"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."
~ St. Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, was born around the year 800 and died on 2nd July 862 at Winchester. According to tradition, he had asked to be buried outside the west door of the Old Minster, so that rain would fall on his grave.
On 15 July 971, Swithun's remains were dug up and moved to a shrine in the cathedral. Miraculous cures were associated with the event, and St Swithun's feast day is the date of the removal of his remains.
But the removal was also accompanied by ferocious and violent rain storms that lasted 40 days and 40 nights which are said to indicate St Swithun's displeasure at being moved. This is probably the origin of the legend that if it rains on Saint Swithun's feast day, the rain will continue for 40 more days.
A small and belated September update for 2024, where I am still, after many years' membership, on 365 Project, also now posting elsewhere but wanting...
@trevi70 Thank you. Well I always knew about it vaguely but had to research the precise details to get my facts right. The main thing is we DO NOT need/want more rain!!
Oh I didn't realise it was St Swithuns Day so hopefully we shall now have 40 days WITHOUT rain. Fingers crossed although it doesn't sound that way from what I heard on countryfile toight
