In the Milwaukee Journal yesterday on the weather page, there was this little article which I found to be very interesting.  Most people don't know the stories of the saints and these three are new to me. 

The Ice Saints

By Brian Gotter

We always warn gardeners not to plant flowers or gardens until Memorial Day because Milwaukee’s latest freeze was May 27, 1961.  While that was 50 years ago, we always seem to have our last cold snap sometime in May which means you have to cover up or bring in the plants. 

It was just 10 days ago when we woke up to frost and temperatures in the upper 20s away from the lake.  This past weekend was raw with highs struggling to hit 50 and gusty winds putting wind chills in the 30s, especially after we missed a record Thursday by  one degree with a high of 86. 

 

I have been receiving a lot of questions about the Three Ice Saints, or Icemen, and if they have arrived so we can safely plant.  This is a European Folklore and they believed the last appearance of killing cold weather occurred on the days of the three Ice Saints of May.  May 11 is St. Mamertus, May 12 is St. Pancras, and May 13 is St. Servatius. 

They were not considered to be cold or mean people, they are saints, but their feast days happen to fall on those days.  Looking back at weather records, these days were typically the last cold days in May for Europe.  The same applies to the northern U.S, and after these three days, good growing weather was assured.  Happy Planting!  If it gets cold again, its the Three Ice Saints fault!