The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WEATHER SUPERSTITION

IF YOU SEE COWS LAYING DOWN, THAT MEANS IT WILL RAIN.

Submitter comment: I FIRST HEARD THIS ITEM FROM MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD,
AND WE WERE TAKING A DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRY. SHE HAD HEARD
IT FROM HER MOTHER, WHO STRONGLY BELIEVED IT, AND WHO HAD LIVED ON A
FARM AS A SMALL GIRL. MY MOTHER "THINKS THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO
IT," BUT DOES NOT TOTALLY BELIEVE IN THE IDEA. MY FATHER HAS HEARD
THE SUPERSTITION ALSO.
SOMETIMES WE WOULD SEE A GROUP OF COWS: SOME STANDING AND SOME
LYING. HAVING NO REAL ANSWER, MY PARENTS WOULD TELL ME THAT THE
COWS WERE NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS GOING TO DO.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 11-00-1973