St. Swithin’s Day

Today is St. Swithin's Day. (Every July 15th)

St. Swithin is the patron saint of rain.

 

 

And, the saying goes, if on St. Swithin's Day it rains, it will rain for another forty days.

 

 

St. Swithin was a beloved English monk and he lived during the last half of the 9th century.

 

 

When St. Swithin died, he asked to be buried outside. He didn't want to be buried inside a building or cathedral. He said he wanted his grave to be able to experience the rain.

 

 

But one hundred years after he was buried, the church decided to move his body to the inside of a cathedral; something Swithin apparently never wanted.

 

 

 

For the next forty days after his body was disturbed, it rained.

It poured. 

And, there were storms.

 

 

And, that's the origin story for the legend of St. Swithin.

 And, it resulted in this little rhyme that was passed down through the ages.

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.

 

 

So, we'll see if it's going to rain today and then also for the next forty days...