On Jul 15, 9:12*pm, "Anne Burgess"
wrote:
Interesting, today is St Swithun's Day.
I usually go on the fact that whatever the weather does on St
Swithin's Day, is usually the type of weather we'll have until
the beginning of September.

That's really depressing, that is.

We have had more days with thunder this week so far than we get
on average in a whole year :-( and I have once again had reason
to be grateful for welly boots :-((

Anne

Anne,

I doubt St Swithun's Day applies in Scotland :-)

Wikipedia says "... that the legend today comes from a pagan or
possibly prehistoric day of augury. In France, Saint Medard (8 June),
Urban of Langres, and Saint Gervase and Saint Protais (19 June) are
credited with an influence on the weather almost identical with that
attributed to St Swithun in England. In Flanders, there is St
Godelieve (6 July) and in Germany the Seven Sleepers' Day (27 June)."
So, although St Swithun's day may be a good guide to the rest of the
summer in Southern England, it may be the wrong date for Scotland.

The reason that Northumbria broke away from the Celtic Church and
joined Canterbury was to get an earlier Easter (i.e. date to sow seed
for the best crops), so it seems that these Christian dates are really
based on pagan folklore. It would be better to find an equivalent
legend in the Scots tradition.

Of course there are the Alexander Buchan Spells, The Scottish father
of meteorology, with his first warm spell around the second week of
July! See:
http://www.meteogroup.co.uk/uk/home/..._buchan-1.html
or Google for "Alexander Buchan dates"

No mention of Alexander Buchan or his spells in Wikibedia :-(

Cheers, Alastair.

I doubt St. Swithin's Day applies anywhere, or Groundhog Day in America for
that matter. A persistence forecast of 40 days seems extremely unlikely!

Ian Bingham,
Inchmarlo,
Aberdeenshire,

"Alastair" wrote in message
...
On Jul 15, 9:12 pm, "Anne Burgess"
wrote:
Interesting, today is St Swithun's Day.
I usually go on the fact that whatever the weather does on St
Swithin's Day, is usually the type of weather we'll have until
the beginning of September.

That's really depressing, that is.

We have had more days with thunder this week so far than we get
on average in a whole year :-( and I have once again had reason
to be grateful for welly boots :-((

Anne

Anne,

I doubt St Swithun's Day applies in Scotland :-)

Wikipedia says "... that the legend today comes from a pagan or
possibly prehistoric day of augury. In France, Saint Medard (8 June),
Urban of Langres, and Saint Gervase and Saint Protais (19 June) are
credited with an influence on the weather almost identical with that
attributed to St Swithun in England. In Flanders, there is St
Godelieve (6 July) and in Germany the Seven Sleepers' Day (27 June)."
So, although St Swithun's day may be a good guide to the rest of the
summer in Southern England, it may be the wrong date for Scotland.

The reason that Northumbria broke away from the Celtic Church and
joined Canterbury was to get an earlier Easter (i.e. date to sow seed
for the best crops), so it seems that these Christian dates are really
based on pagan folklore. It would be better to find an equivalent
legend in the Scots tradition.

Of course there are the Alexander Buchan Spells, The Scottish father
of meteorology, with his first warm spell around the second week of
July! See:
http://www.meteogroup.co.uk/uk/home/..._buchan-1.html
or Google for "Alexander Buchan dates"

No mention of Alexander Buchan or his spells in Wikibedia :-(

Cheers, Alastair.

Ian Bingham wrote:

I doubt St. Swithin's Day applies anywhere, or Groundhog Day in America
for that matter. A persistence forecast of 40 days seems extremely
unlikely!

I agree, but much of this thread has been putting forward evidence that it
might apply - after a fashion. Many years ago, the TV weather forecasters
would comment to the effect that, although the weather on the day itself
wasn't significant, by this time of year the weather has settled into a
groove and could likely continue for much of the summer.

--
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks., UK. E-mail: newsman not newsboy
"I wear the cheese. It does not wear me."

On Jul 16, 7:58*am, Graham P Davis wrote:
Ian Bingham wrote:
I doubt St. Swithin's Day applies anywhere, or Groundhog Day in America
for that matter. *A persistence forecast of 40 days seems extremely
unlikely!

I agree, but much of this thread has been putting forward evidence that it
might apply - after a fashion. Many years ago, the TV weather forecasters
would comment to the effect that, although the weather on the day itself
wasn't significant, by this time of year the weather has settled into a
groove and could likely continue for much of the summer.

What I am thinking, but feared so say as it would probably be
rubbished, is that if the Jet Stream does not settle to the west of
us, or the Azores High form by the beginning of July, then they won't,
and the rest of the summer will be poor.

Obviously the weather will still happen, but the climate might alter.
Does that make sense?

Cheers, Alastair.