From the farmers’ world, the tradition of the

“Carennuli di Natale”

In the old days, the farmers did not have internet, nor the weather service from which to obtain information concerning the weather.

They used a natural method to predict the climate:

“Carennuli di Natale”

Starting from Dec. 13 the farmers observed the weather and to each day corresponded a month (Dec. 13 – January / Dec. 14 – February etc.).

I would like to verify if the prediction is correct…. Would you do it with me?

Weather in Trapani – Sicily 2012



Cold            Dec. 13   -   January



Mild             Dec. 14   -   February



Mild             Dec. 15   -   March



Mild             Dec. 16   -   April



Mild             Dec. 17   -   May



Windy-Mild   Dec. 18   -   June



Windy-Mild   Dec. 19   -   July



Warm           Dec. 20   -  August



Windy-Mild   Dec. 21   -   September



Mild             Dec. 22   -   October



Warm           Dec. 23   -   November



Warm            Dec. 24   -   December



Dec.13 is St. Lucy’s Day and is also the shortest day of the year.

From St. Lucy’s Day to Christmas the day will lengthen slowly, and from Christmas to New Year will lengthen more. We do have a saying for it:

“Di Santa Lucia a Natali, quanto un passo di cani e

di Natali a l’annu novu, quanto un passo d’omu.”

From St. Lucy’s Day to Christmas, the day will lengthen like a dog’s step, from Christmas to New Year like a man’s step”