The mornings are getting lighter the days longer and the dawn chorus starts before I get up so…………
When is the First Day of Spring ?
Climatologically The Met Office classes the first day of spring as the 1st day of March, but because of the variation in the days on which the equinox and solstice falls, it is more convenient to use whole months. The Met Office therefore classifies the spring months as being March, April and May (Boring)
Traditionally the first day of spring is Astronomically derived therefore, The first day of spring this year is Friday March 20th. The equinox will be at 5:48 GMT. At this time the Sun will cross directly over the Earth’s equator. This moment is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. For the Southern Hemisphere, this is the moment of the autumnal equinox.
Vernal comes originally from the Latin word for bloom and refers to the fact that, in the northern hemisphere, this equinox marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. An equinox is a time when the nights are as long as the days and the vernal equinox is recognised the world over as the start of the new astrological cycle.
But with Global Warming who knows??
I know which one I’ll go with what about you ???
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Thanks for the information on the first day of spring. Do the Druids do anything to celebrate it?
Brian
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