1. _Chances of the Coming Year._—If the night of January 1 should
be fine and calm, without rain or wind, it signifies a good year and
abundance of everything. If the wind is in the east, there will be
mortality of cattle; if in the west, there will be grave trouble, wars
and dissensions among nations; if in the south, there will be some
mortality among human beings; if in the north, there is the likelihood
of barrenness in all harvests.
2. _The Year’s Chances._—When Christmas Day falls during the moon’s
increase, the year will be very good, and the nearer that it is to the
new moon the better it will be. But if it falls during the waning moon,
there will be a hard year, and the nearer that it is to the decrescence
the worse it will be.
3. _Signs of the Sun._—If it be red in the morning, there will be
rain in the evening; if it be red in the evening, a fine morning will
follow. Fine weather must not be expected when the sun rises with long
beams of light shooting over devolving clouds. Should the luminary
look small and round like a ball this denotes rain or tempest. Rain
and thunder are signified when the sun grows dark and obscure in the
daytime. A bad day will follow when it sets enveloped in black cloud.
4. _Signs of Fine Weather._—This is denoted by a slight fog in the
east before sunrise; by a white or aureated border about the horizon,
and moisture on windows at dawn; by a heavy dew and a serene sun in the
early morning; and by clearness, brightness and small, scattered red
clouds at sunset.
5. _Lunar Signs._—A blue tinge on the moon portends rain, a red tinge
means wind to come, but white coloring signifies fine weather. Fine
days are likely to follow a fine Tuesday. If the horns are obscured
on the third or fourth day, this indicates rain. If the circle of the
moon is red, a bad time may follow; if it does not appear at all on the
fourth day of its renewal, the whole period of the moon will be dull
and rainy. If it rains on the first Tuesday after the full moon, it
will so continue during the rest of the moon’s period, and the reverse
in the contrary case. If the moon is clear on rising, there will be
fine weather in summer and severe cold in winter; clearness at the full
promises a fair time; so also when the halo melts quickly, but a double
halo means storm.
6. _Star Signs._—When the stars seem longer than usual, rain is
likely; when they are nebulous or obscure, though no clouds are
visible, this means rain or snow—according to season. When they are
encircled by fog, a cold wind is betokened; when they are clear and
sparkling, it means cold in winter and fair weather in summer.
7. _Vintage Prospects._—If the sun is clear and bright on the Feast
of Vincent, an old adage says that there will be more wind than water,
which means that there will be a rich harvest of grapes.