|
The words and lyrics
of the nursery rhyme
consists of the old
proverb and how
people believe the
weather can be
predicted. Rainbows
remained a mystery
until the
seventeenth century
when the French
scientist, Rene
Descartes,
investigated
interactions between
light and water and
Sir Isaac Newton
determined that
"white" sunlight is
actually a
combination of red,
orange, yellow,
green, blue, indigo,
and violet light -
exactly the colors
that make up the
spectrum of a
rainbow. The magical
apparition of a
rainbow still gives
great pleasure and
excitement -
whatever the
prediction it always
signifies clear and
sunny skies ahead.
There are several
rhymes of this
nature, some of
which also have
significant
historical relevance
such as:
If Candlemas day (2
February) be dry and
fair
If St Paul's day (29
June) be fair and
clear
St. Swithin's day if
thou dost rain |
