The work of our ancestors was mainly related to the cultivation of the land. In agriculture, many types of work were carried out once in a certain period. Having missed the right moment for processing or sowing, you could be left without a crop.
The farmer planned and carried out agricultural work in accordance with the seasons. It was very important for him to correctly determine the moment of the onset of a season, especially the time of preparation and sowing.
Previously, people did not have deep knowledge in the field of astronomy and mathematics, so they determined when the spring begins, according to the Sun. Long-term observations of planetary motion, experience ancestors, the analysis of natural phenomena gave good results. The accuracy of determining the seasons is constantly growing.
The vernal equinox
Astronomers meet the arrival of spring on the vernal equinox. During this period, the Sun leaves the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth and passes into the Northern. The sun's rays fall vertically on the equator. A day is equal to night in duration. Sunrise is observed precisely in the east, and sunset - strictly in the west. So astronomical spring arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, and astronomical autumn sets in in the Southern Hemisphere.
Scrupulous observation of the sky in antiquity bore fruit. Astronomers have learned with high accuracy to determine the number of the vernal equinox for any length of time, both in the past and in the future. The time interval from one spring (autumn) equinox to the arrival of the next is called a tropical year. It is about 365.2422 sunny days. Due to the presence of a fractional part in the number of sunny days, the equinox comes every time at different times, moving annually 6 hours in advance.
An extra day in a leap year compensates for inaccuracies in the Julian calendar. Gregorian is formed so that the equinox dates do not change over the years.
It's time for romantics and lovers
Spring is one of the best seasons for romantic people. Her arrival pleases with an abundance of light, clear skies and long-awaited warming. Nature awakens from hibernation, animals wake up in their holes and dens, all life processes proceed more fully and intensively.
Spring begins immediately after winter and ends with the arrival of summer. But to determine what date spring begins is not at all simple. The fact is that in different fields of knowledge they use their definition of spring. The following types of this concept are distinguished:
- calendar;
- astronomical;
- climatic;
- phenological.
Calendar spring
Spring is a transition period. At this time, daylight hours increase, air temperature rises, living beings and plants are activated.
Calendar spring consists of 3 months. March, April, May - the spring months of the Northern Hemisphere. In Southern, spring begins in September and ends in November.
At the household level, the arrival of spring is determined by the calendar. In real life, spring does not obey him, and in the southern regions comes earlier, but in the northern regions it is late.
Astronomical spring
This term was coined by astronomers. She takes over on the day that spring begins on the Sun. It arrives in the Northern Hemisphere on March 20 (21), on the opposite side of the Earth this unique phenomenon is observed on September 22 (23). The astronomical spring is ending on the summer solstice.
Climatic spring
The onset of the climate spring depends on the average daily temperature. If the average daily temperature steadily exceeds 0 degrees, spring sets in, otherwise it lingers.
In the central zone of Russia, spring comes in late March. In areas with a cold climate, there is no climatic summer, so spring merges with autumn. In the southern regions, on the contrary, there is no climatic winter, and spring also merges with autumn.
Phenological spring
The beginning of the phenological spring is the period of snowmelt (formation of thawed patches in the field). Spring ends with the onset of summer, which is determined by the flowering of rose hips.
In the plant world, botanists determine the onset of spring at the beginning of the movement of the maple sap juice.
Modern Holidays and the Spring Equinox
When spring begins on the Sun, a feast comes for astrologers. They celebrate it on March 20th. The holiday is unofficial, but it is held annually all over the world by people who are not indifferent to astrology.
The vernal equinox is one of the favorite holidays in Japan. And although this holiday is not religious, it is closely connected with the traditions of the ancient religion of Japan. During this period, sakura blooms, the Japanese visit the graves of the deceased.
In ancient Persia, the holiday was called Navruz. Much later, it was recognized as Islam. This is a national holiday in Iran. The celebration of Navruz is common in Central Asia, the Caucasus, Northwest China and even the Balkans.
In the Bahá'í religion, there is also the Navruz holiday. It always starts at sunrise on March 20th.
The vernal equinox is revered in Islam. The Nizarites have a holy day.
In Egypt, the holiday is called Sham-el-Nessim. In antiquity, it coincided with the beginning of the astronomical spring. Later, the holiday date was moved to Easter Monday. In Egypt, this is a national holiday uniting the entire population of the country.
The main holiday in Christianity is Easter. It is celebrated annually at different times. However, the date of this holiday is calculated by the clergy from the day when spring begins on the Sun.