Even when the performance has been mediocre, summer sometimes gives an encore. At some stage during the autumn months or in the early winter, a few days of unseasonably warm sunny weather occur, an event of sufficient regularity for it to have become a feature of the folklore of many countries.
Although there seems to be no sign of it at present, one such spell is said to occur often around this time of year, around Festum Martini Hiemalis, the feast of St Martin of the Winter. The story goes that on a cold, bleak morning in early November, Martin was accosted by an old beggar, scantily clad and shivering with cold, whereupon the generous Martin tore his cloak in two and gave half to the old man. God, apparently, was so pleased with this generous act that He let the sun shine warmly for several days on the half-clad Martin, until such time as he might repair his deshabille. And indeed God has continued to commemorate this event by frequently sending a few days of fine weather early in November - a period eagerly anticipated as "St Martin's Summer".
In due course, Martin's devotion to his saintly duties attracted attention here on Earth, and he was named Bishop of Tours. The legend goes that the diffident Martin was so alarmed by this daunting prospect that he hid in a barn to avoid the call but was given away by a noisy goose which attracted the Church Pursuant to his hiding place. After his elevation, however, the new bishop showed a vengeful streak by having the interfering goose put down and served for dinner, establishing, we are told, the tradition of eating goose on Festum Martini Hiemalis. It also explains why "St Martin's Summer" is often called the "Goose Summer".
After he had died, Martin was rapidly promoted to the front page of the calendar of saints, and it was thought fitting to commemorate his outstanding piety on two days annually. His feast day proper is today, the anniversary of his burial on November 11th, 397, while his ordination and appointment to the See of Tours are commemorated on July 4th. In medieval times the latter was Festum Martini Calidi that of "St Martin the Hot", to distinguish it from the equivalent occasion in November. But after that the gremlins took control. In due course, the Latin word calidi was rendered as le bouillant - or "boiling" - when translated from the French. And then when the Normans brought the cult to England, the epithet was further corrupted, so that the saint is often known as Martin Bullion.