Swithins

Swithins refers to Saint Swithun, an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester who lived in the 9th century. He is primarily known for his association with the weather proverb concerning his feast day, July 15th. According to folklore, if it rains on Saint Swithun's Day, it will rain for the next forty days. This saying likely originated from an older pagan tradition that attributed significant rainfall to Saint Swithun's influence after his death.

Born around 800 AD, Swithun was consecrated as bishop of Winchester in 852 AD. He was a respected figure known for his piety and his role in the education of the young king Alfred the Great. Swithun was buried in the old Minster at Winchester, but his tomb was later moved to a more prominent location within the cathedral in 971 AD, an event believed to have been accompanied by miracles and which significantly boosted his popularity as a saint. His shrine became a major pilgrimage site throughout the medieval period.

The attribution of forty days of rain to his feast day is not supported by historical or scientific evidence and is considered a folk tradition. Despite this, the proverb remains a well-known piece of English folklore, often mentioned as the summer solstice approaches. The exact origins of the forty-day prediction are debated, with some scholars suggesting it might be a corruption of an earlier saying or a way to predict harvest weather.