For the longest of time, Icelanders depended solely on farming and fishing to earn their livelihood; occupations that in many ways were dependant on weather. Different methods were used to try and foretell the weather; people would observe the way animals behaved, interpret dreams and even try and note changes in their own bodies. According to the book Íslenskir Þjóðhættir, the first thing a farmer would do in the morning was to make the sign of the cross and then check the weather.
Wild and domestic animals were thought to possess a sixth sense and the ability to foresee changes in the weather. Thus people would pay close attention to their behaviour in order to try and predict the weather. In the southern part of the country farmers believed it would rain if European oystercatchers flocked together and tucked their beaks up against their breasts. If the birds sang exceptionally loud at dawn, one could expect rain later that day. On the other hand, if the oystercatchers sang loudly in the afternoon, the next day would be dry.
When rock ptarmigans would leave mountains and moors and flock around farmhouses one was to expect the worst.
It was common belief that weather conditions on specific days gave clues as to what was to follow. For instance, if the month of Þorri (which began around the 20th of January) was calm and frosty, spring would arrive early. If the sun was shining on Candle Mass (2nd of February), one could expect snow soon after. A dark and gloomy Good Friday was followed by a good summer with great grass growth. Bad winter usually followed a mild autumn. A good summer was to be expected if the first days of the month Góa were particularly bad.
A red sky at dawn boded bad weather and rain, while a red sky at dusk was an omen of good weather.
During autumn, dainty, glittering threads tend to form between tree-branches. Icelanders call these threads vetrarkvíði, which translates directly to “winter-anxiety”. When a good number of vetrarkvíði are visible, the following winter will see heavy snow.
A farmer and his sheep, Photo/Vilhelm Gunnarsson
Sheep foretell the weather
It was widely believed that if sheep begin to urinate in the pen more frequently than normally it meant the next days it would rain heavily, but of course. Rainfall could also be expected when livestock started to shake themselves in dry weather. Headbutting sheep on the other hand, predicted heavy winds.
Here’s a little tip for travellers: should one want to find out whether the next couple of days are to be sunny or rainy, one can do so by analysing the colour of sheep’s urine: a greyish colour bodes rain, while yellow indicates sun.
Rain follows stiff joints
Sometimes the sheep were left to do their business in peace and instead people took to analysing their own bodily functions. It was maintained that when rain was expected, people felt the need to relieve themselves more frequently. Not only that, but a thin jet of urine forecast bad weather, whereas a wide jet meant the weather would be good. And lastly, stiff joints were considered a sign of imminent nasty, northern winds.
This may sound silly, but modern science has proven this to be true. When there is humidity the air pressure rises and this results in stiff joints and more frequent visits to the loo.
The weather in Iceland can be unpredictable at best, one could even compare it to that much quoted box of chocolates: you never know what you are going to get. A warm and sunny day can change into its complete opposite in the blink of an eye – something that happens frequently in the highlands. So the best philosophy is hope for the best, but dress for the worst when travelling in Iceland.
For the longest of time, Icelanders depended solely on farming and fishing to earn their livelihood; occupations that in many ways were dependant on weather. Different methods were used to try and foretell the weather; people would observe the way animals behaved, interpret dreams and even try and note changes in their own bodies. According to the book Íslenskir Þjóðhættir, the first thing a farmer would do in the morning was to make the sign of the cross and then check the weather.
Wild and domestic animals were thought to possess a sixth sense and the ability to foresee changes in the weather. Thus people would pay close attention to their behaviour in order to try and predict the weather. In the southern part of the country farmers believed it would rain if European oystercatchers flocked together and tucked their beaks up against their breasts. If the birds sang exceptionally loud at dawn, one could expect rain later that day. On the other hand, if the oystercatchers sang loudly in the afternoon, the next day would be dry.
When rock ptarmigans would leave mountains and moors and flock around farmhouses one was to expect the worst.
It was common belief that weather conditions on specific days gave clues as to what was to follow. For instance, if the month of Þorri (which began around the 20th of January) was calm and frosty, spring would arrive early. If the sun was shining on Candle Mass (2nd of February), one could expect snow soon after. A dark and gloomy Good Friday was followed by a good summer with great grass growth. Bad winter usually followed a mild autumn. A good summer was to be expected if the first days of the month Góa were particularly bad.
A red sky at dawn boded bad weather and rain, while a red sky at dusk was an omen of good weather.
During autumn, dainty, glittering threads tend to form between tree-branches. Icelanders call these threads vetrarkvíði, which translates directly to “winter-anxiety”. When a good number of vetrarkvíði are visible, the following winter will see heavy snow.
A farmer and his sheep, Photo/Vilhelm Gunnarsson
Sheep foretell the weather
It was widely believed that if sheep begin to urinate in the pen more frequently than normally it meant the next days it would rain heavily, but of course. Rainfall could also be expected when livestock started to shake themselves in dry weather. Headbutting sheep on the other hand, predicted heavy winds.
Here’s a little tip for travellers: should one want to find out whether the next couple of days are to be sunny or rainy, one can do so by analysing the colour of sheep’s urine: a greyish colour bodes rain, while yellow indicates sun.
Rain follows stiff joints
Sometimes the sheep were left to do their business in peace and instead people took to analysing their own bodily functions. It was maintained that when rain was expected, people felt the need to relieve themselves more frequently. Not only that, but a thin jet of urine forecast bad weather, whereas a wide jet meant the weather would be good. And lastly, stiff joints were considered a sign of imminent nasty, northern winds.
This may sound silly, but modern science has proven this to be true. When there is humidity the air pressure rises and this results in stiff joints and more frequent visits to the loo.
