St Swithin’s Day 2018: When is St Swithin’s Day - what date is it?
ST SWITHIN’S Day is a curious event on the British calendar revolving around the life and teachings of St Swithin, and it falls this weekend. When is St Swithin’s day?
BBC weather: Kirkwood warns of TORRENTIAL thunderstorms
St Swithin’s day holds a limited significance in the UK, with many unaware of the occasion or legend associated with it.
St Swithin (or Swithun) was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester, who died in AD862, and was later immortalised as patron saint of Winchester cathedral.
Originally, on the Bishop’s death, he was buried with the common people outside the church, but was later dug up and replaced in a shrine within the Cathedral.
Writers around the time recorded a strange happening, as rain streamed down on the church for 40 days, but it is not known whether this actually happened.
When is St Swithin’s day?
St Swithin’s day falls on July 15, when weather forecast on that one day is supposed to hold for the next 40.
This means that if predicted high temperatures arise this Sunday, they will go on for 40 days, the same goes for rain if showers occur.
The superstition is recorded in a 12th century verse from St Swithin which reads:
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 na mair
How do you celebrate St Swithin’s day?
St Swithin’s day has no traditional celebrations earmarked for the day, but it has had a presence in popular culture.
Generally used as a metaphor for remembrance of lost love in art and literature, St Swithin’s day was the title of a Billy Bragg song from Brewing Up with Billy Bragg.
It also featured in David Nicholls' book One Day which was apparently inspired by the song.
According to the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS), the myth has no examined evidence in nature.
Since records began, there have been no instances of 40 days of unabated rain or shine.
The RMetS has confirmed however, that the song does have theoretical basis in scientific fact.
Weather in the UK is often dependent on a jet stream pattern, which arrives in the summer and can provide either rain or sun.
When the jet stream is further north of the UK - as it is now - continental pressure is able to bring sunshine and heat.
Should the jet stream drift to the south of the country, the result instead is Atlantic weather systems bringing Arctic air and water weather.
This means that summer can be defined as long periods of rain or sun based on the location of the jet stream.