Swithin, Saint, also spelled Swithun, was appointed bishop of Winchester, England, in 852. Swithin was born in Wessex in southwestern England and raised at the abbey of Winchester. After his ordination as a priest, he served as chaplain and chief adviser to Egbert and Ethelwulf, kings of the West Saxons. Swithin died in 862 and was canonized (declared a saint) in the 900’s. St. Swithin’s Day is July 15. According to an old rhyme, the weather that day will last for 40 days:
St. Swithin’s Day, if thou dost rainfor forty days it shall remain;St. Swithin’s Day, if thou art fairfor forty days ‘twill rain nay mare.
