The Bradwell, Braintree Oasis group painted imaginative pictures inspired by St Swithin’s Day which is 15th July. Swithin was born around the year 800 and became the Bishop of Winchester.
According to folklore, whatever the weather is like on that day, rain, or sunshine, it will continue for the next 40 days and 40 nights.
The old poem goes like this and was read out in the group:
“St Swithin’s Day if it does rain
Full forty days, it will remain.
St Swithin’s Day if it be fair
For forty days, t’will rain no more.”
Very few take the prediction seriously however and to date there has never been a record of forty days wet or dry!
Raindrops and apples are associated with St Swithin because according to folklore, apple growers hoped for rain on the 15th to bless and water the orchards for a good August harvest.