Lore of the Moon

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17527, 2 May 1925, Page 17

Lore of the Moon

What Poets and Peasants say of her.

THE notion that the weather changes with the moon’s quarters is, in spile of the meteorologists, still believed by most people, and even educated persons to whom exact weather records are accessible, put credence in this maxim of popular astrology. Hence in many parts of England great attention is paid to the day of the week on which the moon's change occurs. Bv general consent Saturday- is an rnluclcv dav, and, according to a well-known proverb;— A Saturday's change and a Sunday s full j A Norfolk version of this rhyme tells ! Saturday new and Sunday full. Never was good and never wall. Saturday's change, and Sunday s prime, ]s enough in seven years' time. A change on Sunday is not altogether propitious, as, we are told, it indicates that “ there will be a flood before the month is out." A new moon on Monday, however, is in most places hailed as an omen of fair weather. Similar superstitions are held on the Continent; and in some parts of France Friday -is considered an unfavourable day for a change in the moon. When the moon is in such a part of the ecliptic as to appear turned upon her back, wet weather may be expected; and there are many rhymes bear--ing on this phase. One which is com mon to many parts of Scotland gives the following admonition; " The xnune is on her back; mend your shoon and sort your thack ”; implying, as Chambers, in his “ Popular Rhymes of Scotland,” tells us, mend your shoes and see after the thatch of your cottages. In many places, when the moon is thus situated, it is said to be like a boat, and is thought to be a sign of fine weather —an idea which is mentioned bv George Eliot in “ Adam Bede. “It ’ucl ha been belter if they had buried him i’ the forenoon, when the rain was failin’; there’s 110 likelihood of a drop now. An the moon lies like a

boat there. That’s a sure sign of fair weather.” Sailors, too, have a similar belief, for, to use their phrase, “You might hang your hat on it.” Southey notices this quaint piece of weather-lore, firmly believed in throughout the Lake District, and assigns the i following reason for it: “Poor LittleIdale has this day explained the cause of our late rains, which have prevailled for the last five weeks, by a theory which will probablj r be as new to you I as it is to me. * I have observed/ 3ie says, ‘ that when the moon is turned upwards we have fine weather after ;t, j but when it is turned downwards then ! we have a wet season; and the reason, j 1 think, is that when it is turned down I it holds no water, like a basin, you J know, and then down it comes/ I Occasionally, too, one may still hear I people remark when they cee the new moon's horns turned upwards: “Tba moon looks sharp; we'll have windy weather/* A pale moon is another sign ! of wet weather; a notion to which Shakespeare alludes in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” where he makes Titania say:— Therefore the moon, the gOTemesa of floods, Pale in her anger, washes all the air. That rheumatic diseases do abound; a piece of weather wisdom prevalent in France, where it is said that “A pale moon in evening or morning brings rain.” When, however, it has a red appearance it portends wind. A clear bright moon is always a welcome sight, being on omen of fine, dryweather. Thus, in summer time, the . farmer is admonished:— If the moon show a 6ilver shield, ! Be not afraid to reap your field; But if elie risee haloed round. Soon we'll tread on deluged ground. When a halo is seen round the moon it is supposed to foretell rain, or, as the country folk express it, “ The moon with a circle brings water in her beak.” According to the Scottish rhyme, About the moon there is a broch; The weather will be cauld and rough. There is a popular belief among seafaring men that whenever a planet or large star is seen near the moon, or, to make use of their own phrase, “ a big star is dogging the moon.” wild and tempestuous weather will soon set in.