BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Folklore and Mythology Old Folklore Proverbs or Poems

Old farmers say:

- If the spring in windy, expect a cool summer.

- If it is a dry spring, it will be a wet summer.

Well that is for sure, Francine. We have had snow, rain, bitter cold, wind storms and now sunshine and temps in the high 50's and 60's in the last two weeks. April started out very cold and now is quite nice during the day, very cold at night.

Proverb from Michigan farmer:

Michigan winds are fiercest in the spring. Why, just last year, the wind knocked one of our mountains over into a valley. Folks woke up the next day to find themselves living on a plain.

When clouds appear like towers, the Earth is refreshed by frequent showers.

Some Bauernregeln for May Phyllis, which certainly started out as a beautiful day yesterday.

Schw�rmt die Biene schon im Mai, gibt es ganz bestimmt viel Heu.

When the bees are already swarming in May, the harvest will bring plenty of hay.

And at the moment there are bees and even butterflies out and about here, so hopefully the next one does not prove accurate this year.

Die erste Liebe und der Mai, gehen selten ohne Frost vorbei.

First love and May seldom continue without frost(so problem free as far as the first love goes).

I love it!

We are having bees and butterflies starting to come around. Our nights are still fairly cold.

If the oak is out before the ash then we are in for a splash,
But if the ash is out before the oak we are in for a soak.

Thanks for the delightful information, Francine. I can hardly believe it is already June - almost half our year now experienced.

My family loves potatoes. At every potluck there are potato salads, scalloped potatoes, potato au gratin, potato/sausage/peppers/onions dish. We love it! I once fixed a German potato salad and everyone loved it!

I wish I had my own yard to grow potatoes.

The month of May was very radical as far as the weather goes. We kept switching around to all four seasons on one month. We never knew how to dress each day. It would snow, hail, or rain in the mornings, warm up by lunch time and a few days of thunder in the afternoons.

I will have to go search for some summer weather proverbs to share with you. I do remember that if the wasps build their nests in the open, we will have a dry summer.

Thank you, as always, Francine for sharing your proverb with us.

Over here we have not yet seen any ant hills yet. They must be somewhere though because we are getting the large red ants around the patio.

I love your new Avatar! Castles are one of my favorite interests.

Oh my gosh! You have been up there? It is so beautiful. Thank you for the information on it, Francine.

That is sad that King Ludwig died before his castle was completed.

Here is another proverb for you:

Thunder in the morning, all day storming -
Thunder at night is the travelers delight

& this ole guy plans to visit that same castle about a week after Thanksgiving this year. Am really looking forward to it!

I LOVE the castle avatar too!!! I've dreamt of visiting a castle. And living there! Like a Queen!

The only folk saying I can think of is April showers bring May flowers LOL!!!

No dew on the grass at night is a sign of rain.


Deanna and Francine, did either of you see that movie, titled '(something) In April'? It was about a group of women who all paid their own part to rent a castle somewhere in Europe. It is a really good movie. Anyway, I have always wanted to do that. If I could spend a month in an ancient castle with dear friends I would be so happy. What a delightful experience that would be.


PS: Francine, Beetlemess is away for the long weekend. I am sure he will answer your post when he returns. He is very good about replying.

Phyllis, I don't know of that movie! I agree though, it would be an amazing experience to share a castle with good friends! Seems it would be pretty inspiring too!

It would be glorious to have a BellaOnline gathering in a castle in Germany! I would probably not be able to attend, but, I can dream.

'Enchanted April' was a wonderful movie. I know a few people who have families back in Germany who live in castles. They have their own little apartment and share the kitchen downstairs, which is huge with the big old stone fireplace they still use for some cooking.

That is a delightful story about your son and his concern for the lonely skeleton.

I would love that, Francine. I have tried twitching my nose for a castle to appear on my little mountain, but it is just not working!

Watch those small cumulus (puffy) clouds in the morning or early afternoon. If the rounded tops of these clouds, which have flat bases, grow higher than the cloud's width, then there's a chance of a thunderstorm forming.

We still have not had a good thunderstorm here. Just a few rumbles here and there.

The evening red and morning gray
Are sure signs of a fine day,
But the evening gray and the morning red,
Makes the sailor shake his head.

I learned the same atmospheric readings as:

Red sky at night,
Sailor's Delight.
Red Sky at morning,
Sailor's take warning.

The two actually say the same thing.

Yes, they do say the same thing. My parents always taught us the way you say it. I found the other version and had never heard it before. It is much easier with your version.

If clouds are gathering thick and fast,
Keep sharp look out for sail and mast,
But if they slowly onward crawl,
Shoot your lines, nets and trawl.

Thank you, Francine. I always look forward to your proverbs.

Yeah - I guess it would have been odd to see a farmer back in the days during harvest time sitting at a table with pen and ink trying to think of a proverb to write.

Hi Francine,

I guess this proverb is famous around the world, said in different ways.

Our family always said:

Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morn, sailor's take warn.

Thanks for sharing -- I enjoy your proverbs.