A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Winter will have another flight: If on Candlemas day it be showre and rain, Winter is

gone and will not come again. This is a translation.. of that old Latin Distich; Si Sol

splendescat Maria purificante, Major erit glacies post festum quam fuit ante. 1980 Times

2 Feb. 11 Today is Candlemas Day. So let us see if the old legend holds good again as it

did last year. ‘If Candlemas day be sunny and bright, winter will have another flight; if

Candlemas day be cloudy with rain; winter is gone and won’t come again.’ weather lore

CANDLEMAS day, put beans in the clay; put candles and candle-sticks away

For Candlemas Day see preceding proverb. The two halves of the proverb appear to have
come together comparatively recently, with the instruction about sowing beans possibly being
displaced from St Valentine’s day (14 Feb.) in response to the shift from the Old Style to the
New Style calendar; cf. the rhyme attested from c 1640 On Saint Valentine’s Day cast beans in
clay But on Saint Chad (2 Mar.) sow good or bad (John Smyth, Berkeley MSS 33. no. 89).

1678 J. RAY English Proverbs (ed. 2) 344 On Candlemas day throw candle and

candlestick away. 1876 T. F. THISELTON-DYER British Popular Customs 55 From

Candlemas the use of tapers at vespers and litanies, which had continued through the

whole year, ceased until the ensuing All Hallow Mass.. On Candlemas Day, throw candle

and candlestick away. 1948 F. THOMPSON Still glides Stream ii. Broad beans were

planted.. on Candlemas Day. Candlemas Day, stick beans in the clay, Throw candle and

candlestick right away, they would quote. 1974 K. BRIGGS Folklore of Cotswolds ii.

Candlemas Day was the time.. when lights were extinguished. .. An old rhyme said:

Candlemas Day, put beans in the clay: Put candles and candle-sticks away. calendar

lore; garden lore

If the CAP fits, wear it

Used with reference to the suitability of names or descriptions as demonstrated by the
behaviour of the person concerned. Cf. if the SHOE fits, wear it. The cap in question was
originally a dunce’s cap, as is shown by the following: 1600 N. BRETON Pasquil’s Fools-Cap
A3 Where you finde a head fit for this Cappe, either bestowe it vpon him in charity, or send
him where he may haue them for his money.

1732 T. FULLER Gnomologia no. 2670 If any Fool finds the Cap fit him, let him

wear it. 1750 RICHARDSON Clarissa (ed. 3) VII. ii. If indeed thou findest.. that the cap

fits thy own head, why then.. clap it on. 1854 DICKENS Hard Times II. vii. ‘Mercenary. ..

Who is not mercenary?’.. ‘You know whether the cap fits you. .. If it does, you can wear

it.’ 1985 ‘J. GASH’ Pearlhanger xi. Little crooks get chased. Big crooks.. get knighted

and freedom. I don’t mean bankers and insurance syndicates, incidentally, though if the