What Is A Linsey-Woolsey Britches Winter?

Has anyone noticed how chilly it's been the last few nights? This phenomenon in Kentucky is not unusual. In fact, there are many types of "folklore winters". I've always heard of either a Dogwood or Blackberry Winter, but Linsey-Woolsey Britches???? No, but I totally get it.

Pardon the pictures of my long underwear, but a Linsey-Woolsey Britches Winter basically means in late May, it relates to the last time during spring that Winter clothing of a homespun wool-linen combination had to been worn. Okay, I know it's been a little chilly, but not chilly enough, for me at least, to bring back out my long handles. This type of Winter is also referred to as a Linen Britches Winter.

But guess what? There is even ANOTHER type of Winter after Linsey-Woolsey and that's a Whippoorwill Winter. It's when one last blast of Winter chill blows in right before Summer settles in. The whippoorwills migrate from Mexico northward during late May-early June. Are you still with me?

Just to get everything in line here, a Dogwood Winter is when a cold spell arrives just after Spring has arrived, which in Kentucky is about mid-April. A Blackberry Winter is a cold spell that occurs while blackberries are in bloom, which is in early May.

The more you know, and yes, I turned my heat back on.