The First Day of Spring

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Note to Everyone.

As I grew up and even was married on March 21st, I have forever been under the

impression The First Day of Spring was the 21st. In the ensuing years, most

people have referred to it as the 20th day of March and the minority of us

thinking it was the 21st. Well, this afternoon, I set out to find out why the

confusion. I have excerpted several references from different sources to

explain the difference and why we have all been right. Some excerpts are

factual and some are fun and some serious. I hope this will give you a look

into the The first Day of Spring and will find it not only enjoyable but giving

you as it did me a little more knowledge of the things that happen around us.

JAN =^..^=SPRING EQUINOX CELEBRATIONS: OCCURS YEARLY, SOMETIME BETWEEN MARCH 19

AND 21

The Spring Equinox is also known as: Alban Eilir, Eostar, Eostre, Feast of

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin , Festival of Trees, Lady Day, NawRuz, No

Ruz, Ostara, Ostra, Rites of Spring, and the Vernal Equinox.

History of the spring equinox:

The early Romans used a lunar calendar in which months alternated between 29 and

30 days. It was not a precise measure; it gradually fell out of step with the

seasons. Julius Caesar reformed the calendar by switching its base from lunar to

solar. The day on which the vernal equinox occurred was defined as MAR-25. The

length of the year was fixed at 365 days, with an additional leap-year day added

every fourth year. This made the average length of a year equal to 365.25 days,

which was fairly close to the actual value of 365.2422 days.

The annual error of 0.0078 days accumulated over time until it became

unmanageable. A second reform of the calendar was ordered by Pope XIII.

Under the new system, 1582-MAR-21 CE became the date of the vernal equinox, the

year 1582 was shortened by ten days, and future centennial years (1600,

1700...2000) were not considered leap years unless they were divisible by 400. 1

The Gregorian Calendar continues in general usage today. Eventually, its 0.0003

day annual error will accumulate and necessitate an elimination of a leap-year

day circa 4915 CE.

The date and time of the spring equinox:

The exact date and time of the vernal equinox, when the sun moves into the

astrological sign of Aries, varies from year to year. Each year, the date/time

moves progressively later in March until the year before leap-year is reached.

On leap-year, it returns to an earlier date/time. The four-year cycle is then

repeated.

Between the years 1503 CE and 2496 CE, the earliest spring equinox will be on

2496-MAR-19 at 12:28 UT. The latest was on 1503-MAR-21 at 8:42 UT.

YearSpring Equinox (UT)1999MAR-21 @ 01:462000MAR-20 @ 07:352001MAR-20 @

13:302002MAR-20 @ 19:162003MAR-21 @ 01:002004MAR-20 @ 06:48

A FUN FACT

Egg-balancing belief:

There is a rumor that surfaces twice a year at the time of the spring and fall

equinoxes. Many people believe that since the equinox is a time of balance

where the daylight hours and nighttime hours are equal, that -- by some mystical

force -- one can balance eggs on their end on these days. Some believe that one

can only balance an egg within a few hours before or after the exact time of the

equinox.

Philip Plait (a.k.a. the Bad Astronomer) writes: " Usually you cannot stand a raw

egg because the inside of an egg is a very viscous (thick) liquid, and the yolk

sits in this liquid. The yolk is usually a bit off-center and rides high in the

egg, making it very difficult to balance. The egg falls over. However, with

patience, you can usually make an egg stand up. It may take a lot of patience! "

He has a photo on his web site that shows himself and three eggs standing on

their end.

Being able to stand an egg on its end is clearly determined by the internal

structure of the egg, gravity, condition of the surface of the egg at its end,

the condition of the surface that the egg is being balanced on, how level the

surface is, etc. None of these factors have anything to do with the passage of

the seasons. So, a person probably has as much luck standing an egg on its end

on the equinox as on any other day of the year.

Plait reports that only a small percentage of eggs can be balanced. He believes

that the successfully balanced eggs have small irregularities that act as

miniature legs and prop up the egg.

Needless to say, balancing an egg on it stubby end is a lot easier than on its

pointed end.

What is the Vernal Equinox?

The Vernal (Spring) Equinox occurs on March 20 at 10:00 PM EST this year. Other

years it may occur on March 21. It is not the date but the position of the sun

with respect to the Earth that determines the date and time of this event.

Astronomically, the sun will be directly overhead in the sky at the Equator (0

degrees latitude) at solar noon on the date of the Vernal Equinox.

As the Earth rotates around the sun, the sun appears in different parts of the

sky. Looking at the sun at mid-day or noon on a daily basis is a good way to

observe the sun’s position in the sky and make comparisons from day-to-day or

season-to-season. The day the sun is straight up over the Equator at noon is the

first day of spring - the Spring Equinox.

There is another equinox in the fall. The Autumnal Equinox is the day the sun is

again highest in the sky at noon over the Equator.

Because the Earth is tilted on its axis, it always " leans " in the same direction

as it revolves around the sun. So as the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from

the sun, it is winter in that hemisphere and it is summer in the Southern

Hemisphere. In the summer, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. For

the United States and other countries north of the Equator, the rays from the

sun that hit the Earth during the summer are the most direct and we feel more

warmth and see more light during this time. During the Equinoxes, the Earth is

halfway between the time when the Earth experiences the sun’s most direct and

least direct rays. Weather conditions tend to be somewhere “in the middle” of

winter and summer at these times. When the sun appears directly over the Equator

at noon, the length of time for hours of light (day) will equal the length of

time for hours of no light (night). The sun will rise and set exactly 12 hours

apart on that day.

You can see why ancient civilizations had a difficult time understanding what

was really happening. Even with science to help us, the seasons can be difficult

to understand.

First Day of Spring

Spring Equinox

March (3/21/03, 3/20/04, 3/20/05, 3/20/06, 3/21/07, 3/20/08, 3/20/09, 3/20/10,

3/20/11, 3/20/12, 3/20/13, 3/20/14, 3/20/15, 3/20/16, 3/20/17, 3/20/18, 3/20/19,

3/20/20)

FIRST DAY OF SPRINGThe Magic Of Spring

By Joni Ratts

My calendar says March 21, first day of spring. Yes, it's official. It's here,

despite the capriciousness of March. Just a few days ago an arctic storm blew

through and left a dusting of snow on the East Bay hills. Enough to make me

wonder if spring's arrival might be a hoax, or if Mother Nature was attempting

an early April Fool's joke.

There is an old saying from Fisherman's Luck: The first day of spring is one

thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is

sometimes as great as a month.

But harbingers of spring have been in evidence for weeks, and I don't mean just

the influx of robins we've seen lately. Nurseries have been running full-page

ads displaying garden color, March Madness is in full swing, department stores

are awash in pastel attire and decorations, students are on spring break,

baseball teams have started training camp, and an abundant supply of colored

eggs, chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chickens are waiting to fill Easter

baskets.

It's spring, and every clichÈ that's ever been written about spring is happening

_ flowers are blooming, birds are singing, bees are buzzing. And everywhere we

look men's and women's fancies are lightly turning to thoughts of love.

I don't know when you're completely convinced that spring has arrived, but for

me it's when a blush of tender new leaves begins to dress the elm tree outside

my kitchen window with color so bright and fresh they don't look real.

When I first came to California I wasn't too impressed by the arrival of spring.

It didn't really feel much different than the rest of the year to me. Here, blue

skies, mild temperatures and green leaves were evident almost all year round.

Not so in New England, where I came from.

Back east spring was an event. After months of drab landscapes and dirty snow,

anything green peeping through muddy soil was cause for excitement. Here my

daffodils sometimes bloom in January.

But after many years I've acclimated; now I love this time of year. I find it

happens slowly, over several weeks _ buds appear and start to swell, plants

begin to bloom and the light changes. Everything becomes more intense, fresher,

more concentrated. With spring comes renewed energy and lists of projects and

ideas to last for months.

But before launching into reorganizing the garage or reworking my flowerbeds or

starting some other project requiring my undivided attention, I pause and relish

spring as it unfolds like a rendering in colored chalk.

I want to experience spring's smorgasbord for the senses _ the sight of

forsythia and lilac blooms, meadows of mustard, and diaphanous gowns of plum,

cherry and almond blossoms, and the scent of weeping wisteria, fresh rain and

backyard BBQ's. That is the magic of springtime.

Reoccurences:

Sunday, March 21, 2004

United Nations Symbol

Designating the First Day of Spring, March 21, 1970 to be Earth Day, this day

was later sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at

the United Nations where it is observed each year. From the beginning the

proposal called for observance of Earth Day on March 21st, which is the Vernal

Equinox. This is the moment when night and day are equal throughout the Earth

--reminding us of Earth's beautiful systems of balance which humanity has

partially upset and must restore. From Humanity's earliest history people of

many cultures have celebrated this day as the beginning of spring - symbolizing

renewal of life.

The first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere is March 20 (sometimes March

21) - the vernal equinox.

~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

little of each other everywhere. " ~

~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the

entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "