Groundhog's day, the scam of a lifetime.

[conuly]

Listen up. In six weeks is the equinox. So no matter what, it's six weeks between now and the first day of spring. If the groundhog sees his shadow, that doesn't mean there's six more weeks of winter, and if he doesn't that doesn't mean that there's six more weeks to spring - in fact, if you think about it, both statements mean the exact same thing.

Personally, of course, I prefer the old system. Midwinter and Midsummer are the solstices. Midway between them are the equinoxes (midfall and midspring). Midway between solstice and equinox is the first day of the season, and today is therefore the first day of spring.

Happy spring, guys.

Edit: Guys, I know that the current system places the first day of spring at the equinox. I don't like this system, and prefer to consider the equinox the middle of spring, not the start. It makes more sense to me.

Comments

[demonkoala.livejournal.com]

I can't say I know much about groundhog day, but it's not quite spring yet.

[conuly]

How do you know?

[demonkoala.livejournal.com]

Looking in encyclopedias and other reports etc. Spring is always said to start around March 20/21, and it's the time of my birthday, so I've always remembered this. :)

[conuly]

That's the equinox. That system also has summer and winter starting on the solstices. However, as I explained in my post, the old system considered the solstices to be midwinter and midsummer. The first days of winter and summer were Halloween and May Day. Using this logic, the equinox would be the middle of spring instead of the beginning, and the first day of spring would be today, Candlemas.