it rained non-stop for 40 days?
Well, yesterday Friday 15 July was St Swithin's Day. This day takes place each year, and according to traditional folklore, whatever the weather is like on St Swithin's Day - whether rain or sunshine - it will continue for the next 40 days and 40 nights.
But where does this legend come from and is there any truth to it?
What is the story of St Swithin?
The old poem goes like this...
"St Swithin's Day, if it does rain
Full forty days, it will remain
St Swithin's Day, if it be fair
For forty days, t'will rain no more"
Is there any truth to the folklore?According to the old saying, if it rains on St Swithin's Day it will rain for the next 40 days. If St Swithin's Day is dry, the next 40 days will also be dry.
No one takes the prediction literally - in fact, few take it seriously! - and there is definitely no statistical evidence to support the claim.
Weather experts say that since records began in 1861, there has never been a record of 40 dry or 40 wet days in a row following St Swithin's Day.
So while we might not like 40 days of rain and 40 days of sun sounds fun, neither is likely to happen!
Well, yesterday Friday 15 July was St Swithin's Day. This day takes place each year, and according to traditional folklore, whatever the weather is like on St Swithin's Day - whether rain or sunshine - it will continue for the next 40 days and 40 nights.
But where does this legend come from and is there any truth to it?
What is the story of St Swithin?
The old poem goes like this...
"St Swithin's Day, if it does rain
Full forty days, it will remain
St Swithin's Day, if it be fair
For forty days, t'will rain no more"
Swithin was a man born in or around the year 800. He became Bishop of Winchester. Unlike other religious figures, he asked not to be buried in a prominent place within Winchester Cathedral, but outside in a simple tomb "where the sweet rain of heaven may fall upon my grave". The legend says after his remains were moved inside there was a great storm and it rained for many weeks after.
Is there any truth to the folklore?
No one takes the prediction literally - in fact, few take it seriously! - and there is definitely no statistical evidence to support the claim.
Weather experts say that since records began in 1861, there has never been a record of 40 dry or 40 wet days in a row following St Swithin's Day.
So while we might not like 40 days of rain and 40 days of sun sounds fun, neither is likely to happen!
most words above from original article here
~ this Vittoria tomato tricolore salad is perfect for summer days ~
see the recipe here
What's the weather like where you live?
Will you be enjoying a salad, or is your weather more suited to a stew or casserole?
Dear reader, this blog is presented in a magazine style - we hope something for everyone. You will find a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, photographs, music and recipes!
Please note, not all recipe suggestions may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.
All the best Jan
Please note, not all recipe suggestions may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.
All the best Jan
33 comments:
Well it's still Friday on this side of the Atlantic. A curious story.
Still Friday here, too. The weather and feels like temperature is over 100F except for the last two or three days. Still, near 100F and think muggy, sultry, humid added in to the description. But, we use ac about 8 months out of the year. Today, chicken and green beans in the over is on the menu.
...you are safe, it's Friday here for me too.
Thanks for sharing this folklore
No conocía la leyenda, te un genial fin de semana.
Raining to day and cool.
Saturday here. And chilly.
Enjoy your sunshine and your salads.
I used to really believe that story when I was a child. Have a great weekend
Hello,
I am not sure if I could take 40 days of rain, I need the sunshine.
We are having our usual summer weather, hot, humid with a chance of thunderstorms.
The salad looks yummy. Have a great weekend!
Friday, Saturday, it all matters not!
This was an interesting piece. I don't recall reading this before.
(ツ) from Jenn Jilks , ON, Canada!
The salad looks delicious! I'm a big weather buff and I keep an eye on the skies during "lore" days as I call them! St-Swithins day for us was warm and sunny, just what I would love to have for the next 40 days to help my garden recover from downpours and cold weather the last month and a half!!!
Puede ser una exageración. Quizás lloviera muchos días seguidos,pero no tanto.
Feliz fin de semana.
That salad looks o delicious.
We are in a bit of a drought here (stage 2 out of 5). We really need some rain. It was supposed to rain tomorrow- but now that is off the prediction. It may rain a little Monday or Tuesday. We could use at least a few days of rain for sure!
We'll let you off!! That salad look amazing and love tomatoes.
Love the folklore story! Cold salads are always so good on those hot summer days! Thanks again!
Thank you for the background story on St Swithin. I'd heard the saying but not the story behind it. Best wishes to you and yours.
God bless.
That salad is my favorite…love from me and leaf 🍀💗🐾🍀
It's hot here...salad weather!! Personally, I could go for 40 days of rain (not biblical proportions tho).
Happy weekend!
Nothing like a refreshing salad
Coffee is on and stay safe
Interesting...thank you! :)
It's cold here! Global warming has headed to the Northern Hemisphere for a while...it's Global Colding here! :)
I hope you can stay cool during your heat wave. I know how hard it can be to have such intense heat. The weather here has been raining a lot. I didn't count the consecutive days of rain but it sure felt like 40 days or more so I was interested in the St. Swithin's folklore. The simple salad look absolutely delicious. Take care and stay cool.
The salad looks great. It's going to be a hot day here so that salad would be a wonderful meal.
Fun folklore. We've had hot and humid weather the past couple of days. Not as hot as what you're experiencing, but we might have our first heatwave of the season (3 days of temps in the 90s.) Today will be hot, humid, but partly cloudy. Monday there is a chance of thunderstorms with much needed rain.
My daughter was born on St Swithin's Day so we always hope for sunshine.
Interesting post! That salad looks amazing thanks for sharing.
Ben | Infinitely Posh.
I don't know this rhyme or story, but I sure hope it is only folklore because we had a sunny day, and we really need some rain. Hope your weekend is going well.
I was thinking of you and my UK friend bloggers and hope you are surviving the heat well -- it sounds grim. I don't think we've seen anything like that maybe ever or at least for a very long time where I live. Keep as cool as possible, hydrate and be prepared if the power grid goes down!
Very interesting folklore that was, I hope we never have to put up with 40 days of either way. I heard you all were going through a heat wave too, we have had some terribly HOT weather, we hit 100 again yesterday but thankfully today we have got much needed rain, although the next week will be in the 90's again.
Our cherry tomatoes are ripening in our garden we have been enjoying them.
Some truth to some folk lore ~ fun anyway ~ Great recipes here always ~ Xo
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
We'v been having great weather here in western Maryland. A good mix of sun and rain with temperatures in the 70's.
That chicken and blackberry salad looks amazing. Girl, stay cool as you can. It is crazy hot! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Interesante leyenda, por aquí tenemos alguna parecida. La ensalada se ve estupenda, para estos calores que estamos pasando por aquí. Besos.
That was interesting!! Our weather here is kind of monsoonal - being in the mountains its'not bad heat, about in the high 80's but the nights only go down to about 68 to 70 and it's humid. I'm already looking forward to fall. I've been reading about your weather. Hope its' cooling down.
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