Eisheiligen in Germany – The German Ice Saints of May

There’s a good reason all Germans carry an Allwetterjacke (all-weather jacket): German weather can fool you. One moment, you bask under a warm sun in the local Biergarten, and the next, you need to pull on your sweater. Especially in May, when after a long Winter of cold, dreary weather, everyone seeks the sun. But, just because the sun is shining, farmers, hobby gardeners, and my Oma all know- No planting until AFTER the Eisheiligen days pass! Those German Ice Saints of May have nothing at all to do with Ice Cream. Instead, they bring a last blast of cold air that kills young plants overnight, even when the days feel warm. Who are the Eisheiligen in Germany? And where did these rules come from? These 5 days of May get their name from the 5 Saints days that fall from May 11 until the 15th. The Bauernregeln (Farmer’s Rules/Expressions) remind everyone that although the sun is shining, cold is still in the air.

“Vor Bonifaz kein Sommer, nach Sophie kein Frost”

Before Boniface no summer, after Sophie no frost

Eisheiligen in Germany

Sometime during the Middle Ages, Bauernregeln circulated about mid-May planting. Bauernregeln (Farmer’s Rules) covered all aspects of farming. When to plant, when to harvest, and how to determine coming weather patterns. Think of them as an oral Farmer’s Almanac. (Groundhog’s Day arrived in the United States with German immigrants who looked to see how much longer Winter would last after Maria Lichtmess, February 2). The Eisheiligen of Mid-May were nights that would likely freeze despite daytime warmth. Waiting until after these five days (or three days in the Southern regions) to plant crops and garden vegetables ensured your harvest wouldn’t be lost to frost before it had a chance to establish.

But WHY not just say… “Don’t plant before May 11”? Once upon a time, the church organized the calendar by giving every Saint a specific day (by their birth or death). Your average person didn’t have a calendar hanging on the refrigerator, and Saints names had more personal meaning. (Keep in mind, the Catholic Church held a great deal of power, and there weren’t yet Protestant churches or other Christian groups that might have a different idea about venerating Saints and Martyrs.) This explains why New Year’s Eve and Silvester in Germany are interchangeable. Pope Silvester died on December 31, so it’s his Saint’s Day.

Of course, when the Julien Calendar shifted to the Gregorian Calendar, dates were shifted by 13 days, throwing the Saint’s days into confusion. Theoretically, the date shift meant that the Eisheilgen days were off by over a week. But since everyone had already memorized the rules, the farmers collectively agreed to just leave it alone. Adding to the drama, in 1969, Bonifatius’s story came into question, and he lost his place in the calendar of saints. Nevermind. We still count him as one of the Eisheiligen.

“Pankrazi, Servazi und Bonifazi sind drei frostige Bazi. Und zum Schluss fehlt nie die Kalte Sophie.”
Pangraz, Servaz und Bonifaz are the three icy Bazi. And in the end Cold Sophie will never be missing

 

The Five Eisheiligen or Ice Saints

The four men and one woman who comprise the Eisheiligen are an interesting group. Northern German Catholics count Mamertus as the first Ice Saint, while in the South, they begin with Pankratius. Cold Sophie appears on the lists much later and gives the group a firm end date.

It’s interesting that a few of these Saints are Patron Saints of frost, disaster, and plants- almost as if it was pre-planned.

St Mamertus- May 11

“Mamerz hat ein kaltes Herz”
Mamerz has a cold heart

Born around 400, Mamertus later became the Archbishop of Vienne Gaul before he died in 477. During his life, he created many parts of the Church’s liturgy.
Mamertus rescued his district from famine and disaster with a miracle, so he is considered the Saint of Earthquakes and other disasters. (You also call on him for Chest Diseases and Fever)

Pankratius- May 12

“Wenn’s an Pankratz friert, wird im Garten viel ruiniert”
When Pankratz freezes, a lot of the garden is ruined

Joachim Köhler, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pankratuis was born to a wealthy family in Phrygia (Turkey). After going to Rome, he felt sorry for persecuted Christians, so he tried to help them and ultimately converted. For this, he was beheaded and fed to dogs.

He is the patron saint of young seeds and blossoms. Because of his wealth, his statutes usually show him in fine clothing.

St Servatius- May 13

“Servaz muß vorbei sein, willst von Nachtfrost sicher sein“
Servaz must have passed, if you want to be safe from night frost”

Unknown artist, 15th century, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

Born in 340, Servatius was thought to be a cousin (a few hundred years removed) from John the Baptist and, therefore, a member of the Holy Family. When he foresaw the Hun invasion of Rome, he moved to Tongren on the Baltic Coast of Gaul, where he became Archbishop. This area was inhabited by the first people Tacitus labeled “Germani.” You will easily recognize the statue of Servatius because he always holds wooden shoes. Legend says that he was killed BY a wooden shoe! (I’ve worn them, they are uncomfortable)

Servatius is the patron saint of Frost Damage (which makes sense for an Eisheiligen), foot problems (which makes sense for a guy killed by a shoe), rheumatism, and plagues of rats.

Bonifatius- May 14

“Vor Boniface kein Sommer, nach Sophie kein frost“
No Summer before Boniface, no frost after Sophie

Martyrdom of St Bonifatius, either an unknown master or „Frater Rufillus“, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Bonifatius was born around 306 CE in Rome and didn’t start as a Christian; he was a Relic Hunter! (Think Toga wearing Indiana Jones!). After seeing how the Romans persecuted Christians, he converted and ended up being a very early Martyr when the Romans boiled him in tar. Sadly, the name Boniface wasn’t uncommon, and no one was ever quite sure if the story about him was true or if it was another Boniface… so the Church took him off the Saint’s list.

All imagery of Boniface/Bonifatius shows a man being showered in bad luck.

Sophie- May 15

“Vor Nachtfrost du nie sicher bist, bis Sophie vorüber ist“
You are never safe from night frost until Sophie passed by
St. Sophia of Rome died in 304, an early Virgin Martyr under Diocletian. She’s known as Cold Sophie or even Pissing Sophie (because of rain). People often confuse her with the many other Sophies, including St. Sophia of Milan, Galatia, or Minden. Her relics are in the Alsace, and she’s more famous in Germany as an Ice Saint than she is in Rome as an ordinary Saint.
Farmers pray to Sophie to prevent late frosts.

Is weather REALLY Colder until After the Eisheiligen?

“Mamertius, Pankratius, Servatius bringen oft Kälte und Verdruss“
Mamertus, Pankratius, Servatius often bring cold and annoyanceStudents of Galileo conducted a lengthy study of the world around them and determined that YES. Cold snaps appeared during these 5 days. Weather records from the 19th and 20th centuries show cold periods during those days in May. Although it’s not scientifically proven, modern Meteorologists point out that there is something to it. Around the time of the Eisheiligen, changing seasons causes cold polar air to flow south to the Alps. So yes, it’s entirely possible that the Eisheiligen bring with them one last blast of cold to Central Europe.
True or not, if you live in Germany, it wouldn’t hurt to wait another day to set out seedlings. Maybe on May 16, the feast day for St Honoratus, the patron Saint of Bakers? His relics promote good wheat harvest, so it’s a perfect day to plant!