Spring Equinox 2009: March 20 the first day of Spring

by Amy Judd | March 19, 2009 at 02:12 pm

2992 views | 23 Recommendations | 8 comments

March 20 2009 is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring, officially. It officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere at 7:44am ET. Happy first day of Spring!

Here are some facts about Spring that you might not know:

This is when the Earth is not pointed either towards or away from the sun; it is located vertically above the Equator.

According to Geoff Chester, a public affairs specialist with the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.

"Exactly when it happens depends on where you are located on the surface of the Earth," he said.

On the Vernal and Autumn equinoxes, the sun rises due east and sets due west, and these are the only two days in a year this occurs.
The Spring equinox could occur on either March 20 or 21, and in some cases on the 19th.
There are not an exact number of days in a year, so that's why the day spring comes can change.
It wasn't until Pope Gregory XIII brought in the Gregorian calendar in 1582, that there was any stability in the equinox calendar at all.

Spring officially means winter is over, meaning flowers will start to bloom and bees will start to buzz again.

Please feel free to add your Spring photos above!

There have been many poems written about Spring - here is one by Robert Frost called 'A Prayer in Spring'.

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid-air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

Here is just a few ways that you can celebrate the first day of Spring 2009:

1. Wear sunglasses all day, even if you see no sun.
2. Wear something floral, or wear flowers in your hair.
3. Stop and sniff the flowers, even if they are outside your local grocery store.
4. Turn the heat up in your office so that it feels like spring has begun and you have to wear short sleeves.
5. Have a margarita on a patio during your lunch break - go on, it's Friday and you deserve it!

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recommend This comment thread is now closed

ivalf

at 10:17 on March 20th, 2009

Hi everybody. I woke up today, so did spring time !

ivalf has contributed a photo to this story.

sara star

at 10:18 on March 20th, 2009

We don't have any flowers in bloom yet on the East Coast. How about Vancouver?

Amy Judd

at 10:22 on March 20th, 2009

No, it's just raining still...

wimhazenhoek

at 12:33 on March 20th, 2009

I witnessed the smell of fresh air, lots of bumblebees verry busy , the bright colours of nature, the sun feeling stronger,and people looking more happy!

wimhazenhoek has contributed a photo to this story.

stephen hirst (not verified)

at 13:07 on March 20th, 2009

Spring is here the nights are longer. its nice to have some sun time to have some fun. I love spring the colours are great at this time of year and produce great photos.

Thanks

Pocherman77

kodamatic

at 00:32 on March 21st, 2009

Thank you.

kodamatic has contributed a photo to this story.

you

at 00:37 on March 21st, 2009

i saw this plum blossoms when i was taking a walk.
the pink was so colorful which made me smile.
spring has come.

you has contributed a photo to this story.

sh0oter

at 07:15 on March 21st, 2009

The weather was sunny and the temperature was relatively hot, so I and my shooting friends decided to go and take some shots at Yoshino Baigo Park in Ome. Though it was quite far from where we stay in Tokyo, we truly enjoyed being with the 25,000 plum trees in their full bloom. This particular plum blossom stem captured my attention, so I took a shot at it.

sh0oter has contributed a photo to this story.