Current Superstitions Part 35

_Eastern Ma.s.sachusetts._

956. The twelve days at Christmas time make the almanac for the year.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

957. It is a general notion that a cold winter is followed by a hot summer, and _vice versa_.

958. It always rains while the Cadets are in camp.

_Eastern Ma.s.sachusetts._

959. It always rains during May meetin's.

_Boston, Ma.s.s._

960. It always rains during a cattle-show.

_Deerfield, Ma.s.s._

961. Women "cruising," _i.e._, visiting about on "pot-days," especially Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, when people have their best dinner (usually pork and cabbage) in the pot, is a sign of bad weather. But it is also said that it is a sign of mild weather.

_Newfoundland and Labrador._

FAIR OR FOUL.

962. Of a change:--

Long looked for Long last, Short notice, Soon past.

_Brookline, Ma.s.s._

963. From twelve till two Tells what the day will do.

_New England._

964. If it rains before seven It will drip before eleven.

_Eastern Maine._

965. If it rain before seven It will quit before eleven.

_Prince Edward Island and, Maine, Ma.s.sachusetts, and Northern Ohio._

966. If a storm clears off in the night, pleasant weather will last but a few hours.

_Northern Ohio._

967. In uncertain or threatening weather it is said that if you can see a piece of blue sky big enough to make a pair of breeches, it will clear off.

_Maine, Ma.s.sachusetts, and Northern Ohio._

968. Variant: If you can see enough blue sky in the west to make an old woman's ap.r.o.n, it will clear off.

_Eastern Maine._

969. Clocks and watches tick louder before mild weather.

_Scilly Cove, N.F._

970. Cobwebs on the gra.s.s are a sign of fair weather.

_General in the United States._

971. If every dish is cleaned at a given meal, then look for fair weather the following day.

_Pennsylvania Germans._

972. Fog lying in valleys is a sign of a "civil" day.

_Bay Roberts, N.F._

973. If h.o.a.r frost remains after sunrise, the day will be fine; if not, the day will be wet.

_Scilly Cove, N.F._

974. A load of hay pa.s.sing means fair weather.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

975. Rainbow in the morning, Sailors take warning; Rainbow at night, Sailor's delight.

_General in Canada and the United States._

976. A rainbow is a sign of showers.

_Prince Edward Island._

977. Rain falling while the sun is s.h.i.+ning indicates more showers.

_Prince Edward Island and Northern Ohio._

978. Rain falling while the sun s.h.i.+nes is a sign it will rain next day.

_Methuen, Ma.s.s._

979. Rain falling while the sun is s.h.i.+ning means that the devil is beating his wife with a codfish.

_General in the United States._

980. Thunder in the morning, All the day storming; Thunder at night Is the sailor's delight.

981. Red at night Sailor's delight; Red in the morning, Sailors take warning.

_Maine and Eastern Ma.s.sachusetts._

982. Evening red and morning gray Will speed the traveler on his way.

Evening gray and morning red Will bring the rain upon his head.

_Ma.s.sachusetts, New York, and Ohio._

983. Evening red and morning gray, You'll surely have a pleasant day.

_New York._

984. Red sun, hot day to-morrow.

985. High wind at dawn is a sign of a "civil" (calm) day.

_Newfoundland._

986. Sun's "hounds" (a sort of halo) before the sun denote dirty weather; after the sun, denote fine weather.

_Scilly Cove, N.F._

In Prince Edward Island and the United States these halos are called "sun-dogs," and are said to be a sign of coming rain.