Saint Elmo’s fire is the glow that accompanies a steady discharge of electricity from certain objects. It occurs during thunderstorms or at other times when electrified clouds are present, and it is visible only in complete darkness.
In the past, St. Elmo’s fire was commonly seen around the masts of sailing ships. Today, people sometimes see it around the propellers and wing tips of airplanes that are flying through electrified clouds. A few people have reported observing St. Elmo’s fire around the horns of cattle. The name Elmo is a form of Erasmus. Saint Erasmus was considered the patron saint of Mediterranean sailors.
