If you’ve spent the summer in Germany before, you may have heard someone mention Siebenschläfertag – usually while looking up at the sky on June 27th. This particular day is thought to act as something of an omen for the summer to come. The basic idea is that whatever the weather is like on this day will shape the next seven weeks: Sunshine promises a long stretch of hot weather, while rain hints at a soggy spell ahead. This belief can be traced back to
a centuries-old tradition, yet modern scientists refuse to dismiss it entirely. For new residents, it is also a handy window into German culture, where “farmers’ rules” (Bauernregeln) still crop up in everyday conversation. What is Siebenschläfertag? The word Siebenschläfertag breaks down into three parts – sieben (seven), Schläfer (sleepers) and Tag (day), so Seven Sleepers’ Day. The name comes from an ancient legend about the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus. According to the story, seven young Christians hid from people trying to kill them in a
cave during the third century AD. They were subsequently walled up inside, but instead of dying fell into a deep sleep. Then, 195 years later – on June 27th, 446 – they were discovered by chance, woke up, bore witness to their faith in the resurrection, and then died (this time for real). READ ALSO: How to keep your cool in Germany during the heatwave Over time farmers observed that the weather on this date seemed to set the tone for the rest of summer,
so this religious feast day became linked with weather lore. Eventually, this gave rise to a number of well-known German sayings: Scheint am Siebenschläfer Sonne, gibt es sieben Wochen Wonne. If the sun shines on Seven Sleepers’ Day, there will be seven weeks of bliss. Werden die sieben Schläfer nass, regnet’s noch lange Fass um Fass. If the seven sleepers get wet, it will rain buckets for a long time. Calendar days believed to hold special predictive meaning for the weather are called Lostage in
German. The name comes from the old German word Los, which means fate or destiny. Another example is Mariä Lichtmess (Candlemas) on February 2nd (also known as the European ancestor of Groundhog Day in the US). Not to be confused with… Despite the name, Siebenschläfertag has nothing to do with the animal called a Siebenschläfer – a small, mouse-like creature known in English as the edible or fat dormouse. The animal gets its German name from its impressive hibernation habits, sleeping for about seven to
eight months each year. Is there any truth in the folk tale? In the story, the seven sleeping Christians woke up on June 27th – but before the Gregorian calendar was introduced in the 16th century. Technically, this means that the feast of the Seven Sleepers would originally have fallen around ten days’ later. Meteorologists today get around this problem by paying attention to the period from late June to early July, rather than a single day. But in Germany some do still seem to
believe there’s some truth to the saying. READ ALSO: IN NUMBERS – Yes, summers in Germany really are getting hotter At this time of year, the jet stream – a high-altitude band of wind that shapes European weather – often stabilises. Once a certain pattern sets in, it can often persist for several weeks. This means that if high-pressure systems dominate at the end of June, warm and dry weather could be expected to continue. If low-pressure systems take over, more changeable or rainy conditions
can follow. But the Siebenschläfer rule is only correct in roughly two out of every three years in southern Germany – according to the German Weather Service (DWD) – and even less regularly in central and northern parts of the country. What will the weather be like in Germany on Siebenschläfertag this year? This year, the tradition is coinciding with particularly dramatic weather, as an extremely pronounced heatwave is currently moving across Central Europe. On June 27th itself, temperatures of 36C to 38C are expected
in many parts of Germany, with around 40C possible in the southwest. Hot, humid conditions may also trigger thunderstorms. So does this mean that Germany is in for seven weeks of extreme heat? READ ALSO: RANKED – The best German cities to be in during a heatwave The Weather Channel notes that a cooling trend is expected after the current heatwave, with temperatures in many places dropping below 25C. The DWD also indicates that thunderstorms and fresher air are likely to bring temporary relief after
the hot spell. Beyond that, forecasters claim there are too many uncertainties in their weather models to reliably predict the chances of further, prolonged heatwaves. So it’s to be seen if the ‘seven sleepers’ will get it right this year.
Germany, Siebenschläfertag, Seven Sleepers’ Day, June 27, weather omen, Bauernregeln, DWD, heatwave, jet stream, Lostage, Mariä Lichtmess