July 15, St. Swithun's Day in England, people watch the weather with special attention — long-standing tradition suggests that what the weather will be like on St. Swithun's Day, it will be like this for the next 40 days.
It is believed that if it rains on St. Swithun, the rain will continue for 40 days (If it rains on St. Swithun's Day, it will rain for 40 days).
Saint Swithun of Winchester (St. Swithun of Winchester) — is an English bishop known for his charitable gifts and church building. In Britain he is revered as a « weather patron».
Legend claims that, lying on his deathbed, the bishop asked to be buried on the outside of the castle so that the rains could freely water his remains. The bishop died on July 2, 862 and was buried near the walls of Winchester Cathedral.
His will was carried out for a century until the monks of Winchester Castle transferred his remains inside — to a magnificent temple on July 15, 971. According to legend, heavy rain fell during the reburial ceremony, and subsequently heavy rains also fell on each anniversary of the bishop's death.
The symbols of St. Swithun, in addition to the legend of rain, are apples from trees planted by the bishop. In England they say that you should not eat apples before St. Swithun's Day.
Also on July 15, solemn services in memory of the saint are held in churches and cathedrals throughout the country. The clergy call on parishioners for charity and piety, telling about episodes from the life of Sweet Winchester.