Unlocking the Mysteries of Weather Folklore: Exploring the Wisdom of Weather Lore Sayings

Every culture has its own wisdom encapsulated in memorable short phrases that are easy to remember. Sayings and proverbs serve as a form of practical and moral guidance, as cultures express their unique understanding of the human experience through idioms and folk sayings.

Advent and the Christmas holidays are associated not only with many traditions and customs, but also with superstitions, weather folklore, and weather lore sayings.

Throughout the centuries, weather folklore has been passed down. Many people wonder if there is any truth behind these sayings. Some of these legends actually have scientific reasoning behind them, while others are just passed down for fun. Below are some explanations behind some of the more common weather folklore sayings

December Weather Lore Sayings That Are Not All About Snow

Although weather folklore exists for every part of the year and for nearly every type of weather phenomenon, much of the traditional lore revolves around snow.

However, there are also weather lore sayings that are not just about snow, even during the month of December. While snow-related sayings are present, there is a lot more to the lore!

See below the examples of December Weather Lore Sayings:

• Rain before Mass on the first Sunday in December means rain for a week.
• On St. Thomas’s Day (December 21) the winter takes its full power.
• If December is rainy, mild, and unsettled, the winter will not be harsh.
• If December is cold and the earth is covered with snow, next year’s rye will be in abundance.
• If there’s thunder during Christmas week, the winter will be anything but meek.
• A green Christmas brings a heavy harvest.
• So many hours of Sun on Christmas Day, so many frosts in the month of May.
• If it rains on Christmas, there will be four weeks with no sun.
• A windy Christmas is a sign of a good year to come.
• Light Christmas, light wheatsheaf; Dark Christmas, heavy wheatsheaf.

The folklore of Christmas Day weather

Christmas attracts a lot of weather folklore. Many proverbs suggest that the weather on Christmas Day will be opposite to the weather later on. There is a lot of folklore associated with the weather on Christmas Day, more than any other day.

If there’s thunder during Christmas week,
The winter will be anything but meek.

The folklore surrounding Christmas weather suggests that the weather on Christmas Day will be the opposite of what happens later during Easter.

This could be a simple comparison between winter and spring, where winter represents dormancy and spring represents new growth. It could also be related to Christianity, symbolizing death and rebirth, which are opposite poles of the Christian story.

If at Christmas ice hangs on the willow,
clover may be cut at Easter.

Christmas in snow, Easter in mud! 
Green Christmas, white Easter.

At Christmas meadows green, at Easter covered with frost.
So many hours of Sun on Christmas Day, so many frosts in the month of May.

Christmas Day Folklore and the Harvest

Christmas Day folklore often includes predicting weather for the agriculture and harvest.

If there is much wind on Christmas Day,
trees will bear much fruit.

If Christmas day be bright and clear,
there’ll be two winters in the year.

A green Christmas brings a heavy harvest.

When Christmas Eve is clear,
our Lord will give us an abundance of wine and corn.

If the Sun shines through an apple tree on Christmas,
there will be an abundant crop of apples in the coming year.

If December be changeable and mild,
The whole winter will remain a child.

If the wind blows much on Stephen’s Day (December 26),
the grapes will be bad in the next year.

The nearer the New Moon to Christmas Day, the harder the winter.

The text states that while Christmas Day is a specific date, there are also many general sayings and predictions about cold weather. It mentions the theme of opposites, explaining that while sun can be seen as a bad sign, a hard freeze at Christmas is considered a good sign, indicating a mild winter.

Three white frosts and next a storm.

Heavy frosts are generally followed by fine, clear weather.

The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow.

Snow for a se’nnight (week) is a mother to the earth, for ever after a stepmother.

When snow falls in the mud, it remains all winter.

If in winter there is thunder, snow will fall in a week or under

When the first snowflakes are large, the snowstorm will be a lasting one. When they are small, the storm will be a short one.

If snow begins at mid of day, expect a foot of it to lay.

When the snow falls dry, it means to lie. But flakes light and soft bring rain oft.

When snow melts off the roof, the next storm will be rain. When the snow blows off, reckon on snow.

Winter Weather Folklore Sayings

The folklore of winter weather is truly captivating.

Many generations have passed down weather sayings that offer insight into the severity of winter. Hunters, farmers, and fishermen relied on these sayings to predict storms and the harshness of the coming winter.

The study of such weather proverbs, known as paremiology, reveals that while most are simply fanciful fun with no scientific basis, some have been found to have a kernel of truth at their core. Despite their reliability, these old wives’ tales predicting winter weather are enjoyable to observe!

Acorns… that fall heavily mean a cold winter is coming. Similarly, a large crop of walnuts means a snowy, cold season. Thick nutshells predict a severe winter. 

Flowers… that have a second bloom in the fall or hold onto their blooms late in the season forecast a colder winter.  

“Flowers bloomin’ in late Autumn,
A sure sign of a bad winter comin’.”

Leaves that fall early indicate a mild winter, while late-falling leaves predict a wild winter. If the leaves wither on the branches in October instead of falling, an extra cold winter is in store.

“When leaves fall early, Fall and winter will be mild;
When leaves fall late, Winter will be severe.”

Onion skins… which are thicker than usual, indicate a rough winter ahead.

Apple skins…which are tougher and thicker, also tell us a colder winter is expected.

Corn husks… which are thicker and tighter than usual, indicate a cold winter ahead.

Squirrels… with very bushy tails in the fall cue a colder winter. If squirrels stash their nuts high in the trees, the snow will be deep.

”When squirrels early start to hoard,
winter will pierce us like a sword.”

Beavers were like weather experts for Native Americans. They used the thickness of their coats, body fat, food caches, and winter dens to predict winter weather.

According to Indigenous beliefs, the bigger and stronger the beaver lodge, the harsher the upcoming winter. If leaves fall early, expect a mild winter; if they fall late, expect a wild one. And if the leaves wither on the branches in October instead of falling, brace yourself for an extra cold winter.

”When you see a beaver carrying sticks in its mouth,
it will be a hard winter—you better go south.”

If bees…build their nests in a protected spot, such as inside a barn or shed, expect a hard winter.

As high as the hornets build their nests, so will the snow be next winter.

How One Month Affects Another

• “If a cold August follows a hot July, It foretells a winter hard and dry.”
• “For every fog in August, There will be a snowfall in winter.”
• “If the first week in August is unusually warm, The coming Winter will be snowy and long.”
• “A warm October, A cold February.”
• “As the days lengthen, the cold strengthens.” (The coldest time of the year is mid-January, about three weeks after the shortest day.)

Weather Watching

• Thunder in the fall foretells a cold winter.
• If there is thunder in winter, it will snow seven days later.

Date of the First Snow

There are many similar variations in forecasting snow based on the date of the very first snowfall.

• The date of the first snowflakes tells how many times it will snow. Should the year’s first snow, for example, come down on the 12th of the month, you can expect 12 more storms before the winter’s done.
• The number of days from Christmas when the first snowflakes fall will tell you how many times it will snow this winter.
• The date of the first snowflakes plus the number of days past the new moon tells how many times it will snow this winter.

Ancient Christmas folklore is rich with sayings, predictions, and lore from different parts of the world

In the USA, folklore around Christmas often includes stories of Santa Claus, reindeer, and gift-giving. Sayings like “Peace on Earth, goodwill to men” and “Twas the night before Christmas” are widely known and cherished.

In other parts of the world, Christmas folklore is diverse.

In some European countries, folklore includes tales of mythical creatures like the Yule Lads in Iceland and Krampus in parts of Central Europe. Sayings and predictions related to weather and natural phenomena are often part of Christmas folklore around the world.

For example, in some cultures, a white Christmas is seen as a sign of good luck and prosperity for the coming year. Lore sayings related to Christmas often revolve around traditions, such as the lighting of candles, the decoration of Christmas trees, and the significance of certain foods.

For instance, in parts of Scandinavia, the tradition of “setting the sheaf” involves leaving a bundle of grain or hay for the birds on Christmas Eve, signifying a gesture of goodwill and abundance. Overall, while some elements of Christmas folklore may be specific to certain regions, there are common themes of generosity, hope, and the celebration of light and warmth that resonate across cultures during the holiday season.

Lore sayings associated with December or Christmas in Europe

In Europe, December is a month steeped in rich folklore and timeless sayings that have been passed down through generations, adding a touch of magic to the festive season. From ancient legends to traditional proverbs, these lore sayings are woven into the cultural fabric of the continent, reflecting the enduring significance of December and Christmas across Europe.

• “Advent, Advent, ein Lichtlein brennt”: This German saying captures the anticipation of Advent, the period leading up to Christmas, by evoking the image of a candle burning each Sunday as part of the Advent wreath tradition.

• “Cada cosa a su tiempo, y los nabos a adviento”: Hailing from Spain, this proverb emphasizes the importance of patience and timing, reminding individuals to await the arrival of the Christmas season before focusing on certain activities.

• “Saint Nicholas brings the sun”: In some European countries, Saint Nicholas is associated with the lengthening of days and the return of sunlight, symbolizing the promise of renewal and hope during the winter solstice.
• “When the bear dances on Christmas, the wolf will not eat the sheep”: This Bulgarian saying conveys the idea of unexpected or miraculous occurrences during the holiday season, underscoring the spirit of joy and harmony associated with Christmas.
• “Christmas rose, Christ’s thorn”: Rooted in Albanian folklore, this saying refers to the legend of the Christmas rose, a symbol of hope and purity believed to have bloomed miraculously on the night of Christ’s birth.
• “At Christmas, all doors are open”: This Italian saying reflects the spirit of hospitality and inclusivity during the Christmas season, highlighting the tradition of welcoming friends and family with open arms.
• “Cold hands, warm heart”: Found in various European cultures, this saying emphasizes the idea that a person with cold hands is believed to have a warm and generous nature, a sentiment that resonates during the season of giving.
• “The moon observes the feast of the Nativity”: This old Czech saying underscores the idea of celestial phenomena aligning with the joyous occasion of Christmas, adding an element of wonder and significance to the holiday.
• “Christmas comes in a carriage”: This Latvian saying reflects the anticipation and excitement surrounding Christmas’s arrival, likening its approach to the grand entrance of a festive carriage.
• “The Christmas log is too heavy for a child, too light for an adult.” This French saying symbolizes shared responsibilities and the collective effort required to uphold holiday traditions, emphasizing unity and collaboration.

These lore sayings offer a captivating glimpse into the rich tapestry of European folklore and the enduring customs associated with December and Christmas. Rooted in tradition, these sayings impart timeless wisdom and evoke the enchanting spirit of the holiday season, serving as a testament to the enduring cultural significance of December across Europe.