May 22, 2026, 12:24 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Farmers’ sayings have a long tradition and have been used for generations to predict weather patterns and draw conclusions about the harvest. Many of these traditional wisdoms are linked to specific holidays or natural events–such as the well-known saying: “If Pentecost is bright and clear, it will be a fruitful year.” But is that really true? And can the weather at Pentecost actually predict the upcoming harvest? myHOMEBOOK asked an expert what the Pentecost farmers’ saying is really about.
What’s Behind the Pentecost Farmers’ Saying
The saying “If Pentecost is bright and clear, it will be a fruitful year” means that sunny and pleasant weather at Pentecost is seen as a sign of a good harvest year. Historically, this is based on the observation that stable, warm weather in late spring is favorable for many crops, as sunshine and mild temperatures promote growth, while prolonged rain or cold snaps could endanger the harvest. Therefore, good weather at Pentecost was once considered an indication of a bountiful harvest.
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Is This Farmers’ Saying True?
“No, this farmers’ saying is not true,” explains Jörg Riemann from the Wettermanufaktur. This saying cannot be true because Pentecost occurs on a different weekend each year, similar to Easter. We celebrate Pentecost seven weeks after Easter each year, Riemann explains. “The earliest Pentecost Sunday can be on May 10, and the latest Pentecost Monday on June 14. So, we’re talking about a period of about a month.”
The expert emphasizes that Pentecost is difficult to categorize with farmers’ sayings in terms of weather statistics, as the holiday can fall anywhere from the Ice Saints to the Sheep’s Cold, depending on the calendar.
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What the Weather Will Be Like at Pentecost 2026
In Germany, Pentecost will bring predominantly pleasant and early summer-like warm weather. By Saturday, it will be very warm in many places. According to Riemann, “in northern Germany and also in Bavaria, temperatures could reach the 30-degree mark.” Especially in the west and southwest, particularly between Frankfurt and the Upper Rhine region, “31 to 32 degrees” are possible. The sun will shine frequently, but in the afternoon, a “small bad weather front” with isolated showers will move in along the North Sea coast.
Pentecost Sunday will start off cloudy, especially in the low mountain range areas and parts of northern Germany, with some fog in places. “It will take until noon for the cloud cover to clear,” the expert explains. Affected areas include Hesse, Thuringia, Saxony, and the Harz. Afterward, it will become friendlier in many places again. In the south, however, it will remain hot with temperatures reaching up to 34 degrees in some areas.
On Pentecost Monday, the weather will calm down again. It will remain pleasantly warm in the north, while temperatures around or above 30 degrees are possible in the south. “The front is relatively weak,” the meteorologist emphasizes. Therefore, significant rainfall or strong thunderstorms are not expected.
What the Pentecost Weather Means for the Garden
Since, according to the expert, it will be summer-like warm and no severe cold snaps are expected, you can take the chance to plant in the garden or on the balcony. The young vegetables will benefit from finally being able to move from the windowsill to the fresh air.
Mowing the lawn should be postponed to another day. Dr. Harald Nonn, former chairman of the German Lawn Society, explained in a previous interview why you might not want to reach for the lawnmower on hot days. “Each mowing injures the blades, and a lot of water evaporates from this wound. This can quickly lead to a brown surface.” If you really want to mow the lawn, it’s better to do so on shady days or in the early morning or evening hours.