Why do people keep a close eye on the weather around St Brigid’s Day?

Our second most venerated saint is said to have promised that every second day would be fine from her day onwards. St Brigid died in 525AD when winters were much colder, often with prolonged spells of snow, in sharp contrast to today’s climate

In keeping with recent warming trends, 663 plants and flowers were blooming at the turn of the year — not good news for some birds, insects and other animals, however, as the time of plant flowering might no longer be in sync with their life patterns. North Dingle peninsula near Mount Brandon, County Kerry

Country people have traditionally kept a close eye on the weather around St Brigid’s Day, February 1, also reading signs from it for how the elements would behave in the year ahead.

Being the first day of spring, the feast day marks an important turning point of the year, especially for farmers hoping for clement weather as they prepare to sow crops. On that account, their wish would be for rising temperatures and land drying out after winter.