Spring is in the Air

The phenological definition of spring relates to indicators - the blossoming of a range of plant species, the activities of animals or the special smell of soil that has reached the temperature for micro flora to flourish.  It therefore varies according to the climate and according to the specific weather of a particular year.

Meteorologists generally define four seasons in many monthly areas as spring, summer, autumn and winter.  These are usually specified by the values of their average temperatures on a monthly basis, with each season lasting three months.  The three warmest months are referred to as summer, the three coldest months are known as winter and the remaining gaps are spring and autumn.

Spring, when defined in this manner, can start on different dates in different countries.  In terms of complete months, in most North Temperate Zone countries, spring months are March, April and May (although differences exist from country to country); summer is June, July, August; autumn is September, October, November; winter is December, January and February. The vast majority of Southern Temperate Zone countries will have opposing seasons with spring in September, October and November.

In the USA and some other regions in the Northern Hemisphere, the astronomical vernal equinox (currently around 20 or 21 March) is often taken to mark the first day of spring, and the summer solstice is sometimes taken as the first day of summer.  In another US tradition, 2 February - Candlemas - can be regarded as the start of spring if it is mild.  In South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, spring begins on 1st September and has no relation to the vernal equinox.  In Ireland spring traditionally starts on 1st February - St Brigid's Day.

In South America, the Tupi-Guarani calendar from the former inhabitants of what is presently Brazil, Northern Argentina and Paraguay, counted 365 days plus a fourth part of a day, needing no extra day every four years. The beginning of the solar year was marked by the rising of the Constellation in the horizon, which occurs between June 5^th and June 11th in this part of the world.  For these native people, the four seasons were clearly identified by the solstices and equinoxes.  The trajectory of the Sun throughout the year was divided into "The New Age" and "The Old Age".  Ara Pyau was spring and summer, and Ara Yma was autumn and winter.  This calendar, which had no graphed or written form, marked activities such as hunting, fishing, planting, harvesting and religious rituals.

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