WIND.S (French Folks Traditions)
By observing the wind at certain times, we can know which one will dominate during the year. In this area, the Palm Sunday wind is the most widespread indicator, but it is not the only one.
In Côte d'Or, it is the one that blows during the Elevation of the mass of the first Sunday of Lent, unless it is "corrected" by that of Palm Sunday.
Often, the personified winds also engage in battle.
In the Marne, according to tradition the winds begin to fight on the day of the Conversion of Saint Paul (January 25) and cease their fight on Saint Blaise (February 3). The wind that wins the victory will be the one that blows that day: it will dominate throughout the year.
In the Vosges, it is said that the four winds fight at the Conversion of Saint Paul and that the first to blow at sunrise will be the dominant wind of the year to come.
Each region being exposed to different winds, beliefs often crystallize on those that farmers observe at home. For example, in Puy-de-Dôme, the east wind is only supposed to blow very rarely and not for more than three hours at a time.
A woman from the Gospel of the Cattails (15th century) declares that in Savoy, to ward off a storm, you must make a fire with four oak sticks crossed in the wind and draw a cross on them. (a lot of crosses, definitely.)
Marine winds :
In Finistère it is usual to clean a chapel which will be chosen and to pour the collected dust in the direction of the wind that we want to see blow.
In the 16th century, the sorcerers' wind ropes were mentioned, which had three enchanted knots. The first to be unknot gets a gentle wind. The second a strong wind and the third, a storm.
Often, Saint Anthony is invoked with insults when the sea is calm, or the moss of the boats must whip each other to bring in the winds.
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Omens :
Still in the Gospel of the Cattail it is also said that when "you hear a strong wind, know that it is a sign of betrayal, or bad news."
In certain regions (Brittany) high winds are signs of misfortune, but in others (Berry) of prolific harvests. "Year of high wind - Year of wheat".
In many places in central France, there is fear of the wind on August 9, which can destroy crops overnight.
In the Vosges, we fear the wind at night from January 11 to 12. If it comes from the East, the animals will die. If he comes from the South, the house will be full of sick people. If he comes from the West, there will be war, and if he comes from the North, the fields will be barren.
Gusts of Wind and Whirlwind :
In many places in France, Whirlwinds are a "bad" omen : either the Devil pursues a soul; either certain People of the Little People pursue several; either it is the souls of the damned who wander and seek to harm men; (etc)
Sometimes, even Sorcerers can find themselves caught in it against their will for not having obeyed the Demon's orders.
In most cases, to free those who are under the influence of such winds, it is necessary to plant a knife with a curved blade in the center of the whirlwind. Sometimes it is a fork; in all cases it must be a metal and sharp object. Often it is necessary to pronounce consecrated formulas and command the “Follet” to go away.
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[Excerpts arranged by me from Sebillot & M.C Delmas.]
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