Saint Swithin’s Day in U.K. 2023: Date, History, Facts about Midsummer

Saint Swithin’s Day on July 15 does not help dispel the stereotype of England’s preoccupation with the weather, which is a running joke. As you may have surmised, the story is about St. Swithin, who was the bishop of Winchester in the mid-800s. It is remarkable that so little information is available about him and his services, given that a special day has been dedicated to him and his miracles. According to legend, whether England awakens to rain or sunlight on July 15, the subsequent 40 days and nights will have the same weather conditions. Therefore, if it showers on July 15, you should have your umbrella at your disposal for the next forty days. There is no scientific or historical evidence to support the claim that the weather has been the same for 40 days. Saint Swithin’s Day is also observed to commemorate the saint’s historical miracles.

The background of Saint Swithin’s Day

Saint Swithin’s Day honours the Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester from 852 to 863, Saint Swithin. During the same time frame, he became the patron saint of Winchester Cathedral. His existence before and after he became bishop is scarcely discussed in historical records. In addition, there are not many records of his miracles. In one of the few instances in which a miracle conducted by Saint Swithin is mentioned, he repaired a woman’s egg basket after she dropped it upon seeing the bishop unexpectedly. Even though there aren’t that many miracles associated with him, he is still a celebrated figure in Britain, so much so that approximately 40 churches are dedicated to him throughout the nation.

Saint Swithin’s Day is associated in legend with the bishop’s wrath and thunderstorms. He desired that the common people have access to his shrine out of affection for them. Consequently, he constructed his monument in the churchyard. He is quoted as saying that this would also enable him to appreciate the falling rain from the heavens. St. Swithin’s request was granted in 863, and he was interred according to his instructions in the churchyard. While he relished his resting place for a century, he was relocated because it was deemed inappropriate for saints to be buried with commoners. The English skies were then filled with clouds of heavy, torrential rain, and thus the legend of Saint Swithin’s wrath was founded. Other hypotheses regarding the day are based on ancient pagan beliefs about the changing weather patterns that occurred when midsummer arrived.

5 Midsummer Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

Midsummer is the longest day of summer and is also known as the summer solstice, which occurs on June 21 each year.

Some historians believe that Stonehenge was a type of calendar that marked the path of the sun, enabling people to keep track of the seasons such as summer and winter.

In Northern Europe, where winters are typically lengthy, harsh, and dark, midsummer is considered significant.

In some cultures, people pick midsummer flowers in order to discover their true love, and they keep the flowers under their pillows so they can dream about their true love.

The other quarter days are Michaelmas Day (September 29), Lady Day (March 25), and Christmas Day (December 24).

SAINT SWITHIN’S DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	July 15	Saturday
2024	July 15	Monday
2025	July 15	Tuesday
2026	July 15	Wednesday
2027	July 15	Thursday