13/02/2026
In Irish folklore, the 14th of February is not just about love, it also had the potential to predict the weather!
In Co. Galway, it was said that if a hedgehog emerged from its winter shelter at noon on Valentine’s Day and saw its own shadow, it would retreat for another six weeks, a sign that hard weather was still to come.
While in Co. Tipperary, people believed the rooks chose their mates on Valentine’s Day and began building their nests in early February. If the nests were built low, a poor summer was expected. If they were high, a fine summer lay ahead. An early cuckoo, too, was taken as a warning of bad weather to come.
These beliefs, recorded in the National Folklore Collection, remind us that Valentine’s Day was once a moment for reading signs in nature, not just exchanging cards.
Interested in traditions and tales in Ireland? Explore more in our part-time Heritage and Folklore Diploma - express your interest here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/ace-dhfs/
