Keeping a weather eye open for wind vanes is an interesting pastime. In many countries of the world the tops of buildings are adorned with wind vanes. Weathervane is perhaps not the best word to use, for a vane just indicates wind direction and not weather. The word vane comes from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘fane’ meaning ‘flag’.
In the days of old sailing ships a narrow pennant was flown at the masthead to indicate wind direction to the helmsman and this was known as a vane. Today, sailing yachts use burgees for the same purpose.
The Tower of the Winds in Athens once bore on its roof a wind vane in the form of a bronze Triton holding a a rod in his outstretched hand, rotating as the wind changed direction. Below, the frieze was adorned with the eight deities. The eight metre high structure dates from around 50 BC.
The wind vane evolved from a Triton to a weathercock as the Roman Empire converted to Christianity. Many churches have a weathercock on the tower or spire.
Pope Nicholas 1 in the ninth century ordained all land vanes to be in the shape of a cockerel to remind people of Peter’s denying Christ and the cock- crow that followed. Hence the commonly used synonym weathercocks even when there is no cockerel shown. Weathercocks predominate, however, and can be seen in any shape, form or material. Sometimes in copper sheathed, often gilded, occasionally in lead. The bird’s head always faces into the wind with the tail behind, naturally the larger part, sometimes looking ridiculous.
Vanes in the shape of ships probably follow cockerels in popularity, especially in coastal towns and ports, where fishing trawlers skippers depend so much on the weather that in turn was the will of the wind.
Farms quite often have vanes for the same practical reason, as do the fishing ports. A wind change could mean a change of weather for the good and time to plough or sow.
Rural vanes are often in the shape of a country theme, such as horses ploughing, ridden or pulling some form of transport. Shapes of farm animals and birds are also popular.
Weather, of course, is a major talking point. We keep a weather eye on things, we make heavy weather of other things, and we can be under the weather or weathering life’s storms.
The world’s largest weather vane is JEREZ, Spain. A challenger for the world’s largest weathervane is located alongside Whitehorse International Airport, Yukon. The weathervane is a retired Douglas DC-3 atop a swivelling support. The vane only requires a 5-km/hour wind to rotate.
The term weathervane is also a slang word for a politician who has frequent changes of opinion.