A cold April the barn will fill

1 April

Lore and belief

Opening his April, Chambers observed that proverbial wisdom took a kindly view of the month. A cold April was said to fill the barn, and rain was welcome: an April flood carried away the frog and his brood, and April showers made May flowers. Even wind did no harm, for when April blew his horn it was good for both hay and corn.

A cold April The barn will fill.

From Chambers's Book of Days, vol. 1, p. 456. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

Hunting the gowk Still kept ScotlandIn Scotland April fooling went further than in England.
Washing the lions No longer kept LondonIn March 1860 a great many people received through the post an official-looking card inviting them to the Tower of London to see the annual washing of the white lions on Sunday 1 April.
Sleeveless errands on All Fools’ Day Still kept EnglandChambers found the first of April given over to harmless tricks on unsuspecting neighbours, mostly by the young.
Ah, you April fool! Still kept EnglandHone traced how the April fool's street trick changed with fashion.
April fools and the Sabine virgins Lore and belief EnglandOne explanation of April fooling traced it to a trick played by the Romans on the Sabines.
Oil of hazel on All Fools’ Day No longer kept County DurhamAs a boy in Durham, Henderson was sent on 1 April to the chemist for a pennyworth of oil of hazel, and got it from the hazel stick kept behind the counter.

A cold April the barn will fill

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