Swithun

Swithun was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester and a scholar. He was born in the Kingdom of Wessex in 794 and died in 862. He is primarily known for his association with Saint Swithun's Day, July 15th, a date in the traditional calendar that is said to predict the weather for the next 40 days.

Swithun was educated at the monastery of St. Peter in Winchester and later became a monk. He was ordained a priest and rose through the ranks of the church, eventually becoming Bishop of Winchester in 852. He served in this capacity for ten years, during which time he was known for his piety, his charitable works, and his dedication to learning. He was also an advisor to King Egbert and King Æthelwulf of Wessex.

According to tradition, Swithun requested to be buried outside, in a humble grave, where the rain could fall on him. However, after his death, his remains were moved to an ornate tomb within Winchester Cathedral. The story goes that the monks moved his body on July 15th, and a great deluge of rain followed, which was interpreted as a sign of Swithun's displeasure at his relocation. This event is said to be the origin of the proverb: "If on Saint Swithun's day it doth rain, for forty days it shall remain." While the scientific basis for this weather prediction is questionable, the legend of Saint Swithun and his rain is a persistent part of English folklore. Swithun was canonized as a saint in the 10th century.