July 15 - Saint Swithin's Day

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.

As the above rhyme suggests, today is the day to watch the weather because, if it rains on July 15, Saint Swithin's Day, it will be wet and miserable for the next forty days. Luckily, the reverse also applies. The day is named for a Bishop of Winchester, St. Swithin. Legend suggests that as the Bishop lay on his deathbed, he asked to be buried outside, rather than in a cathedral so that he could forevermore enjoy the variety of weather. His wish was granted and he was laid to rest in a simple outdoor grave. However, the Monks of Winchester believed that he deserved a much grander tomb and nine years later, on July 15, 971, they moved his remains to a shrine within the cathedral. Legend says that during the reburial ceremony there was a tremendous rain storm. From that day on it became a popular belief that rain appearing on July 15 signaled rain for the next forty days. Interestingly, a number of attempts have been made to prove the legend, however periods of rain have never been recorded after a rainy July 15! But it certainly can't hurt to watch the skies today.