The origin of March’s famous weather folklore

There are countless pieces of weather folklore and idioms, and perhaps one of the most well-known pieces of folklore is during March.

We’ve all heard the saying “in like a lion, out like a lamb,” or vice-versa about March’s weather – the lion is a signal of stormy, unsettled weather while the lamb represents calm, nice weather.

But where did the saying originate? There are various historical beliefs about how this folklore came to be.

One, according to the Farmers’ Almanac, is a relation to an ancestral belief in balance. That meant if the weather to start the month was bad, like a roaring lion, it would balance out with good weather, like a gentle lamb, to finish the month.

The Farmers’ Almanac also states people believed bad spirits could affect our weather and were cautious with what they did and didn’t do in certain situations.

There’s the belief the saying is of biblical origin because Jesus arrived as the sacrificial lamb but will return as the Lion of Judah.

For some, the answer can be found in the stars. Not to be confused with the zodiac sign, but the Leo constellation – which represents a lion, rises in March. The Aries zodiac sign from March 21 to April 19 also represents a ram.

The most common question, though, is if there’s any truth to this folklore.

There’s no science to deem this folklore fact or fiction, but there’s no doubt that March is a month of transition. It’s a month where winter still rears its head, but spring-like weather starts making more appearances.

It won’t come as a surprise that while unscientific, the infamous saying often rings true.

Michele Lawlor wondered if March came in like a lion on P.E.I. It’s said that if March comes in like a lion, it will go out as a lamb.