Have you ever heard of St. Swithun’s day? It is not, as you might suspect, the day of the Saint’s death. It is in fact, a different day, and there is an ancient English poem that speaks of its tradition.

St. Swithun's day, if thou dost rain,
For forty days it will remain;
St. Swithun's day, if thou be fair,
For forty days 'twill rain na mair.

St. Swithun (or Swithin) was a priest who lived among the West-Saxons during the ninth century. The ruler at that time, King Egbert, was impressed by Swithun’s virtue and learning, and appointed the saint as his chaplain. In time, Swithun was entrusted with the education of the future king, prince Ethelwolf, who later in ruling would request that Swithun be made his bishop.

Swithun lived through one of the most significant and lasting changes that his nation has ever undergone. In the year 829, King Egbert declared that his kingdom would, from that time forward, be known as England, and its people, Englishmen. He was thus crowned that same year as the first king of England.

Throughout his life, as advisor to the king and bishop of Winchester, St. Swithun took his responsibilities very seriously and cared diligently for those under his charge. He repaired existing churches and built new ones. He encouraged sinners to repentance, and warned the just to stay vigilant, lest they fall. He ate with the poor and needy, and denied himself intensely from food and sleep. By his great virtue, sacrifices and labor he earned many graces, doing much good for his diocese and country.

St. Swithun passed to his eternal reward on July 2nd, 862. He was buried, as he had instructed, in a simple grave in the churchyard of the Old Minster Cathedral. In his humility, he had wanted to be among the common passersby and "where the rain might fall".

Now comes the history behind the old English poem.

It was about a hundred years after the beloved bishop’s death, and his grave had become a place of pilgrimage and a sight of miracles for his countrymen. So the monks and ecclesiastics felt that it was necessary to transfer the Saint’s relics to a more prominent location for the pilgrims.

But the task would not be an easy one. For the day of the transfer, July 15th, 971, became christened in church history by a violent downpour of rain; a storm said to have lasted forty days! Perhaps, the deceased Saint, looking down from Heaven, was reminding everyone of his humble wishes to be accounted among the commonfolk he had served so well.

Thus, the association of St. Swithun with the rain was born, and July 15th would be thereafter remembered as "Swithun’s Day"! The simple poem became a reminder of the extraordinary event and, even more importantly, of the holy bishop who would live on in the memory of his countrymen as the Saint of the poor and commonfolk, whom he had loved and labored dearly for in life.