There’s no shortage of old-timey wisdom from the past. One saying you may have heard is “Knee High by the Fourth of July.” But what does it mean? We explain.
Weather Folklore
Before there were weather apps for your smartphone, Doppler radar, or the National Weather Service, our ancestors were busy observing their natural surroundings and noticed that animal behavior, clouds, and other elements of nature gave clues about the weather to come.
The result: weather folklore — sayings, rhymes and anecdotes that were passed down from generation to generation. Weather lore is one of our favorite subjects here at Farmers’ Almanac, and It’s been a reader favorite since our very first edition in 1818.
Below is a collection from our archives.
There are many folklore sayings about the weather, but the easiest ones to remember are the ones that rhyme. See how many of these popular weather lore rhymes you know!
Every generation has its own method for predicting the weather. What did they do before Doppler radar? See what we said in the 1837 Almanac.
Hurricane season peaks September 10! What signs from nature did our ancestors watch to warn against weather’s fiercest storm? Check out the list and watch the cows and alligators.
Does the old saying, “lightning never strikes twice in the same place” hold true? Find out what Mother Nature has to say about it!
When you’re feeling extremely happy or blissful, you might feel you’re “on cloud nine.” But what on earth does being happy have to do with clouds? And why cloud nine? Find out!
What’s the meaning behind the “When it rains, it pours” slogan? And why does salt cake together on muggy or rainy days in the first place? Find out.
While most of us are familiar with “April showers bring May flowers,” there are many other weather folklore sayings associated with the spring season, which is notorious for wild, crazy weather. Which of these have you heard?
While groundhogs may be the most famous, they aren’t the only animals that can predict the weather. See this list of 11 animals to watch closely to see what’s to come.
Do these old weather lore rhymes still hold water today? And what do they have to do with fish?
Helpful Hint…
It’s easy to make everyone’s favorite side dish! Just mix 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes with 1 egg and 1/4 cup flour. Shape into tot shapes, roll in panko breadcrumbs, and fry in vegetable oil until deep golden brown. For extra deliciousness, add 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese to the potato mixture!
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1919, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
