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Quiz about Weather Sayings from Olde England

Weather Sayings from Olde England Quiz

Here are some more of the old sayings my mother used. These are concerned with the weather in England. If you don't recognize them, try looking for the rhymes.

A multiple-choice quiz by Toeknee448. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Toeknee448

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
360,151

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2563

Last 3 plays: alythman (6/10), sabbaticalfire (8/10), hellobion (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. There are a lot of sayings about the times when trees grow their leaves. Here is one: Ash before oak, we shall have a soak.

What will we get if the oaks' leaves come before the ash? Hint

enough rain for a horse to bath

watch the sheep into shelter dash.

water enough for fish to wash

only a splash

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Question 2 of 10

2. If it is cold on a certain saint's day, 22nd of February, the cold is really here to stay.

According to the rhyme, what is the name of the saint? Be careful. If you think you know saints' days, you might be led astray. Hint

St Peter

St George

St Andrew

St Stephen

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Question 3 of 10

3. The weather on St Swithin's Day, July 15th, is said to hold for how many days after? Hint

100

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Question 4 of 10

4. July 25th is St Jacob's day. If it is clear on that day, what good are we promised? Hint

plenty of fruit

plenty of fog

plenty of rain

baskets full of mushrooms

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Question 5 of 10

5. Complete this saying: "When the wind is in the east then 'tis good for__". Hint

pigs on fallen fruit may feast

making bread rise with the yeast

rain clouds at the least

neither man nor beast

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which wind is said to be a lazy wind? Hint

west

north

east

south

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Question 7 of 10

7. Rain before seven means what? Hint

that God's in His heaven

fine by eleven

rain till eleven

thunderstorms will follow

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Question 8 of 10

8. "Many haws mean many snows, and many sloes mean cold toes."

What color blossom do sloes have? Hint

scarlet

deep purple

tiny almost invisible green

white

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Question 9 of 10

9. To which vegetable does this refer? "If the skin be very thin, mild weather be a-coming in." Hint

carrot

tomato

leek

onion

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is said to be coming if the birds start to sing in January? Hint

high winds

frosts

thunderstorms

a long fine spring

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 10 2024 : alythman: 6/10
Nov 24 2024 : sabbaticalfire: 8/10
Nov 12 2024 : hellobion: 7/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. There are a lot of sayings about the times when trees grow their leaves. Here is one: Ash before oak, we shall have a soak. What will we get if the oaks' leaves come before the ash?

Answer: only a splash

This is the way I was taught the rhyme, but my Cornish friends believe the opposite and I am told that the Germans do also. I have also heard other sayings, but they were usually describing a downpour on a specific day.

2. If it is cold on a certain saint's day, 22nd of February, the cold is really here to stay. According to the rhyme, what is the name of the saint? Be careful. If you think you know saints' days, you might be led astray.

Answer: St Peter

Whoa. Before you query me, read this. The saying says "St Peter's Day". I know St Peter's Day is 29th June, but 22 February is the day of St Peter Damian. If you try substituting all of that for the date, there just aren't enough syllables in the rhyme for it to scan properly.

3. The weather on St Swithin's Day, July 15th, is said to hold for how many days after?

Answer: 40

St Swithin was buried against his will within the Cathedral in Winchester. He had wanted to be buried as a commoner in the graveyard, so in his anger, he brought this saying into being.

4. July 25th is St Jacob's day. If it is clear on that day, what good are we promised?

Answer: plenty of fruit

By 25th July the fruit will be set on the trees and have started to swell. Any bad weather after this is not likely to affect the crop too badly, so this is likely to be the last crucial date.

5. Complete this saying: "When the wind is in the east then 'tis good for__".

Answer: neither man nor beast

There is a second part of this rhyme, which is, "When the wind is from the west, then it's at its very best."

6. Which wind is said to be a lazy wind?

Answer: east

This is because it is said to go through you, rather than make the effort to go round.

7. Rain before seven means what?

Answer: fine by eleven

Although by no means a reliable forecast, it often follows that early rain gives way to dry weather later. I used to be told to watch the sky and see when there was enough blue to make a sailor a pair of trousers, because only then it was the prospect reliable enough to get ready to go out.

8. "Many haws mean many snows, and many sloes mean cold toes." What color blossom do sloes have?

Answer: white

Sloes, which are rampant in hedgerows, are otherwise known as blackthorn, and make our hedgerows look glorious in spring with their abundant white blossom.

9. To which vegetable does this refer? "If the skin be very thin, mild weather be a-coming in."

Answer: onion

I have heard this applied also to apples, but I did specify vegetable.
The rhyme ends "Onion skin thick and tough, winter coming will be cold and rough."

10. What is said to be coming if the birds start to sing in January?

Answer: frosts

The old farmers expected the birds to begin courting in February, but dreaded them starting too early. They claimed that the birds' wedding day was St Valentine's day - February 14th. If all this is right, birds must have a very short courtship! (Actually, of course, they do.)

Source: Author Toeknee448

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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