November 11. St. Martin’s Day:
Expect St. Martin’s summer, halcyon days.
(Shakespeare, “I Henry VI,” Act 1, Sc. 2.)
December 13. St. Lucy’s Day:
Lucy [bright] light
The shortest day and the longest night
(For a long time, before the change of the calendar, St. Lucy’s Day corresponded to our 21st of December.)
December 21. St. Thomas’ Day:
St. Thomas gray, St. Thomas gray
The longest night and the shortest day.