Saint Swithun in popular culture
Saint Swithun[1] has appeared many times in popular culture.
- English folk singer Billy Bragg released a song entitled "St. Swithin's Day" on his 1984 LP Brewing Up with Billy Bragg. This was covered by Dubstar on Disgraceful in 1995.
- St. Swithin's Day is a comic book written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Paul Grist.
- On the show Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, King Richard sends a post card to say that he was due to return on 'Saint Swithin's Day', which was that very day.
- On the show Frasier, Roz mockingly asks Frasier if he and Niles are playing their zithers at the Renaissance Fair, to which he replies, "Roz, the Renaissance Fair is a fortnight after St. Swithin's Day." ("Cranes Unplugged")
- David Knopfler has a song named "A Clear Day (St. Swithun's Day)" on his 2001 Wishbones album.
- St. Swithun's Day is also mentioned as the birthday of Dracula in Roky Erickson's song "Night of the Vampire". Erickson himself was born on St. Swithun's Day, 1947.
- St. Swithun's shrine in Winchester Cathedral is mentioned in An Excellent Mystery, one of the Brother Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters.
- In Anglican/Episcopal circles, a generic name for "any church" is "St Swithin's", or sometimes "St Swithin's in the Swamp," frequently stated to be a parish in the also generic "Diocese of Woppitysplash."
- The fictitious St Swithin's Hospital appears in the British comedy series Doctor in the House and other related comedies.
- In Virginia Woolf's final novel, Between the Acts, a character called Mrs Swithin prays for sunshine whilst fingering a crucifix - unknowingly bearing the name of a rain-bearing saint.
- In A Knight's Tale, Wat is frustrated with "Sir" Ulrich losing on purpose, to prove his love to a woman, and asks "Why in the name of St. Swithin are we doing this?"
- In The Dark Knight Rises, Gotham City's orphanage is named "St. Swithin's".
- In One Day by David Nicholls the two main characters repeatedly meet on St Swithen's Day over a period of twenty years. The book's acknowledgments credit the Billy Bragg song with inspiration.
- Bart, in The Simpsons episode "Bart of Darkness" (season 6, episode 1), says: "All right, you're right, you're right, let's, let's just forget about that. Here: let me read to you from my play. Ahem. [cockney] `Kippers for breakfast, Aunt Helga? Is it St. Swithin's Day already?' `'Tis,' replied Aunt Helga."
- In The Sopranos season 2 episode 11, Bobby Baccala says "The disposal? I told you, I gotta get the flange." To which Junior Soprana replies: "When, St. Swithun's Day?"
- In the season two premiere of Sports Night, Dana jokingly asks Casey if he was waiting for St. Swithin's Day to ask her out.[2]
- In the Monkey Island video series Guybrush Threepwood notes that he needs some "St. Swithins Day gifts."
- Santa Clarita Diet Season 3 Episode 9. Abby swears in the oath to become an heir to a Knightship of Serbia that she will observe 'no holiday from my burdens, save the eve of St. Swithen's Day'
- Vikings Season 2 Episode 3 'Treachery'. Bishop Swithin was martyred by the north men raiders when they pillaged Winchester, Wessex.