“In like a lion, out like a lamb” is a proverb, which is a short statement that usually explains life, offering advice, wisdom or a truth.
The proverb was first coined in 1732 by Thomas Fuller in his 280-page book entitled, “Gnomologia: Adagies and Proverbs; Wise Sentences and Witty Sayings, Ancient and Modern, Foreign and British.” The book is available today.
Fuller is known to have compiled numerous proverbs and studied weather lore across many countries through the late 1600s and early 1700s.
This proverb may have evolved into a common weather saying, but originally it refers to the position of the constellations in the northern hemisphere during the month of March. The constellation Leo rises in the east and ends the month with the constellation Aries (the ram, or lamb) setting in the west.
The lion is strong, fierce and unpredictable as in winter. The lamb represents a gentle and predictable spring environment. March can have wintery blasts of snow or sleet, as experienced in our area on March 7, 2023.
The beautiful white, yellow and purple crocus is a first flower of spring, being covered in snow. The next day they reemerged resilient, a glimpse of the coming springtime beauty.
Aside from that supposedly indubitable Punxsutawney Phil once again predicting we would have six more weeks of winter by seeing his own shadow on Groundhog Day, February 2nd, the National Weather Service as shown on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website shows us that we can indeed expect tough, or “lion-like,” weather in our area for some time more.
As measured by weather equipment located at Aeroflex Airport in Andover, we’re expecting some snow through Wednesday night, March 15th. Afterward, the sun is predicted to shine during the day with temps reaching 59 degrees, but with blustery wind and some freezing nights for the rest of the week.
