It’s St Swithin’ Day today. Tradition says that whatever the weather is like today, it will continue for the next forty days. St. Swithin (or more properly, Swithun) was a Saxon Bishop of Winchester and legend says that he asked to be buried out of doors, where he would be trodden on and rained on. For nine years, his wishes were followed, but then on 15 July 971 the monks of Winchester attempted to remove his remains.
‘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.’
Published
on Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
