Weather divination is an ancient practice that dates back to early civilizations. In ancient times, people relied on weather divination to predict short-term and long-term weather patterns. They used this practice to plan their agricultural activities, navigate the seas, or prepare for natural disasters. Even nomadic people needed to know when to seek higher ground or shelter from a storm. This practice was a valuable tool for survival in an era where science and technology were not as advanced as they are today. Just imagine all of the bad weather forecasts modern civilizations get today and yet we can still be caught unaware. One of the earliest methods of weather divination was observing natural phenomena. People observed the behavior of animals, birds, and insects to predict weather patterns. For instance, they noticed that when birds fly low or gather in large numbers, it may indicate an impending storm. Similarly, they used the chirping of crickets, the movement of ants, or the behavior of domestic animals to predict changing weather conditions. One common sight before a volcanic eruption is all of the wildlife will migrate when they feel the unusual tremors. Another method of weather divination was using celestial objects such as the position of the sun, moon, and stars. Ancient civilizations believed that the alignment of these celestial objects could predict the weather. For instance, the ancient Greeks believed that a red sky at sunset meant good weather the next day. Similarly, the position of the moon in the sky could predict the onset of rain, snow, or other weather patterns. In addition to these methods, ancient civilizations also developed tools to aid in weather divination. They used instruments such as thermometers, barometers, and hygrometers to measure atmospheric pressure, temperature, or humidity. By tracking these variables over time, they could create weather charts and maps that showed patterns and trends in weather conditions. While some of the methods used in the past may seem superstitious or folklore-like, they were important tools for survival. Today, weather divination has evolved into a more scientific and technologically advanced practice, but its roots can still be traced back to ancient civilizations. Weather divination reminds us of the importance of understanding our environment and the impact it has on our daily lives. Below is a list of some famous weather divination practices. Pick a couple and give them a go. Write down the practice you chose, your prediction, and then follow it up with your results. Was your prediction accurate? These can be fun and informative to try with any children you have. If there are any local practices near you that you don't see listed, make sure to drop them in the comments. I love learning new things and someone else may have a similar tradition to yours.
Weather Holidays
January 29th - 31st - Giorni Della Merla: Naples, Italy.
If you follow me on Instagram (@FoxDenCurio), you're familiar with the little blackbird.
" January 29 - 31 are known as the blackbird days.❄️ If the blackbird days are very cold, spring will be early and pleasant. 🌿 If the opposite, then the Spring will be rainy and cold. 🌧 This superstition is based on an old folktale about 'Giorni Della Merla'. Once upon a time, a pure white little bird was constantly harassed by January, who at this time had 28 days while February had 31. January would send ice and rain after the little bird every time she would venture from her nest in search of food. The next year, the little bird saved up as much food as she could and spent the entire 28 days of January safely inside her home. When she emerged on February 1, little bird began taunting January about how she had bested him. Enraged, January sought revenge by borrowing three days from February. He descended ice and snow upon the little bird once more, sending her scurrying for shelter. ❄️ She managed to take refuge in a chimney pot. After three days, the little bird once more ventured out but she quickly noticed a difference. 🪶 Her feathers had become stained by the chimney pot and her once white feathers were now black. Thus she became a blackbird."
February 2nd - Groundhog Day: United States
According to legend, if the groundhog emerges and sees his shadow, cold weather will continue for the next six weeks. As with many of the traditions associated with the United States, Groundhog Day was brought to America thanks to immigration. The Germans practiced this folklore using a badger instead. However, once they crossed the Atlantic ocean, they realized groundhogs were much more plentiful and acted similarly. (Badgers in the USA are found in the Great Plains region that had yet to be discovered.) Croatia and Serbia have a similar folklore, but theirs revolve around a bear coming out of hibernation which I find vastly more interesting.
Groundhog Day did not become an official observance until 1887 in Gobler's Knob part of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The founding groundhog group was actually a group of Groundhog hunters who would serve the game as food. Eventually, this feel out of practice. The Punxsutawney groundhog was not given the name "Phil" until 1961 and now he has competition. Buckeye Chuck, Staten Island Chuck, and Jimmy the Groundhog have all thrown their hat in the ring. Who will come out as the most accurate marmot?
Despite the German tradition of using badgers instead of groundhogs, Groundhog Day has become a uniquely American holiday that has become a beloved tradition. It is a fun and light-hearted way to break up the long winter months and to look forward to the arrival of spring. Whether people rely on the predictions of groundhogs or badgers, the holiday has become an important part of both European and American folklore and culture, and it continues to be celebrated by people of all ages.
Beltane - May Day: May 1st
Beltane (also known as May Day) is an ancient spring festival that has been celebrated for centuries. In some cultures, it is also a time for weather divination. Traditional May Day celebrations sometimes involve dancing around a Maypole, which is a tall pole decorated with flowers and ribbons. In some areas, the direction in which the Maypole is raised is believed to indicate the direction from which the prevailing wind will blow for the coming year.
Another May Day divination practice involves washing one's face in the morning dew. It is believed that the dew has healing and rejuvenating properties, and that by washing one's face in it, a person can ensure good health and beauty for the coming year. Additionally, the amount of dew on the ground is thought to be an indicator of the likelihood of a good harvest.
May Day is also associated with predicting the weather for the coming year. In some cultures, the direction of the wind on May Day is believed to indicate the type of weather that can be expected for the rest of the year. For example, if the wind blows from the east, a wet summer can be expected, while a west wind is thought to indicate a dry summer.
July 15th - St. Swithun's Day: Brittish Isles
"St. Swithin's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St. Swithin's day if thou be fair
For forty days 'twill rain nae mair."
In Great Britain, an old wives' tale claims that if it rains on St. Swithin's Day (July 15th), it will rain for the next 40 days in succession, and a fine 15th July will be followed by 40 days of fine weather. According to legend, St. Swithin was a bishop of Winchester, famous for charitable gifts and building churches. As the Bishop lay on his deathbed, 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, the monks of Winchester attempted to remove his remains inside the cathedral on 15 July 971. According to legend there was a heavy rain storm either during the ceremony or on its anniversary which contributed to the story of 40 days of rain.
August- Minallagia: Greece
Have you heard of the ancient Greek practice of Minallagia? It's a weather divination method that involves observing the weather in the first 12 days of August to predict the weather for the rest of the year. And let me tell you, it's not as easy as it sounds! Minallagia comes from the Greek words "minas" meaning month and "allagi" meaning change. The first day of observation, either August 1st or 3rd (depending on if you believe in the Kakaouskies), represents August, and each subsequent day corresponds to the weather of the following months. So, if the weather on August 4th is sunny, it's supposed to be a nice November. But don't think you can just look out the window and make your predictions. Oh no, you need a proper "foreseer" to read the signs correctly. For instance, the amount of clouds in the sky during the observation days determines whether the corresponding month will be rainy or not. If the clouds only appear in the morning, you can expect rain in the first half of the corresponding month. And if it's windy in the afternoon of the observation day, you better bundle up because the second half of the corresponding month will bring low temperatures. It's fascinating to think that people have been practicing Minallagia for centuries. And who knows, maybe there's some truth to it. But let's be honest, I wouldn't trust my ability to predict the weather based on the first 12 days of August. I mean, have you seen the weather lately? It's all over the place! Maybe we need to find ourselves a really good foreseer to make sense of it all.
September 29th - Michaelmas
Michaelmas is a Christian feast day that is celebrated on September 29th, and it is also associated with weather divination. According to tradition, the weather on Michaelmas Day is believed to indicate the weather for the coming winter. In some cultures, it is believed that if it is a clear and sunny day, it will be a cold winter, while if it is cloudy or rainy, the winter will be mild.
Another Michaelmas weather divination practice involves observing the behavior of birds. It is believed that the migratory patterns and behavior of birds on Michaelmas Day can provide insight into the coming winter weather. For example, if birds are seen flying high in the sky, it is thought that the winter will be cold and snowy, while if they are flying low to the ground, it will be a mild winter.
In some cultures, Michaelmas is also a time for predicting the weather for the coming year. One tradition involves cutting open an apple and counting the number of seeds inside. It is believed that each seed represents a month of the year, and that the number of seeds can provide insight into the weather for each month. Another tradition involves observing the direction in which the wind blows on Michaelmas Day, as this is believed to indicate the prevailing wind direction for the coming year.
While some weather divination practices may seem superstitious, they were important tools for survival in ancient times. Today, weather divination continues to be a fascinating and informative practice that helps us understand our environment and its impact on our daily lives. Trying out some of the famous weather divination practices can be a fun and educational activity for people of all ages, and it's a great way to connect with our ancestors and their traditions. Whether we rely on groundhogs, blackbirds, or other folklore to predict the weather, these practices remind us of our connection to nature and the importance of respecting and appreciating our environment.
Do you have any weather related superstitions that aren't listed? Let me know! Drop a comment below and maybe someone else might have something similar. As always, I hope you have a wonderful week!
Sources:
Groundhog Day. (2023, February 3). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day
Weather lore. (2022, September 25). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_lore
Comments