Persimmons are ripening all over the Ozarks, and their seeds are foretelling a not-so-harsh winter.
The folklore surrounding persimmon seeds and their relationship to winter forecasts can be traced back to the early 1800s. Some believe that the shape found inside a persimmon seed after splitting one open reveals what the weather will be like for the upcoming winter. While there is no scientific data to back up this folklore, it does get people excited!
The part of the seed everyone is looking at is called the cotyledon, a sliver of white that resembles a fork, spoon, or knife.
A fork represents a mild winter, a spoon represents a snowy winter, and a knife represents a cold winter…