Saint Swithun in popular culture

Saint Swithun has appeared many times in popular culture.

• "St. Swithin's Day" is a British slang term for a day that never comes, as in, "Oh, sure, he'll get to it on St. Swithin's Day," meaning, "never."
• Scottish folk singer Al Stewart references St. Swithin in his song "House of Clocks," from the album Down in the Cellar.
• 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.
• British television series Doctor in the House is set at the fictional teaching hospital St Swithin's.
• St. Swithin's Day is a comic book written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Paul Grist.
• In the M*A*S*H episode "Out Of Gas", Col. Potter says of an unnecessarily absent Major Winchester, "I'm gonna duckwalk his carcass from now till St. Swithin's Day.".
• On the show The Bob Newhart Show, Carol negotiates for a raise and benefits that include St. Swithin's Day off.
• On the show Maid Marian and Her Merry Men King Richard sent 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")
• On the television show The Simpsons, Bart mentions Saint Swithun's day in a play he is working on in the episode "Bart of Darkness". The exact quote reads "'Kippers for breakfast, Aunt Helga? Is it St. Swithin's Day already?'"
• Robin Williams mentions "St Swithin's School for the Prematurely Advanced" on his "Reality, What A Concept" album.
• 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. (Not coincidentally, Erickson himself was born on St. Swithun's Day, 1947.)
• In the Sports Night episode "Special Powers", Dana asks Casey, "You were waiting for what? St. Swithin's Day?"
• 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".
• In the Sopranos, during Season 2, episode 11 (House Arrest), Junior Soprano asks Bobby in reference to him getting his garbage disposal fixed, "When? St. Swithun's Day?"
• In his biography of Frank Sinatra, "The Way You Wear Your Hat", Bill Zheme recounts a letter Sinatra wrote to George Michael when the latter was in the midst of his contract dispute with his record label. Encouraging the younger singer to get past it and take advantage of his talent, he contrasts George Michael's success to that of the singer who performs in a saloon that hasn't seen a paying customer since St. Swithin's Day.
• 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 the viral marketing campaign for The Dark Knight, St. Swithun's Catholic Church is referenced, later free advanced screenings of the film took place on Saint Swithun's day 2008.
• George Carlin mentions St. Swithun's Day in His HBO comedy special 'What Am I Doing in New Jersey?' saying, "...Some American Yo-yo who hasn't had a generous thought since St. Swithun's Day..."
• 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?"
• St. Swithun is a moniker used by percussionist Roger Charbonneau of Rochester, NY