181 



But this idea was at once set aside when I found the same 

 importance attached to the weather on other festivals. 



Thus in connection with St. Vincent's Day, the 22nd of January, 

 •we have the following lines : — 



Vincenti festo si sol radiet, memor esto, 

 Para tuas cuppas, quia multas colliges uvas.* 

 And similarly in French : — 



Prens garde au jour St. Vincent, 



Car sy ce jour tu voia et sent 



Que le soleil soiet cler et biau, 



Nous 'erons du via plus de d'eau.f 

 The purport of both sets of lines being an intimation that if the 

 sun shines on St. Vincent's Day, the year will be favourable to the 

 vintage, and there will be an abundance of wine. Yet here again 

 Forster fancifully suggests that the lines may have arisen " from 

 an idea that the sun would not shine unomiuously on that day on 

 which the martyrdom of the Saint was so inhumanly finished by 

 burning ."t 



But it is not left to these two Saints alone to rule the season, and 

 to determine the weather by which it is to be characterized. Other 

 days besides those dedicated to St. Paul and St. Vincent enjoy the 

 same privilege. Forster tells us that " the Festival of the Circum- 

 cision was held by the Scotch in former times as ominous, and as 

 affording a prognostic of the weather of the coming year."|| Also 

 on Christmas Day, according to an old MS. referred to in " Notes 

 and Queries," clear and bright sunshine " promises a peaceable year, 

 and foretells much plenty to ensue." Indeed, if we are to trust the 

 author of this MS., there would seem to be scarcely a festival or 

 other day of note in the year which does not exercise more or less 

 influence over the future. A wet Childermas is to bring mortality 

 to " the weaker sort of young people." The weather every day in 

 Lent is to be the same as it happens to be on Shrove Tuesday 

 Clear sunshine on Palm Sunday or on Easter Day promises " a 

 great store of fair weather, and plenty of corn and other fruits." If 

 it rain never so little on Ascension Day it foretells scarcity and 

 sickness. If it rain either on Whit Sunday or Midsummer Day, evils 



* Notes and Queries, vol. xi., p. 335. t Id., vol. viii., p. 307. 



J Per. Cal., p. 26. |1 Id., p. 2. 



