Can you catch a bird by putting salt on its tail? Find out.
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.
Learn about this warming weather pattern and what must be in place to make it officially an “Indian Summer.”
Are there signs from nature that indicate when rain will fall? Check out some of our favorite rainy day clues.
Besides groundhogs, there are many animals that are known to have weather predicting abilities. Learn which ones predict what kind of weather here.
According to weather lore, coffee supposedly can foretell what type of weather is in store for you. There is a belief that if the bubbles of coffee collect in the center of your cup, you can expect fair weather. If they adhere to the cup,
This unique phenomenon has been a cause of a lot of speculation and awe. Learn what it is and what causes this “fire.”
Choosing a date for your wedding is a big decision. Check out this old wedding folklore and see the rhyme for your marriage month!
Some believe that if cows are lying down rain is on its way. Is this a good method of predicting rain? We have the answer.
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.
