How to Predict the Weather Using a Goose

Guest Author - Sheri Stritof

Did your grandparents or parent ever talk about predicting the winter weather by looking at the breastbone of a Christmas Goose? Have you shared any weather lore such as this with your kids or grandkids? Here's how to predict the weather!


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Remove the breastbone from a fall or Christmas Goose and clean it off. Put it away to dry. Watch it as winter progresses.

If the bone turns dark, a cold winter is just ahead.

A white bone indicates a mild winter.

A thin and rather transparent breastbone predicts a mild winter.

If it is thick and opaque, you can expect a hard winter.

Some believe that when the bone is very white, much snow will fall.

Reddish or red-spotted breastbones fortell cold but little snow.

The scientific explanation for these predictions is quite simple. In preparing for a severe winter, geese instinctiely absorb more natural oils to protect themselves against the cold. When dried, the oil-rich breastbone either turns dark or retains its original light color in proportion to its oil content.

More Weather Prediction Sites:

Clustering Ducks

Goose Breastbone Lore

Weather Folklore

Weather Superstitions

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by Sheri Goeser Stritof