[From Mona Miscellany second series Manx Soc vol 21]

WEATHER SAYINGS.

" The Isle of Man seen fair and clear,
Is a sign of westerly breezes here.
This is a weather proverb at Maryport, in Cumberland.

"A fox day." Deceitful weather, not to be depended on, is a common expression in the Island, by which is meant a single fair day is sure to be closely pursued by a rainy one.

"Cha jean un ghollan-gheayee sourey,
Ny ny chellagh cheylley geurey."
"One swallow does not make a summer,
Nor one woodcock a winter."

"Sheen kishan dy yoan mayrnt maaill bleeaney vannin."
" A peck of March dust is worth a year’s rent in the Isle of man."
A common saying is, A peck of March dust is worth a king’s ransom.

" Three kegeeshyn dy chegeeshyn slane,
Ta voish laa’l thomys sy nollick gys laa’l Breeshey bane."
" Three fortnights, or forty-two days,
From St. Thomas’ to Candlemas."

" Laal’ moirrey ny gianle, lieh foddyr as lich aile."
"On Candlemas day you must have half your straw and half your hay."

" Laa’l Breeshey bane,
Dy choolley yeeig lane,
Dy ghoo ny dy vane."
"By Candlemas day,
Fill up every drain,
Both the black and the white."

"Choud as hig y scell-ghreinney stiagh Laa’l Breeshey, hig y sniaghtey my jig laa boayldyn."
" As long as the sunbeam enters in on St. Bridget’s day, the snow will come before May day."

It is also said—

" If Candlemas day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight;
If on Candlemas day it be shower and rain,
Winter is gone, and will not come again."

"Laa’l Paul ghorrinagh gheayee,
Ghenney er y theihll as baase-mooar sleih;
Laa’l Paul aalin as glen,
Paichey er y theihll dy arroo as meinn."

"St. Paul’s being tempestuous and windy,
Brings famine and great mortality;
But St. Paul’s being calm and clear,
Brings plenty of corn and meal"

" Laa’l Parick arree yn dow gys e staik as y dooinney gys e lhiabbee."
" On St. Patrick’s day, the ox to his stake, and the man from[sic to] his bed."

" Giare sheear, liauyr shiar."
" Short west, long east." Alluding to the wind.

" Oie mooie, as oie elley sthie,
Olk son cabbil, agh son kirree mie."
"One night out and another night in
Is bad for horses, but good for sheep."

" Ollick vog Rhullie vea."
" A wet Christmas, a rich churchyard."

" Foddee fastyr grianagh ye ec moghrey bodjalagh."
" A sunny evening may follow a cloudy morning."

" Yn chiuney smoo erbee geay jiass sniessey j’ee."
"Next to the greatest calm is the south wind."

"Ny three geay-ghyn s’feayrey dennee, Fion M’Cooil,
Geay henneu, as geay huill,
As geay fo ny shiauill."
"The three coldest winds that came to Fion M’Cooil,
Wind from a thaw, wind from a hole,
And wind from under the sails."

"Tan vayrnt chionney as yn nah vee fanney."
" March tightens, and April skins."
" Ta Eayst jesarn sy vayrnt dy liooar ayns shiaght bleeaney."
"A Saturday’s moon in March is enough in seven years."

There was an old superstition in the Island that a Saturday’s new moon was unlucky, but one occurring in March still more so. Once, then, in seven years would be often enough for such an event.

"My ta’n Ghrian jiarg tra girree telt,
Foddee shiu jerkal rish fliaghey."
" If the sun is red when he rises you may expect rain."

" Lane croie cabbyl dy ushtey laa’l Yoan feeu mayl Vannin."
" A horse-shoe full of water on St. John’s day is worth the rent of the Isle of Man."

Aged Manx people, when they wish for particular weather at the approach of the different seasons of the year, say—
" Arragh chayeeagh."—" A misty spring."
" Sourey ouyragh."—" Gloomy summer."
" Fouyr ghrianagh."—" Sunny autumn."
" As geurey rioccagh."—" A frosty winter."