First Rain of May

First Rain of May

Locals hold this traditional belief that the first instance of raining in the month of May has healing properties.

This is the reason why residents go out and take a bath as soon as the first drops of the first rain in May fall--a signal that the summer season is ending soon.

Elders even advise others to gather some of the rain for keeping, for use as some salve for some ailments, especially as tambal na balyanget (gamot sa bungang-araw, cure for prickly heat) and other bodily afflictions.

One wonders where this belief originated, a belief apparently shared in almost every part of the country. Anyone?

(photo for illustration: ChatGPT)