Using Folklore to Predict the Weather

Old timers were well known for using folklore as a means to predict the weather. Folklore signs were often times the only means available to predict the weather. Most people didn't have electricity, they may have had a battery powered radio, but batteries were expensive and not considered a necessity, so folklore was counted on heavily to know what the weather held in store.

As a child growing up I remember hearing my parents talk of the weather. They would see folklore signs, learned from their parents, which would point to weather patterns. Folklore such as, if it rains while the sun is out, that means that it will rain at the same time tomorrow. This type of weather prediction is contributed to folklore. I thought it might be interesting to learn how to predict the weather using folklore signs.

Lets start this off with using folklore to predict rain. There are many folklore signs our ancestors used to predict rain. Folklore signs such as, if the big dipper is pointing downward, where water can pour out of it, it will rain. If there are any number of stars in the halo of the moon, it will rain in that many days. Folklore also predicts that if a rooster crows at night, it will rain the next day. If you hear a chorus of frogs singing, folklore predicts dry weather as the frogs are calling for rain.

Lets see now what folklore has in store for winter weather predictions. Of course, we all know the folklore prediction about the groundhog and his shadow. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of bad weather. If a cat sits with it's back turned toward the fire, it is going to snow. If animals develop an extra heavy winter coat, folklore predicts that the winter weather will be bitterly cold. Folklore predicts that an abundance of dog berries in the fall, means there will be a lot of snow the next winter. That particular folklore weather prediction doesn't mean a lot to me, I have no idea what a dog berry is!

These are some more interesting folklore signs that predict the weather. If birds feed and sing during rainy weather, it will rain for a long period of time. If the birds stay in the trees, to wait it out, the rain will only last a short while. This folklore sign has more than one weather prediction, depending on the season. If your bones hurt and ache, a storm is on it's way, it might be in the form of a thunderstorm or a cold snap. This folklore weather prediction states that if your dog starts running around acting strange during a storm, beware, severe weather is coming.

Sources:
My parents
www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/weather-sailor.html