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Ice Saints

Updated: Wikipedia source

Ice Saints

The Ice Saints are Mamertus, Pancras of Rome, Servatius of Tongeren and Boniface of Tarsus. They are so named because their feast days fall on the days of May 11, May 12, May 13 and May 14 respectively, which often saw the last cold snap of the season. In some countries, only three are included in the Ice Saints, and Sophia of Rome (May 15) can be added in some areas. In the United Kingdom, the term 'blackthorn winter' is an old phrase originating in rural England to describe a cold period in early spring when blackthorn is in flower.

References

  1. Verasamy, Lucy. "The return of the blackthorn winter", ITV News, April 10, 2019
    https://www.itv.com/news/2019-04-10/the-return-of-the-blackthorn-winter
  2. Hambling, David. "A cold snap in May? Are the saints to blame?", The Guardian, May 10, 2013
    https://www.theguardian.com/news/2013/may/10/weatherwatch-cold-may-ice-saints
  3. "Ice Saints", Federal Office for Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss
    https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/weather/weather-and-climate-from-a-to-z/ice-saints.html
  4. Amend, Birgit. "Ice Saints", TFA Guide, June 5, 2024
    https://www.tfa-dostmann.de/en/ice-saints/
  5. Schlangen, Maureen, "Saintly custom: Why gardeners don't plant until May 15" (2008). News Release 1847
    https://ecommons.udayton.edu/news_rls/1847
  6. "Legend of the Ice Saints", Chicago Tribune, August 23, 2021
    https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/05/08/ask-tom-why-legend-of-the-ice-saints/
  7. Sveriges meteorologiska och hydrologiska institut
    https://www.smhi.se/kunskapsbanken/meteorologi/jarnnatter-1.3904
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