St Swithen's day yesterday

@garymarsh6 (23393)
United Kingdom
July 16, 2018 3:40pm CST
Legend has it that what ever the weather is on the 15th of July it will remain so for the next 40 days. So yesterday was a sweltering hot day here in the UK so with any luck we are actually going to have a nice summer for a change. So who was St Swithen. He was an anglo saxon bishop of Winchester Cathedral who died in 862 AD. He requested that his body be buried outside the cathedral near the entrance so people could walk over his body to get into the church. Unfortunately a few years later his body was exhumed and re interred inside the cathedral. Parts of his body were interred around the UK in Canterbury (HIs head) and Peterborough (An arm) and According to legend it then rained for 40 days. First documented accounts hail from the 14,00's and a poem describing what will happen on St. Swithen's day was described as follows: 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 The likely explanation is the results of the jet stream. The further south it is then the weather will be gorgeous however the further north then it interferes with the arctic air and Atlantic weather systems clash and bring rain. St. Swithen is also revered in Norway. Where ever you live I hope the weather is kind to you!
11 people like this
12 responses
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
16 Jul 18
"Parts of his body were interred around the UK in Canterbury (HIs head) and Peterborough (An arm)" --- Why was that done? I've never heard of such a strange custom.
3 people like this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
17 Jul 18
@garymarsh6 I must correct myself. I know about this custom. I had forgotten it maybe because I'm not a Catholic and it's so weird. Once my husband and I were in a small church of an unimportant town in the centre of Italy (on our way to Sicily) where we saw a thigh bone of a local saint. It was rather a big thingy. Considering that the Natural Park of the Abruzzi is nearby where wolves and bears live we weren't so sure that it was indeed a human relic. :-)
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
16 Jul 18
@MALUSE They used to do that to all Saints send relics of the Saints around different churches. This happens throughout the world with different religions including Muslims and Buddhist's there are bits and bobs of Mohammed in different places, Bits and pieces of Buddha here and there! Locks of hair,finger nails, teeth and bones etc! Interestingly Cologne cathedral contains 3 special relics I will leave you to discover which they are!
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
17 Jul 18
We have a very similar saying but it's not for the 15th of July, it is for the day of Candlemas (2nd of February). If it snows or rains 40 days it will remain.
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@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
18 Jul 18
@garymarsh6 The 2nd of February is not very common to have sunshine here.
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@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
18 Jul 18
@LadyDuck You can always live in hope!
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@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
17 Jul 18
Arr I would rather have some sunshine in February !
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@amadeo (111948)
• United States
16 Jul 18
well then sounds great.Weather is great.Hot and cool at times.But the serious of all of this.We are in drought and need rain badly Have a good evening Gary
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
16 Jul 18
You too Alfredo!
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
17 Jul 18
What a lovely name Swithen. Never hear do this day, so I am glad to have been educated so early this morning. Well we had the coldest day so far on the 15th July, so if St Swithen is working at all in SA, it will be cold that day for 40 years. Nice legend.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul 18
Yes it would be nice to get a bit of cold here right now Lanny. We are dying in this heat. Many of our places here do not have the luxury of air conditioning. I was quite worried this morning about katerina but it seems she is fine!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40056)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Jul 18
@garymarsh6 - Yikes! It was a hot day here, too. I guess I will have to look forward to a very hot summer here in Southern California!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
21 Jul 18
It is going to be even hotter next week. We really are not accustomed to this heat. Although it is ok if you are not working. You would laugh I was dying as I visited my patients most of whom are on the top floor. I was sweating they were telling me they were cold but then they are not moving about! One had three blankets on! Keep cool and plenty of fluids! I know it can get very hot in CA
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Jul 18
@garymarsh6 - Oh, my! Three blankets on a hot day! I think the heat has a tough effect on most people, but I guess that is not true of elderly people who are not moving around.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (53679)
16 Jul 18
No mercy for us here in the Caribbean during the months of July, August and September. There is also the threat of hurricanes up to November.
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@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
16 Jul 18
Yes and lets hope there are no hurricanes like last year! Lordy they were cruel.
2 people like this
@xiaolisu (957)
16 Jul 18
it was raining at morning and followed by sunshine yesterday. it's not so hot this summer
@Tampa_girl7 (49005)
• United States
30 Jul 18
It's extremely hot here
@RasmaSandra (73461)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Jul 18
I am enjoying the hot weather having come from northern Europe to Florida. It is a huge difference right now in Daytona Beach Florida it is 81 and in Riga, Latvia at this moment it's 61
• United States
16 Jul 18
I've heard of St Swithen but never knew the story. We had a sunny day yesterday but I doubt we'll have 40 days of sunshine since the forecast is for a stormy day tomorrow
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246905)
• United States
16 Jul 18
Wow! I hope it isn't true! I'm wilted from the humidity, although I do enjoy the hot weather.
@Icydoll (36717)
• India
16 Jul 18
Yes ,dear friend.. weather is normal here .bit cool though.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
16 Jul 18
I think your cool will be terribly hot for us here! How cool are you talking?