At 7:00 am this morning I had a rude awakening when the cathedral bells started ringing. My first thought was that it must be St Swithun's day: they always ring at that time for St Swithun's day, but it's only once a year and you don't notice on week day mornings, so not very intrusive. Anyway it finally dawned on me that it's still June so it couldn't be St Swithun's day.
On investigation, it turns out to have been the Queen's official birthday which is nowadays always on a Saturday. I feel sure I would have noticed the bells if they always rang on a Saturday in June so I hope it's a one off. I actually do love the bells but not at 7:00 am. Sundays are lovely, and so too are the Wednesday evening practices.
It's a relief that it isn't St Swithun's Day with the weather we are having today:
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 na mair.
15 July
In France they have similar 40 day predictions though on different dates.
S'il pleut à la saint Médard,
Il pleuvra quarante jours plus tard.
8 June
Sainte-Eulalie avec la pluie,
Quarante jours reste dans ton lit.
12 February
There is an English version of that last one:
If on St Swithun's day it really pours
You're better off to stay indoors.
I've heard, but never really investigated, that you can put together enough of these sayings to show that it's going to rain, or not, for the entire year.
On investigation, it turns out to have been the Queen's official birthday which is nowadays always on a Saturday. I feel sure I would have noticed the bells if they always rang on a Saturday in June so I hope it's a one off. I actually do love the bells but not at 7:00 am. Sundays are lovely, and so too are the Wednesday evening practices.
It's a relief that it isn't St Swithun's Day with the weather we are having today:
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 na mair.
15 July
In France they have similar 40 day predictions though on different dates.
S'il pleut à la saint Médard,
Il pleuvra quarante jours plus tard.
8 June
Sainte-Eulalie avec la pluie,
Quarante jours reste dans ton lit.
12 February
There is an English version of that last one:
If on St Swithun's day it really pours
You're better off to stay indoors.
I've heard, but never really investigated, that you can put together enough of these sayings to show that it's going to rain, or not, for the entire year.
