For centuries, wherever people settled, their reliance upon the weathervane has been as basic to them as grinding wheat for bread. At the end of each day, and with the dawning of the next, people have looked to the sky and studied the direction of their weathervanes. They have plowed and sown, reaped and stored, worked and played, trusting the good directions of the wind that drove their fate.

Derived from the Old English word fane, meaning "flag" or "banner", the weathervane was part of ancient cultures as early as 48 B.C., when a life-size figure of the Greek god Triton was hoisted atop the Tower of the Winds in Athens.

With the discovery of the New World, weathervanes were proudly displayed from the high steeples of newly populated towns and cities as our ancestors blended cultures and traditions to create America. At first, colonists reproduced the traditional figures of their native countries. But with the passage of time, their weathervanes evolved to reflect the environment and character of this budding country. New Englanders, for example, used symbols of their new frontier, such as fish, seagulls, and ships. As American pioneers moved westward, farmers designed and crafted their own figureheads, including farm animals and Native American themes.

Over time, weathervanes became coveted works of decorative art, admired as much for their craftsmanship as for their practicality. That long tradition of beauty and practicality is reflected in every Good Directions weathervane. May favorable winds forever blow your way.

WEATHERVANE FACTS, FABLES, & RHYMES

• The weathervane, or weathercock, points into the wind. When looking at a weathervane, remember that the wind is coming from the direction in which it is pointed.
• When clouds look like rocks and towers, the earth will have many showers.
• A cow with its tail to the west makes weather the best. A cow with its tail to the east makes weather the least. (Traditional New England weather rhyme)
• The north wind doeth blow, and we shall have snow.
• When the wind is from the east, it’s not good for man nor beast.

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