GRANDMA SAYS: Past weather conditions offer epiphany for Newfoundland and Labrador

From record heat to heavy snow, our weather has been pretty topsy-turvy since Christmas. Penny Beebe says this snowman doesn't know what to make of it either! Well, Grandma had a theory … - Contributed

The 12 days of Christmas is the period in Christian theology that marks the span between the birth of Christ and the coming of the magi, the three wise men.

It begins on Christmas Day and runs through Jan. 6 - the Epiphany, sometimes also called Three Kings' Day, or Little Christmas. 

Did you know the weather during those 12 days can give you a glimpse at the weather for the year ahead? Or at least Grandma thought so.

According to our ancestors, the weather on Christmas Day and the following 11 days determines the weather for each month in the coming year.  

Here’s how: The weather on Dec. 25th foretells the weather for January; Dec. 26 foretells February’s weather, and so on.  

Here’s what I have for Eastern Newfoundland, based on the data collected at the St John’s airport:  

Dec. 25: Mild and damp (January) 
Dec. 26: Record heat and windy (February) 
Dec. 27: Windy and very mild (March) 
Dec. 28: Pleasant – seasonal (April) 
Dec. 29: Mild and wet (May) 
Dec. 30: Mild and wet (June) 
Dec. 31: Mild and windy (July)  
Jan. 1: Windy -seasonal (August)   
Jan. 2: Cold (September) 
Jan. 3: Windy and damp (October) 
Jan. 4: Pleasant – seasonal (November) 
Jan. 5: Windy, mild and wet (December)

And here’s what I have for Western Newfoundland, based on the data collected at the Deer Lake airport:  

Dec. 25: Mild and damp (January) 
Dec. 26: Record heat - wet (February) 
Dec. 27: Windy and mild (March) 
Dec. 28: Mild (April) 
Dec. 29: Mild and wet (May) 
Dec. 30: Pleasant – seasonal (June) 
Dec. 31: Pleasant – seasonal (July)  
Jan. 1: Windy and cold (August)   
Jan. 2: Cold (September) 
Jan. 3: Pleasant - seasonal (October) 
Jan. 4: Pleasant – seasonal (November) 
Jan. 5: Damp – seasonal (December)

Every year, Santa brought me a journal and the weather conditions on the 12 days of Christmas were my first entries. It’s not too late to get a journal and start making weather observations.  It’s a great family activity! 

Happy New Year everyone and remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing choices. 

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Cindy Day is the chief meteorologist for SaltWire Network