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  What it means

  “When on Saint Michael’s Day the wind blows from the east or north, in winter there will be frosts of great force.” An easterly or northerly wind on September 29 predicts a harsh, intensely cold winter.

  Vocabulary

  • Michał — Michael (Saint Michael's Day, September 29)
  • wiatr — wind
  • wschód — east
  • północ — north
  • mróz — frost
  • moc — power, force

  Grammar note

  'Od wschodu lub północy' — 'od' takes the genitive, indicating direction of origin. 'Wielkiej mocy' is the genitive of 'wielka moc', used as a qualifier.

  Cultural context

  East and north winds in Polish folk meteorology are traditionally associated with cold and harsh weather, as they bring air from continental Russia and Siberia.

  Intermediate

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