The saying, “March in like a lion, out like a lamb” is popular folklore, but is there any truth to this? And where did this saying come from?
While the origins of this saying aren’t quite clear, there is a reference to it in a 1732 volume of proverbs by English author Thomas Fuller. After that, it was in most farmer’s almanacs.
Some think it has links to astronomy with the locations of the constellations Leo (lion) and Aries (ram or lamb). At the start of the month, Leo is on the eastern horizon at sunset and at the end of the month, Aries is on the western horizon at sunset.
Month of March meteorologically
March itself is a transitional month, going from winter to spring.
It’s not uncommon for the beginning of the month to feature big storm systems, including snow and even severe weather. By the end of the month, more mild weather overspreads much of the country, and there are not as significant clashes of air masses.
However, this is not always the case and can vary.
The saying talks about balance. If the month comes in active, like a lion, it should go out docile, like a lamb. Or, if it comes in docile, it should go out active. Yet, meteorologically speaking, that doesn’t always happen.
Other popular folklore masquerading as long-range weather forecasting includes the woolly bear caterpillars and their prediction of winter.
While most folklore is just that, lore, some hold some meaning in short-term meteorology.
For example, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning,” and “mares’ tails and mackerel scales make lofty ships carry low sails” are good indications of sky conditions and what weather follows it.
Other March folklore
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, here are some other March-related sayings:
- “A dry March and a wet May; Fill barns and bays with corn and hay.”
- “As it rains in March, so it rains in June.”
- “March winds and April showers, bring forth May flowers.”
- “So many mists in March you see, so many frosts in May will be.”
