First Day of Spring

Sam Kade · 01-02-2016 08:16PM

Chris_Bradley wrote: »

Spring begins in March. Look out your window & tell me different.

Whatever is outside your window, there's great drying here today.

Eutow · 01-02-2016 08:36PM

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Children in school are taught that Spring begins today and that August is the first month of Autumn. Until the dept of ed says something different , I don't care what Met Éireann say.

I don't care what schools say. Feb the 1st isn't spring. I rather go with what Met Eireann and other countries in a similar lattitude say. Until some proof is offered to prove otherwise what we learned in primary is false.

ruadhri44 · 01-02-2016 08:40PM

Today is the start of spring since, Spring starts when growth in nature starts after the winter. Traditionally the first growth is the snowdrop flower. When this appears spring has started. Flowers come up and buds appear on the trees in Febuary. (Although granted over the past few years this has been happening in January.)

Summer starts on the beginning of May since lambing season should be over by then.

Autumn starts with the beginning of August since that was went our ancestors began to collect and store food for the winter.

The notion that Spring starts on the first of March is based on growth starts in western France. (Blame the Normans for that.)

So since growth after the window starts in Febuary, Febuary is in Spring. Indeed since growth as started in January over the past few years, you could say on natural terms Spring is starting earlier over the past few years.

ruadhri44 · 01-02-2016 08:40PM

Today is the start of spring since, Spring starts when growth in nature starts after the winter. Traditionally the first growth is the snowdrop flower. When this appears spring has started. Flowers come up and buds appear on the trees in Febuary. (Although granted over the past few years this has been happening in January.)

Summer starts on the beginning of May since lambing season should be over by then.

Autumn starts with the beginning of August since that was went our ancestors began to collect and store food for the winter.

The notion that Spring starts on the first of March is based on growth starts in western France. (Blame the Normans for that.)

So since growth after the window starts in Febuary, Febuary is in Spring. Indeed since growth as started in January over the past few years, you could say on natural terms Spring is starting earlier over the past few years.

ruadhri44 · 01-02-2016 08:42PM

Sorry meant to say after the Winter, not after the Window.

Broxi_Bear_Eire · 01-02-2016 08:46PM

1st Feb was wisely regarded as the start of spring by the Celts but most of us go by the 1st of March

Pretzill · 01-02-2016 09:00PM

I'm another who is welcoming the 1st day of Spring today - it doesn't feel very spring like but that's not the point. Daffodils are blooming already which is very early for the Northwest. But I go by the light and the growth, and the wildlife signs.

It's been a mild winter which means the growth has started early - normally it takes the signs of spring a few weeks to travel up the country.

But midsummer around the 21st of June when the light starts to leave albeit gradually can hardly make June the first month of summer. And when I'm collecting all the fruit in August - the harvest, well that to me is the start of Autumn. I know it divides everyone but spring has sprung today imo.

(Throws coal on fire, adjusts heavy coat and shivers!!)

Eugene Norman · 01-02-2016 09:11PM

It's all arbitrary. I understand the celts using the Sun as the divisor of the seasons rather than the weather. Since Dec 21st is the mid winter in terms of daylight their winter was November to february.

(The pre Christian Celtic start of spring was probably later than Feb 1st, somwhere around Feb 6th).

I also get using the weather. Dec, Jan, Feb. Coldest months.

What I don't get starting any season at the solstice or Equinox. Nobody sings songs about In the bleak start of winter, at Christmas time.

Anyway I think we have two seasons. Season "Dark after work", and season "Not dark after work". About 4 months of the one, and 8 months of the other.

ShamoBuc · 01-02-2016 09:17PM

Eutow wrote: »

I don't care what schools say. Feb the 1st isn't spring. I rather go with what Met Eireann and other countries in a similar lattitude say. Until some proof is offered to prove otherwise what we learned in primary is false.

Met Éireann believe the daffodils outside my door are sprouting up in the winter, that's proof enough to me that Met Éireann and other countries in a similar latitude to Ireland can go féck off.
Meán Fómhair, middle of Autumn is September Deireadh Fómhair, end of Autumn is October, thus August is the start of Autumn, meaning February is the start of Spring and the 'Snowdrops and daffodils ' song can be sung now, as they are popping up.....as it is Spring.

Eutow · 01-02-2016 09:20PM

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Met Éireann believe the daffodils outside my door are sprouting up in the winter, that's proof enough to me that Met Éireann and other countries in a similar latitude to Ireland can go féck off.
Meán Fómhair, middle of Autumn is September Deireadh Fómhair, end of Autumn is October, thus August is the start of Autumn, meaning February is the start of Spring and the 'Snowdrops and daffodils ' song can be sung now, as they are popping up.....as it is Spring.

I disagree so there.

Eugene Norman · 01-02-2016 09:20PM

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Met Éireann believe the daffodils outside my door are sprouting up in the winter, that's proof enough to me that Met Éireann and other countries in a similar latitude to Ireland can go féck off.
Meán Fómhair, middle of Autumn is September Deireadh Fómhair, end of Autumn is October, thus August is the start of Autumn, meaning February is the start of Spring and the 'Snowdrops and daffodils ' song can be sung now, as they are popping up.....as it is Spring.

The daffodils popped up in late December so that's not a useful criteria.

Eutow · 01-02-2016 09:23PM

Eugene Norman wrote: »

It's all arbitrary. I understand the celts using the Sun as the divisor of the seasons rather than the weather. Since Dec 21st is the mid winter in terms of daylight their winter was November to february.

(The pre Christian Celtic start of spring was probably later than Feb 1st, somwhere around Feb 6th).

I also get using the weather. Dec, Jan, Feb. Coldest months.

What I don't get starting any season at the solstice or Equinox. Nobody sings songs about In the bleak start of winter, at Christmas time.

Anyway I think we have two seasons. Season "Dark after work", and season "Not dark after work". About 4 months of the one, and 8 months of the other.

Or as I would say the cold, wet, stormy, dark season and the mild, brighter, wet season.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 01-02-2016 09:23PM

I know we learn differently in school but officially I think this how the seasons work in the northern hemisphere.

Spring - 21 March to 20 June, Summer - 21 June to 20 September and on so forth.

Tony EH · 01-02-2016 09:29PM

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Children in school are taught that Spring begins today and that August is the first month of Autumn. Until the dept of ed says something different , I don't care what Met Éireann say.

What schools?

I was taught that Spring began in March and that was in the 80's.

ShamoBuc · 01-02-2016 09:32PM

Eugene Norman wrote: »

The daffodils popped up in late December so that's not a useful criteria.

Due to the mild nature of the winter, yes. The first signs of growth are daffodils popping up , the majority of which come to full bloom, not in December, not in January but in February, Spring.

I was taught in school that February was the first month of Spring,. Anyone doing a test can follow Met Éireann if they chose, but they would be marked wrong.
Until they teach it differently, happy Lá le Bríde, Spring has arrived !!

pickarooney · 01-02-2016 09:46PM

Imbolc shona daoibh

Figbiscuithead · 01-02-2016 09:53PM

Tony EH wrote: »

What schools?

I was taught that Spring began in March and that was in the 80's.

My school for one. I went to primary from 1985-1993.

I follow the Celtic tradition of seasons, so today is the first day of Spring for me - always has been, always will be.

fleet_admiral · 01-02-2016 09:54PM

A lot of my flowers are showing green shoots. Didnt happen til March last year

ShamoBuc · 01-02-2016 09:57PM

Tony EH wrote: »

What schools?

I was taught that Spring began in March and that was in the 80's.

I also. was in school in the 80's

There is only 1 curriculum,

You were taught wrong. Unless you were not in school in Ireland.

meeeeh · 01-02-2016 11:34PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I know we learn differently in school but officially I think this how the seasons work in the northern hemisphere.

Spring - 21 March to 20 June, Summer - 21 June to 20 September and on so forth.

That's the one since Romans I think and the Georgian calendar. Once you adopt calendar you get the dates with it. Anyway as far as I can gather meteorological is set so it's the same every year. Because earth doesn't travel in perfect circle around Sun the equinoxes and solstice don't land always on the same dates. For the sake of data comparison the dates have to be the same every year and that's the reason for meteorological calendar.

For me summer always ended when school started (always 1st of September where I come from) so meteorological calendar is the one that makes most sense to me.

sryanbruen · 01-02-2016 11:37PM

jamesbere wrote: »

Always felt 1st of March was more the first day of spring in this country, still get wintry weather in February

Well yes. Everybody, it is not the first day of Spring astronomy wise or meteorology wise.

Meteorology wise - March 1st
Astronomy wise - March 20th

^ February has never been the start of Spring... it frustrates me how many people think this :mad::mad::mad:. Flowers blooming in February doesn't tell me when Spring has arrived.

Tony EH · 01-02-2016 11:42PM

ShamoBuc wrote: »

I also. was in school in the 80's

There is only 1 curriculum,

You were taught wrong. Unless you were not in school in Ireland.

Went to school in Dublin.

Never taught anything else but that Spring was March, April and May.

Chris_Bradley · 01-02-2016 11:54PM

Interesting to see how many people go mad at something so trivial lol

However, no way is Feb the start of spring here.

Chris_Bradley · 01-02-2016 11:54PM

Interesting to see how many people go mad at something so trivial lol

However, no way is Feb the start of spring here.

enda1 · 02-02-2016 12:00AM

Winter = the three months with the least daylight. So November, December and January.
This is how it is in Ireland. There are other definitions such as the coldest three months. But ours in Ireland makes perfect sense and as others have said, is reflected in nature and growing traditions. What's the big fuss :S

02-02-2016 12:07AM

In today's Irish Times Pól Ó Muirí focuses on the start of spring and the role of light in setting the Irish definition of when spring starts:

'Into the light – An Irishman’s Diary on the glories of spring'

There was one guy in my class in school who used to claim spring started on March 1, but he was British.

petrolcan · 02-02-2016 12:59AM

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I don't believe in seasons!

What about joy? Fun?

JupiterKid · 02-02-2016 01:02AM

Spring my arse.

It's still winter in my books. March is when Spring really begins.

Ash.J.Williams · 02-02-2016 01:12AM

Question on QI recently was "what takes (given Time) to go from John o groats to lands end?" And the answer was the seasons. Suggesting that in the UK the seasons are calculated by the presence of certain flora. Going by my garden we had snow drops and the beginning of daffodils in December which would suggest an early spring....
However I feel half a season before equonox makes more sense for a starting point and we're experiencing climate change which is feckin things up

The Raptor · 02-02-2016 03:17AM

Why are children still on summer holidays in August?

Because its summer, not autumn.

Though in the school books we were always told autumn began in August. Which is crap because it can feel summery in August.

First Day of Spring

Comments