By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 63 



IS that of fine weather, and in some places is thought to counteract 



and displace him, for the proverb runs : — 



" All the tears St. Swithun can cry, 

 St. Bartlemy's mantle wipes dry." 



Let it however, in common justice, be observed, that St. Bar- 

 tholomew's day 1 does not occur until the expiration of the forty 

 days following St. Swithun. 2 



Again we have : — 



11 If Bartlemy's day be fair and clear, 

 We may hope for a prosperous autumn that year." 



But yet another proverb says : — 



" Saint Bartholemew 

 Brings the cold dew ; " 



because the nights are now beginning to be cold. 



St. Michael's day was also in old time, if not now, in Wiltshire, 

 as it certainly is to this day in Sweden, a festival from which many 

 progmosties of the ensuing season might be drawn : thus if a north 

 or east wind should chance to blow on that day, the following winter 

 w T ould be very severe ; if the day should chance to be fine, the next 

 year would be dry ; but if the day should be wet, the year ensuing 

 would be mild but damp. 3 St. Thomas's day 4 ' was another festival, 

 which was much observed by the credulous, for careful examination 

 at the right moment would infallibly result in an accurate fore- 

 knowledge of weather for a quarter of a year ! The proverb runs 

 thus : " Look at the weathercock on St. Thomas's day at twelve 



1 August 24th; O.S. September 5th. 

 2 In various countries in Europe, the same belief of a rainy saint prevails, 

 though differences exist as to the period of the particular day in question, 

 thus : — 



In France, St. Medard (June 8th) and SS. Gervase and Protasius (June 19th) 

 have a similar character assigned to them. 

 In Belgium, St. Godelieve (July 6th). 

 In Germany, the Seven Sleepers (June 27th). 

 In Poland, St. Harold (July 19th). 

 In Denmark (July 2nd and 9th). 

 In North Italy (July 26th). 



3 Lloyd'i " Peasant Life in Sweden," p. 283. 

 4 December 21st ; O.S. January 2nd. 



