The assembly portion made up of the post, compass points and globes do not turn. The figure/arrow is the only portion to turn. Most weathervanes turn and point/face into the oncoming wind. They are designed so that the greatest amount of mass is to one side of the spindle. This causes resistance for the wind and it pushes that part away until the slim front edge of the vane is facing into the wind. If a weathervane is pointing towards the ‘N’, the wind is coming from the North and therefore a Northerly wind and its corresponding weather are indicated.