When does spring start according to the Sun? How was this date determined and celebrated in ancient times?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

The work of our ancestors was mainly associated with the cultivation of the land. In agriculture, many types of work were carried out once in a certain period. Missing the right moment for processing or sowing, you could be left without a harvest.

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 particular season, especially the time of preparation and sowing.

Before, people did not have deep knowledge in the field of astronomy and mathematics, so they determined when spring begins, according to the Sun. Long-term observations of the movement of the planets, the experience of ancestors, the analysis of natural phenomena gave good results. The accuracy of determining the seasons has steadily increased.

Spring Equinox

Astronomers celebrate the arrival of spring on the day of the vernal equinox. During this period, the Sun leaves the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth and moves into the Northern. The sun's rays fall vertically on the equator. The day is equal in length to the night. Sunrise is observed exactly oneast, and the sunset is due west. This is how astronomical spring comes to the Northern Hemisphere, and astronomical autumn comes to the Southern Hemisphere.

Meticulous observation of the sky in antiquity has paid off. Astronomers have learned how to accurately determine the number of the vernal equinox for any period of time, both in the past and in the future. The period of time from one spring (autumn) equinox to the arrival of the next is called the tropical year. It is about 365.2422 solar days. Due to the presence of a fractional part in the number of solar days, the equinox occurs each time at a different time, moving forward 6 hours annually.

An extra day in a leap year allows you to compensate for the inaccuracies of the Julian calendar. The Gregorian is formed so that the dates of the equinoxes do not change over the years.

Time for romantics and lovers

Spring is one of the best times of the year for romantic people. Her arrival pleases with an abundance of light, clear skies and long-awaited warming. Nature is awakening from hibernation, animals are waking up in their burrows and lairs, all life processes are running fuller and more intensely.

Spring starts immediately after winter and ends with the advent of summer. But to determine what date spring begins is not at all easy. The fact is that in different fields of knowledge they use their own definition of spring. There are the following types of this concept:

- calendar;

-astronomical;

- climatic;

- phenological.

Calendar spring

Spring is a period of transition. At this time, daylight hours increase, the air temperature rises, living beings and plants become more active.

Calendar spring consists of 3 months. March, April, May are the spring months of the Northern Hemisphere. In the South, 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 it comes earlier, and in the northern regions it is late.

Astronomic spring

This term was coined by astronomers. It comes into its own on the day when spring begins according to the Sun. It comes to the Northern Hemisphere on March 20 (21), on the opposite side of the Earth this unique phenomenon is observed on September 22 (23). Astronomical spring ends on the day of the summer solstice.

Climatic spring

The onset of climatic spring depends on the average daily temperature. If the average daily temperature consistently exceeds 0 degrees, spring comes, otherwise it is delayed.

In central Russia, spring comes at the end of 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 wild rose.

In the plant world, botanists determine the onset of spring by the beginning of the movement of sap from Norway maple.

Modern Holidays and Spring Equinox

When spring begins according to the Sun, a holiday begins with 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 Spring Equinox is one of Japan's favorite holidays. And although this holiday is not religious, it is closely connected with the traditions of the ancient religion of Japan. During this period, sakura blossoms, the Japanese visit the graves of the dead.

In ancient Persia, the holiday was called Navruz. Much later it was recognized by Islam. It is a national holiday in Iran. The celebration of Navruz is common in Central Asia, the Caucasus, Northwest China and even the Balkans.

The Baha'i religion also has a Navruz holiday. It always starts at sunrise on March 20.

The vernal equinox is revered in Islam. For the Nizaris, this is a sacred day.

In Egypt, the holiday is called Sham-el-Nessim. In ancient times, it coincided with the beginning of astronomical spring. Later, the holiday date was moved to Easter Monday. In Egypt, this is a national holiday that unites the entire population of the country.

The main holiday in Christianity is Easter. It is celebrated every year at different times. However, the date of this holiday is calculatedpriests from the day when spring begins according to the Sun.