looking hopeful?          -         St Swithun's Day by quietpurplehaze

looking hopeful? - St Swithun's Day

"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.

Looks like you will have nice weather today - Happy St Swithun's Day. I am liking the fluffy little cloud you centered on.
July 15th, 2012  
Beautiful detail. I love the story you wrote along with it. I always wondered what St. switches day was about!
July 15th, 2012  
@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!!
July 15th, 2012  
Hazel, it's been fine here so I do hope you are right!
July 15th, 2012  
Nice clouds.
July 15th, 2012  
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
July 15th, 2012  
@tishpics @rosiekind Apparently if it doesn't rain on the day it doesn't mean 40 daysof sun!! Oh well - 20 would be nice..............
July 15th, 2012  
Happy St Swithuns Day. The sky looks promising with a wonderfully, blue, clear sky. I hope you get 40 days with NO rain :-)
July 16th, 2012  
It would be nice but unfortunately St Swithun is still disgruntled in Cambridge!
July 16th, 2012  
@judithg Unfortunately he's still disgruntled here..........
July 16th, 2012  
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