Gdy na Wincentego i nawrócenie Pawła pogoda świeci, spodziewajcie się dobrego lata, dzieci
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What it means
“When the weather shines on Vincent’s day and the Conversion of Paul, expect a good summer, children.” Clear weather around 22 January (Saint Vincent) and 25 January (Conversion of Saint Paul) is a folk sign of a warm, sunny summer ahead.
Vocabulary
- pogoda — weather; also: good weather
- świecić — to shine
- spodziewać się — to expect, to hope for
- nawrócenie — conversion
Grammar note
'Spodziewajcie się' is the imperative plural of 'spodziewać się'. The rhyme 'świeci / dzieci' gives the proverb its memorable form.
Cultural context
Saint Vincent is 22 January; the Conversion of Saint Paul is 25 January. Both were key dates in the Polish folk calendar for weather divination.
Intermediate
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