The proverbs of Signor Pio… continued

Signor Pio dal Pozzolo

This morning at breakfast Signor Pio dal Pozzolo again had a proverb. It goes with today’s saint, the Roman virgin and martyr Saint Bibiana. She also known as “Vivian” or “Vibiana”, and according to the legend, died during the paganizing persecutions of Julian the Apostate (361). She is the patroness of those suffering from mental illness and is associated with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; her relics are preserved in the basilica of Santa Bibiana in Rome, and in the cathedral of Los Angeles (if it is the same Bibiana).

Well, back to Signor Pio dal Pozzolo and his proverbs. The rhyme in Italian goes like this:

Santa Bibiana:
Quaranta giorni e una settimana!

Literally, the proverb translates as follows:

Saint Bibiana
Forty days and a week.

What does that mean? It means that whatever the weather is on St Viviana's day (2 December), that will give the weather pattern for the next seven weeks. If there is sun today, the winter will be clear. If there is rain today, the weather will be wet. If there is cold today, the winter will be a bitter one. Saint Viviana's feast bring forty days like it and a week besides!

Well the day started out dark, and then there was rain… and then there was hail… and thunder… and lightning… and more rain.

Does that mean we are in for a miserable winter here in Rome?

Actually, it has been raining every third day since I arrived at October’s end. If the proverb proves a true forecast this year, we can expect seven more weeks of it. Yet, there were some moments of daylight and sunshine too this morning… will Santa Bibiana have seen the sun and endorsed that?