Spring Information: We explain what spring is, its history, and its cultural significance. We also explain the processes that take place during this season.
What is spring?
Spring (from the Latin prima, “first,” and vera, “greenness”) is one of the four seasons, along with summer, autumn, and winter. This season is characterized by a gradual rise in temperature, longer, sunnier days, and the flowering and greening of plants and trees.
The fact that plants green up in spring has led to its cultural association with ideas of rebirth, resurrection, joy, and youth. This can be seen in artistic and musical works that pay tribute to the season, such as the corresponding excerpt from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Must Read About Lunar Eclipse Once.
Characteristics of Spring
The main characteristics of spring are:
- The temperature begins to rise and the days lengthen: After winter, the climate begins to soften, and the amount of sunlight begins to extend.
- Many plant species renew their foliage: Deciduous trees and plants begin to sprout again, recover their foliage, and turn their leaves green.
- Animals intensify their biological activity: Many animals resume feeding and reproductive activities. For several species, it is also the beginning of the breeding season, with behaviors such as nest building and searching for mating partners.
- Flowering and pollination begin: Pollination by bees and butterflies, among other species, begins, which is essential for pollen dispersal and maintaining biological diversity.
- Many agricultural activities begin crop preparation and sowing: Agricultural sectors typically prepare the land and sow the crops that will grow during the warmer months and be harvested in summer or fall.
- Festivals related to renewal and fertility are celebrated: In various cultures, spring is a time of festivals and rituals that celebrate life, fertility, and the abundance of nature, such as the Persian Nowruz in Iran or the Shunbun no Hi in Japan.
Period and Duration of Spring
From an astronomical perspective, spring falls between the vernal equinox (March 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and September 22 or 23 in the Southern Hemisphere) and the summer solstice (June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and December 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere).
During this period, the Sun shifts from illuminating both hemispheres equally at the equinox to predominantly illuminating one of the two. This apparent movement of the Sun culminates at the summer solstice, when one hemisphere receives the greatest amount of sunlight of the year.
Like the other seasons, spring lasts approximately three months. Must Read About Color Once.
Symbolism of Spring
The seasons have historically had a cultural or mythological explanation among peoples, and spring has always played a celebratory and festive role. In Greek mythology, for example, the seasons were explained by the famous abduction of Persephone by the god of the underworld, Hades.
Tradition tells us that Persephone was the daughter of Demeter, a goddess of agriculture and the earth. When she was forcibly taken underground to the world of the dead, she became so sad and unhappy that Hades had no choice but to reach an agreement: she would spend six months with him underground (autumn and winter) and then six months back with her mother (spring and summer). Thus, for the Greeks, spring was a celebration of Persephone’s return to her mother, Demeter.
The celebration of the vernal equinox was also common among many European pantheistic peoples, commonly referred to as Celts. This group of peoples gathered every spring solstice to celebrate the return of fertility and warmth to the world.
On the other hand, for the indigenous peoples of the Americas, spring marked the beginning of the planting season. The Aztecs held ceremonies in honor of their fertility and agricultural gods, such as Xipe Tótec, the god of vegetation renewal and the regeneration of nature.
In Mayan culture, the spring equinox was also anticipated and celebrated. The pyramid at Chichén Itzá is designed so that, at the beginning of spring, a feathered serpent, Kukulcán, appears to descend in the form of light upon the pyramid, symbolizing the beginning of a period of growth and fertility. Must Read About Color Theory Once.
The Other Seasons of the Year
The seasons are the four stages into which the year is divided, each lasting three months and associated with distinct climatic and astronomical processes.
Besides spring, the other seasons of the year are:
- Summer: This is the season of warmest weather and greatest sunlight, with long days and short nights, and the season during which vacations are held in most cultures. It occurs in the Northern Hemisphere in the months of June, July, and August, and in the Southern Hemisphere in December, January, and February.
- Autumn: This is the season when the days begin to shorten and the temperature begins to drop. Trees lose their leaves, and plant and animal life prepares for winter. It occurs in the Northern Hemisphere in the months of September, October, and November, and in the Southern Hemisphere in March, April, and May.
- Winter: This is the coldest season of the year. The days are short and the nights are long, and frost and snow often occur. It occurs in the Northern Hemisphere in the months of December, January, and February, and in the Southern Hemisphere in June, July, and August.
References
All the information we offer is supported by authoritative and up-to-date bibliographic sources, ensuring reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
- Bettio, F. (2012). Solstice: The Mystery of the Sun in Different Cultures. Esfinge Magazine. revistaesfinge.com
- Cuthbert, L. (2024). What is an Equinox and What Does It Consist of?. National Geographic. nationalgeographic.es
- Neoenergia. (n.d.). It’s Spring, the Season of Flowers. neoenergia.com
