As a new month begins, many of us wonder what kind of weather February will bring, especially as the seasons start to shift. The weather page Maltese Islands Weather has shared some traditional Maltese sayings, offering insight into what our ancestors believed about February’s weather patterns. Have you come across any of these before?

‘Jannar kiefer, iżda Frar għandu d-dwiefer’

(January is cruel but February has claws)

Meaning: While January may be cold, February often brings more intense storms and biting winds, proving that it can be just as fierce, if not more so.

‘Frar ifawwar il-bjar’

(February causes wells to overflow)

Meaning: The 60 mm of rain that falls in an average February overflows the wells after they are almost filled with rain in December and January, the two months in which it rains the most, according to climatic statistics.

‘Meta tiġi l-Gandlora, it-temp jitlaq u jvora’

(When Candlemas comes, bad weather goes away)

Meaning: The Feast of Candlemas on the 2nd of February traditionally signals the easing of winter’s harsh weather.

‘Meta jiġi Ħadd il-Bluh, ix-xita tibda tfuħ’

(When Fool’s Sunday comes, rain begins to get scarce)

Meaning: Carnival, usually celebrated at some point in February – this year coming a little later than usual, at the end of February and beginning of March – tends to mark the advent of spring, bringing less frequent rain on the islands.

As we are only a few days into February, it remains to be seen how closely this month will align with these traditional proverbs. Yet, as we speculate about what’s ahead, there’s something comforting about turning to the wisdom of Malta’s ancestors. Their observations, passed down through generations, offer a cultural lens through which we can appreciate our ever-changing weather.

Do you know any more February weather proverbs?