Spanish Language Blog
Menu
Search

Las Cabañuelas, or an ancestral weather forecast Posted by on Sep 7, 2010 in Spanish Culture

Who hasn’t checked the weather on TV before going on a trip or when planning a vacation? Well, in Spain we have more accurate way than just listening to a weather person, and that is to follow the Cabañuelas. This weird term refers to an ancient method of predicting weather. Used by our grandparents, simple country folk, has gained recognition in recent years. Even professional meteorologists certify the high level of accuracy in these readings of the environment, which ranges between 70-80 %.
The origin of this practice is uncertain; some researchers date it as far back as prehistoric times, and then developed by Mesopotamic, Egyptian, Aztec, Mayan, Greek, and Arabic civilizations. The method of prediction is based on the observation of nature and the atmospheric phenomena, including clouds, winds, and even animals, to draw up a calendar. This was very much needed for mankind centuries ago, if we take into account the fact that climate was essential to choose the right place for a settlement, or to save harvests from storms, floods, o lack of rainfall. It was a form of survival.
Even though there are different types of cabañuelas, all of them focus on the month of august in order to predict the weather for the following year. The experts in cabañuelas pay attention to the days between the 1st and the 12th, corresponding to each month of the following year, starting from January and, after the 13th, according to the returning cabañuelas, in reverse order: the 13th is for December, and so on. Complicated? Maybe, but even more amazing is the fact that they are right! So I’ll leave you with some of the predictions for the year 2011, just in case you are planning a trip to my region…
If anyone wants to enjoy Easter, you’ll have to bear in mind that there will be “overall storms and heavy rainfall during the first few days, while the rest of the week might be affected by some showers”, just like the April Feria, in Seville. Tough luck!
On the other hand, May and June will be “uncommon, with cases of storms, rainfall, and hail, except for the coast, which will be affected by clouds”. Moreover, “the months of July and August will start with cloudy skies in the morning, July will be rough with inland rainfall, but ending with sticky, humid heat that will be prolonged until August with plenty of heat waves”. We’ll see if that’s the case.
For the rest of this year, if the predictions from last year are true, we can expect snow very soon. Skiers will be happy, for sure.
For the time being, I leave you with my weather forecast: see you in the next post!

by gainan

¿Quién no ha puesto la tele para ver cómo será el tiempo antes de salir de viaje? ¿O cuando planificamos las vacaciones? Pues en España existe un método mucho más fiable que oír al hombre del tiempo, y es seguir las Cabañuelas. Este extraño nombre es el que recibe un método ancestral para predecir el tiempo. Usado por nuestros abuelos, gente sencilla de campo, ha alcanzado bastante prestigio con el paso de los años. Incluso los meteorólogos profesionales corroboran el gran margen de acierto en estas lecturas de la naturaleza, entre un 70 y un 80%.
El origen de esta práctica no es muy cierto, algunos investigadores lo remontan hasta la prehistoria, siendo mejorada por los mesopotámicos, egipcios, aztecas, mayas, griegos, árabes, etc. Su método de predicción se basa en observar la naturaleza y los fenómenos atmosféricos, las nubes, los vientos, e incluso los animales, para establecer un calendario. Algo muy necesario para el hombre hace siglos, si tenemos en cuenta que dependía de cómo respondiese el clima para elegir asentamientos, o que su cosecha no se perdiese a causa de tormentas, inundaciones, o falta de lluvia. Era una forma de supervivencia.
Aunque hay varios tipos de cabañuelas, a grandes rasgos todas se centran en el mes de agosto para predecir el tiempo que habrá el año próximo. Los expertos cabañuelistas observan los días del 1 al 12, que corresponderán con cada uno de los meses del año siguiente, comenzando por enero, y a partir del trece, según las cabañuelas de retorno, en sentido inverso: el 13 corresponderá a diciembre, y así sucesivamente. ¿Complicado? Quizá lo sea un poco, ¡pero aún más asombroso es saber que aciertan! Así que os dejo con algunas de las predicciones para este 2.011, por si alguien tiene previsto visitar mi tierra…
Si alguien quiere disfrutar de la Semana Santa, deberá tener en cuenta que “se registrarán tormentas y lluvias generalizadas en sus primeros días, mientras que el resto de semana se verá amenazado por algún chubasco”, al igual que la Feria de Abril. ¡Mala suerte!
Por otra parte, mayo y junio serán “atípicos con tormentas, lluvias y alguna granizada, pronósticos de los que se salvará la costa, donde sí habrá nublados”. Mientras, “los meses de julio y agosto empezarán con nubes por las mañanas, julio será revoltoso con lluvias en el interior, pero al final de este mes comenzará el calor pegajoso que se prolongará en agosto con muchas olas de calor”. Tomaremos nota para ver si se cumple.
Para lo que nos queda de este año, solo comentar, que si este tradicional método continúa sin fallar, tendremos nieve muy pronto. Esto será agradecido por los esquiadores, sin duda.

Y sin más, me marcho con mi pronóstico del tiempo: ¡hasta el siguiente post!

Tags: , ,
Keep learning Spanish with us!

Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device.

Try it Free Find it at your Library
Share this:
Pin it

About the Author: Magda

Hi all! I’m Magda, a Spanish native speaker writing the culture posts in the Transparent Language Spanish blog. I have a Bachelor’s in English Philology and a Master’s in Linguistics and Literature from the University of Granada, in Spain. I have also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, and then worked as an English teacher in several schools and academies for several years. Last year was my first at university level. In addition, I work as a private tutor, teaching English and Spanish as a foreign language to students and adults. In my free time, I’m an avid reader and writer, editing and collaborating in several literary blogs. I have published my first poetry book recently. And last but not least, I love photography!


Comments:

  1. learning spanish:

    This sounds absolutely fascinating. I would love to read more about it. Are you aware of any sources of in depth information regarding the ‘cabanuelas’? Do you know if this method of forecasting weather is employed in other parts of the world, or is it only done in Spain?

    Thank you.