Discover traditional Polish proverbs for December that reflect the changing weather and its impact on the coming year. Learn the meanings behind these folk sayings and find their English equivalents.
“Mroźny grudzień, wiele śniegu, żyzny roczek będzie w biegu.”
- Explanation: If December is cold and snowy, it signals a fruitful and productive year ahead.
- English equivalent: “A cold December brings a rich harvest in the year ahead” (similar in meaning to the idea that harsh winters bring prosperous years, though no direct equivalent).
“W pierwszym tygodniu grudnia, gdy pogoda stała, będzie zima długo biała.”
- Explanation: If the first week of December is calm and stable, a long and white winter will follow.
- English equivalent: There isn’t a direct equivalent in English, but it resonates with the notion that “as December goes, so the winter follows.”
“Grudzień jaki, czerwiec taki.”
- Explanation: December’s weather is said to be an omen for June’s weather (i.e., December’s coldness or warmth will influence the following summer).
- English equivalent: There is no direct equivalent in English, but a similar sentiment might be expressed with “If it snows in December, it’ll rain in June.”
“Suchy grudzień stoi za to, że sucha wiosna i suche lato.”
- Explanation: A dry December means that spring and summer will also be dry.
- English equivalent: This can be linked to the idea of “A dry autumn means a dry winter,” though no exact match exists in English.
“Jeśli w grudniu często dmucha, to w marcu wciąż plucha.”
- Explanation: If December is windy, March will be rainy.
- English equivalent: This might have a similar feel to the saying, “March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb,” referring to March’s unpredictability, though it doesn’t specifically mention December.
“Grudzień z grzmotami, rok z wiatrami.”
- Explanation: Thunder in December suggests a windy year ahead.
- English equivalent: While there’s no exact English equivalent, there’s a similar saying: “Thunder in winter, a sign of storms in the year ahead.”
“Gdy w adwencie szadź na drzewach się pokazuje, to rok urodzajny nam zwiastuje.”
- Explanation: If frost appears on trees during Advent (early December), it signals a year of abundance.
- English equivalent: There is no direct English equivalent, but the sentiment echoes the idea of “A hard frost in December makes a fertile spring.”
“Grudzień zimny, śniegiem pokryty, daje rok w zboże obfity.”
- Explanation: A cold, snowy December promises a bountiful harvest the next year.
- English equivalent: “A harsh winter means a good harvest.” While not as common in English, this idea is shared in many cultures as a warning that a cold season indicates a fertile year.