VERSES ON SAINTS’ DAYS AT VARIOUS SEASONS OF THE YEAR.[508]
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Kunz, George Frederick
January 25. Saint Paul’s Day:
If the clouds make dark the sky,
Great store of people then will die;
If there be either snow or rain,
Then will be dear all kinds of grain.
(Robin Forby, “Vocabulary of East Anglia,” London, 1830.)
Somewhat different in a Latin form:
Clara dies Pauli multas segetes nitant amni,
Si fuerint nebulæ, aut venti, erunt proelia genti.
February 2. Candlemas Day:
If Candlemas day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight;
If on Candlemas day it be shower and rain,
Winter is gone and will not come again.
(John Ray, “A Collection of English Proverbs,” 2d ed., Cambridge, 1678.)
February 12. St. Eulalia’s Day:
If the sun shines on St. Eulalie’s day,
It is good for apples and cider they say.
February 14. St. Valentine’s Day:
On St. Valentine’s day
Cast beans in clay
But on St. Chad
Sow good or bad.
(Seed time of this Lenten crop limited between February 14 and March 2.)
February 24. St. Matthias’ Day:
Saint Matthew (Sept. 21)
Get candlesticks new;
St. Mattheg
Lay candlesticks by.
March 1. St. David’s Day:
Quoth Saint David, “I’ll have a flood.”
Saith our Lady [Mch. 25] “I’ll have as good.”
(Referring to spring tides in Wales, from Poor Robin’s Almanack, 1684.)
June 15. St. Vitus’ Day:
If Saint Vitus’ day be rainy weather,
It will rain for thirty days together.
(M. A. Denham, “Proverbs and Popular Sayings Relating to the Seasons,” Percy Soc., 1846.)
July 15. St. Swithin’s Day:
St. Swithin’s day, if thou dost rain,
For forty days it will remain;