Did you know that when you see the sails of a windmill at a standstill, the position of the sails have a meaning?
When the miller stops the sail just before it reaches the highest vertical position, it means there is something to celebrate like the birth of a child or a marriage (image below left).
When the upper sail has been fixed after having passed through the highest position, it means that the culminating point has been passed and life is going downhill, meaning that there is a reason for mourning (image below right).
Leaving the sails locked in a ‘+’ position means that the miller is taking a rest for a short period of time (image above left) and when the sails are locked in an ‘X’ position means the miller is taking a longer rest (image above right).
