For us garden fans, there are 5 May frosts that we should know about. They are linked to the farmers' rules about the weather. But when are the frost saints this year? Here's what you need to know about upcoming frosty nights around Boniface, Cold Sophie and co!
The days of the ice saints have caused many a gardening enthusiast to despair. While the sun shines during the day and temperatures climb above 20° Celsius, some people can't resist starting to plant their beds.
It's worth taking a look at the calendar. If you don't want freezing temperatures in 2024 to be your plants' undoing, there are a few things you should bear in mind.
The days of the Ice Saints take place on five days in May - between May 11 and May 15. They are known as Mamertus, Pankratius, Servatius, Bonifatius and Sophia of Rome (cold Sophie).
These frosty nights are also known as ice men, May frosts or frosty lords.
Table of contents
When are the ice saints in 2024?
- Mamertus: Saturday, May 11, 2023
- St. Pancras: Sunday, May 12, 2023
- Servatius: Monday, May 13, 2023
- St. Boniface: Tuesday, May 14, 2023
- Cold Sophie: Wednesday, May 15, 2023
When were the ice saints last year?
- Mamertus: Thursday, May 11. 2023
- St. Pancras: Friday, May 12, 2023
- Servatius: Saturday, May 13, 2023
- Boniface: Sunday, May 14, 2023
- Cold Sophie: Monday, May 15, 2023
These dates are based on observations and experience from the farmer's calendar.
Farm rules are based on the old Julian calendar. During the Gregorian calendar reform in 1582, the dates shifted. Therefore, cold spells not infrequently occur more than a week late and do not begin until around May 20.
The saints' name days, on the other hand, have remained in their usual place in the calendar.
According to old folklore, spring weather remains stable from May 15, when the ice men have passed. After that, there should definitely be no more ground frost.
Ice saints and the sheep cold
By the way, the Ice Saints should not be confused with the sheep cold, which can also harm our plants. From June 10 to 12, the cold snap can affect our weather, reports the German Weather Service.
What are the Ice Saints?
The ice saints often bring a cool surprise in mid-May. To be precise, from May 11 to 15. It can in the evening again really fresh become. Sometimes it is so cool that the Night frost to the plants.
The last few years have mostly brought us warmer ice saints. But the weather experts agree that 2024 will be crisply cold.
This cool period is particularly challenging for fruit blossoms and young plants. That's why many (hobby)Gardener and Farmers planting geraniums and tomatoes until the ice saints are over. Especially in regions that quickly experience a frosty night. Fruit growers are worried about the May night frosts. In extreme situations, the blossoms can freeze and ruin the harvest.
Let's take a look back: the ice saints are nothing new. Europe has been following this weather phenomenon for centuries. Each day is assigned a saint.
In the past, these days were worth their weight in gold for all those who lived from the fields. The rules about the weather, the farmers' rules, have been around since the Middle Ages. Back then, everything was still based on the Julian calendar. However, this was replaced by the Gregorian calendar in 1582. As a result, some things changed - including the ice saints. Instead of Mid-May we now expect them towards the end of May, around the 23rd.
It is also interesting to note that the farmer's rules originated at a time when there were Europe was quite cool during a little ice age. Today, there is usually not much sign of this severity. Global warming has its fingers in the pie here too.
But: when the ice saints arrive, we still notice that it's getting colder. If you're smart, you can light a fire. That way, you can enjoy spring outside even if it's a little cold.
What will the weather be like at the Icemen?
Ice saints, that sounds like frost in the middle of spring, exactly between May 11 and 15. When the day says goodbye and night falls, it can get really cold again.
Although spring is sprouting everywhere, there is a threat of ground frost. Normally, you don't have to worry about frost on plants in May. But the statistics say: In May there's two frost days on average. And sometimes the icy days come earlier or last longer than expected. The ice saints don't always stick to the calendar.
Meteorologists speak of such weather phenomena as Singularities. In addition to the ice saints, this also includes the sheep cold, the dormouse day in June, Indian summer in September and the dog days in summer. But why exactly does the weather forecast warn us about these cold days in May?
A little tip for all gardening fans: planters help as an interim solution in the bed against the unwelcome late frosts. This will help your plants survive the cold nights.
What plants come outdoors only after mid-May?
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini and cucumbers are among the most popular vegetables that become free in the garden. They are originally from warmer climates and need to be pre-grown indoors before being exposed to the elements outside after the icemen.
Which plants are insensitive to the cold?
You can plant certain hardy plants even before the Ice Saints - especially native plants that are also outdoors in winter and do not mind sub-zero temperatures. Hardy varieties don't mind temperatures down to -3° Celsius.
Early bloomers are definitely among them; they show their colors well before the frost saints and are actually planted in the ground as bulbs in autumn. You will also find real frost fighters among the roses, such as the rambler rose "Goldfinch". It's a good idea to find out in advance which plants you can plant before the cold weather arrives. Here are a few cold-resistant candidates for you:
- Violets
- Hyacinths
- Ranunculus
- Lily of the valley
- Ray anemone
- Primroses
- Balkan gold
- Blue star
- Hydrangeas
- Pansies
- Daisies
- Ornamental leeks
Fruit trees themselves are hardy. However, their delicate and sensitive blossoms often cannot withstand the frosts in May. This can lead to very large crop losses!
Vegetables and young plants can be planted and sown to a certain extent before the Ice Saints. Although many plants are sensitive to the cold, they can be sown in cold frames or greenhouses with a protective cover of foil. These include:
- Chives
- Spinach
- Onions
- Peas
- Radish
- Cress
- all types of cabbage
- Carrots
- Kohlrabi
- Leaf salads
- Potatoes
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What does science think of the 2024 ice saints?
When are the ice saints this year? Do scientists ask themselves the same question? Probably not, because here we tend to look at the facts. From a meteorological point of view, the Ice Saints can be explained as follows: The cold snap is due to the fact that temperatures on the European mainland are usually already quite high at the beginning of May. The continent heats up quickly at this time.
Since the seas take longer to warm up than the mainland, there are temperature fluctuations between the mainland and the sea: low pressure areas develop. The air masses shift, and north winds take heat from the mainland with them.
This drives cold air currents from the polar regions onto the mainland. Due to the polar air masses flowing over the Alps from the Arctic latitudes, temperatures around this date are typically unusually cold.
If it gets cool at night, there may be frost in certain places.
Therefore, according to meteorologists, around the middle of May there is often frost. Sometimes not only at night, but also during the day. Snow is also not uncommon.
An interesting detail: The ice saints actually fall later than expected. Statistics show that they tend to occur between May 20 and 23. This is because our ancestors used the Julian calendar. When the leap to the Gregorian calendar was made in 1582, the ice saints were moved back ten days. Therefore, if you want to be sure that your plants will survive the Ice Saints well, you should wait until the end of May before sowing and setting out outdoors.
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Ice holy farmer rules for the weather
It is worth waiting until the end of May for delicate plants and seeds. You can also read about this in the farmers' rules:
- May 11: Mamerz has a cold heart.
- May 12: When it freezes on Pankratius, much is ruined in the garden.
- May 13: Servaz must be over, want to be safe from night frost.
- May 14: Before Boniface no summer, after Sophie no frost.
- May 15: You are not safe from night frost - until Sophie is over.
Mamertus is the first ice saint in Germany, in southern Germany and Austria it is Pankratius, because the cold weather front usually arrives a day later here.
In the south, people talk about the threesome "Pankraz, Servaz and Bonifaz". Cold Sophie (Sophia of Rome) only joined the male trio later, because the cold phase in May lasts one day longer in the southern regions.
Where do the Ice Saints get their names?
The names of the Ice Saints come from figures in Christian history. Mamertus, Pancratius, Servatius, Boniface and Sophie lived in the 3rd to 5th centuries and were bishops or martyrs, i.e. people who died for their faith. They all had nothing to do with ice during their lifetime.
In the fifth century, St. Mamertus was bishop in Vienne, France; several miracles are attributed to him. Pancras was executed in Rome a century earlier, while Servatius was an early bishop of Tongern, Belgium.
Boniface refers to a fourth century Sicilian martyr.
Sophia, known as Cold Sophia and the only woman among the Ice Saints, was martyred in Rome around 304. She can be seen in a 15th century painting in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. Sophia of Rome was martyred during Diocletian's persecution of Christians.
Let's take a closer look at the individual icemen:
The first ice saint: Mamertus
On May 11, the Catholic Church commemorates Saint Mamertus. He was born into a wealthy family in Lyon, France, around the year 400.
As he was highly educated, Mamertus was appointed Bishop of Vienne in 461. He is known for the introduction of the three supplications that take place before Ascension Day to this day.
Mamertus is revered for his miracles. One of these is the stopping of a major fire caused by a drought. He is considered the patron saint of chest diseases and fevers, which he is said to have cured. He is often depicted with a mitre, crosier and a flaming candle. Mamertus died in 477 and believers still pray to him for help with illnesses today.
And what does Mamertus have to do with the ice saints? Not much himself. It's just his day of remembrance, which happens to coincide with the cold snap. In order to remember this day, the day was simply linked to the day of remembrance.
The second iceman Pankratius
On May 12, we remember Pankratius, often called "Pankraz", the second of the Ice Saints. He was born around the year 290 in Phrygia, which is now part of Turkey, into a family that had achieved prosperity.
Pankratius found himself at the center of Christian martyrdom at an early age and was one of the most youthful to lay down his life for his faith. "The conqueror of all" or "the one who conquers all", the meaning of his Greek name, probably hit the nail on the head.
After he came to Rome as an orphan to live with his uncle, his life ended in 304 at the hands of Emperor Diocletian, who beheaded him for professing Christianity - when he was just 14 years old.
Today, St. Pancras is particularly revered in agriculture as the patron saint of young seeds and flowers. He is usually depicted wearing knight's armor or noble robes, carrying a sword, a palm frond and a martyr's crown.
The third ice saint: Servatius
May 13 marks the name day of Servatius, also known as "Servaz". His life spanned from around 340 to 384 AD, with his cradle in Armenia and his end of life in Maastricht.
As the first bishop of the former diocese of Tongern, now on Belgian soil, Servatius left traces that reach far beyond his time. Following a vision, he is said to have prophesied the invasion of Europe by the Huns, an event that actually took place around 450 AD.
His wise decision to move the bishop's seat to Maastricht in advance made this place one of the central pilgrimage destinations in Europe.
The traditions surrounding Servatius seem to merge the lives of two different people, as another Servatius, who lived around a century earlier, is mentioned - at a time when Christianity was still in its infancy in Tongern.
As one of the ice saints, Servatius is invoked especially for frost damage, foot complaints, rheumatism and against plagues of rats. He is often depicted with a key, a wooden shoe - the instrument of his martyrdom - or a dragon at his feet.
The fourth iceman
Boniface, also known as Boniface, is the last of the Ice Saints, whom we honor on 14 May. His roots are in Rome, but his life ended in 306 as a martyr in Tarsus, in what is now Turkey.
Initially not a Christian, Boniface was commissioned to transfer Christian relics from Tarsus to Rome. Witnessing the cruel persecution that Christians suffered there and their unwavering loyalty to the point of death moved him deeply.
This prompted him to be baptized and convert to Christianity - with the well-known serious consequences. His martyrdom was brought to an end by boiling bad luck.
Today, his relics are honored in the Basilica dei Santi Bonifacio e Alessio on the Aventine Hill in Rome, and another relic can be found in Wittichenau, Saxony. In depictions, Boniface appears either as a young man or as an older, bearded man, often depicted at the moment of his torture with pitch.
The last day of the ice saints: The cold Sophie
Sophia of Rome, popularly known as "Cold Sophie" or "Wet Sophie", is commemorated on May 15. She is the only woman among the ice saints, the four "ice men".
As a virgin martyr of early Christianity, she suffered death for her faith around the year 304 under Emperor Diocletian. The stories about Sophia of Rome are often mixed with those of Sophia of Milan, who was executed for her faith under Emperor Hadrian between 117 and 138 AD.
Some of the relics of Sophia of Rome found their way to the Eschau monastery in Strasbourg 500 years after her burial. Others found their resting place in Rome, under the high altar of the church of San Martino ai Monti.
As the last of the ice saints, Sophia of Rome is worshipped especially to ward off late frosts and to promote the growth of crops for a successful harvest.
She is often depicted with a palm tree and a book or with a trough and a sword. After the Day of Cold Sophie, people expect the weather to finally stabilize in May.
Our conclusion
When are the ice saints this year? Like every year, between May 11 and 15. However, whether the cold weather front really occurs on these exact days depends on cold air currents and is therefore less directly linked to an exact date.
Monitor the temperatures from mid-May and protect your plants with covers if frost is imminent. Very sensitive plants such as tomatoes should not be planted outdoors at the beginning of May. There is a very high probability that there will be at least 2 frost days during this period.
All the best for you and your garden!
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