Folklore Guide to the Weather

Back 1950's, considering that we had no car, we had quite adventurous family holidays. In 1954 possibly 1955 we went by train to Bideford in a North Devon, and have stayed in a caravan at Westward Ho! (Yes, the town really does have an official exclamation mark!

I am not sure if there are any extant photographs from this holiday, but I have on my shelves, a little booklet, now without its cover, concerning traditional weather sayings. It is Folklore Guide to the Weather published by the the Westerner Press at Westward Ho! in 1954.

I will repeat a few of the sayings at random:-


Green Clouds

If the clouds take on a greenish hue, A heavy storm of rain is very imminent.


Appetite

When everything at the table is eaten, it indicates continued clear weather.


Frogs

When the frogs croak much, it is a sign of rain.

The louder the frogs, the more the rain.


Turkeys

Turkeys perched on trees and refusing to descend indicates snow.


Sound...

Good day for hearing

A good hearing day is a sign of a wet.


Chairs and corns

See how the chairs and tables crack,

Old Betty's joints are on the rack;

Her corns with shooting pains torment her

And to her bed untimely sends her.

It will surely rain, I see with sorrow;

Our jaunt must be put off tomorrow.