St. Swithin's Day definition of St. Swithin's Day in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

St. Swithin's Day

July 15

When Swithin, the bishop of Winchester, England, died in 862, he was buried according to his wish, outside the cathedral in the churchyard, in a place where the rain from the eaves poured down. Whether this request was prompted by humility on his part or a wish to feel "the sweet rain of heaven" on his grave, it was reversed after his canonization, when clerical authorities tried to move his remains to a site within the church. According to legend, the heavens opened and there was a heavy rainfall—a show of the saint's displeasure that made it impossible to remove his body. This led to the popular belief that if it rains on St. Swithin's Day it will rain for 40 days; but if it is fair, it will be dry for 40 days. Swithin is the patron saint of rain, both for and against it.

SOURCES:
BkDays-1864, vol. II, p. 61
BkFest-1937, p. 60
DaysCustFaith-1957, p. 181
DictDays-1988, p. 106
FestSaintDays-1915, p. 150
FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 298
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 443
OxYear-1999, pp. 278, 294
SaintFestCh-1904, p. 328

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