St. Swithin's Day

Today, 15th of July, is St. Swithin's Day. Swithin, or Swithon, was bishop of Winchester from 852 until his death in 862, and the cathedral in the town was dedicated to him. There is a popular superstition that rain on this day presages rain for 40 succeeding days. This belief is thought to have originated in the fact that the removal of his body from the church-yard, where it had been interred, to the cathedral interior on July 15th 971, was delayed by heavy rain.