Every spring, the news or newspapers make some reference to either “the first full day of spring” or “spring officially arrives at (some specific time).”
All of the seasons begin/end at a very specific time, but spring is the only one that we really make note of it.
Any reason? Is this part of the old “rebirth from the dead of winter” mentality?
Funny, right now the local newspaper and the television are all making mention of the first full day of winter.
Two answers:
The first day of spring is the basis for determining the date of Easter, an important Christian holiday. (Yes, I know Christmas is based on the winter solstice but Christmas isn’t a moveable feast like Easter.)
I am looking at the official Boeing calendar for the year 2000 which indicates paydays for salaried and hourly employees and paid holidays. The first holiday of the year is January 3rd (ha-ha! I bet I get more days off than you do!) but the next holiday isn’t until Memorial Day on the 29th of May! I’m guessing it’s this long dearth of holiday cheer, along with the emergence of new life, that makes spring a big deal.
“If ignorance were corn flakes, you’d be General Mills.”
Cecil Adams
The Straight Dope
*Mjollnir: Every spring, the news or newspapers make some reference to either “the first full day of spring” or “spring officially arrives at (some specific time).”
All of the seasons begin/end at a very specific time, but spring is the only one that we really make note of it.
Any reason? Is this part of the old “rebirth from the dead of winter” mentality? *
It’s because you can balance eggs on the end on the first day of spring. 
Of course, you can do it on every other day too!
I looked in the mirror today/My eyes just didn’t seem so bright
I’ve lost a few more hairs/I think I’m going bald - Rush
Before you think that the other seasons aren’t celebrated, remember Shakespeare wrote a play called A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was about the celebration at the summer solstice. The first day of spring has traditionally been the first day of the new year. (Think about it. It makes more sense than sticking the new year in January.) That may be why it gets more attention than the other equinox or either solstice, but they all seem to merit at least a passing mention by the local weather people.
Pluto: (ha-ha! I bet I get more days off than you do!)
Actually, stud, I only go to schhol 180 days a year. Beat that, bitch.
“C’mon, it’s not even tomorrow yet…” - Rupert
If you need a graphic solution, http:\ alk.to\Piglet
Because winter damn well sucks the sweat off a dead man’s balls, and spring, obviously, brings and end to that God-and-warmth-forsaken season.
“And he, he himself, the Grinch,
carved the roast beast.”
Make that paid holidays, Rory. (Although I guess I’m still going to lose to gummint employees.)
So stay in schhol so you can make the big bucks!
(I love it when the slammer leaves the door open!!)
Well, you could argue that spring, or at least the equinoxes, have the sharpest delination. Spring – you go from snow and
cold to green leaves, increasing food supply and warm weather. But all the seasonal changes have historically been celebrated.
This little seasonal Saturnalia we’re in right now for example. Christmas and New Year’s are basically celebrations of the solstice, descending from pagan rituals to “bring back the sun”. At least if you believe the Golden Bough.
For autumn, you get harvest festivals. But the approach of winter isn’t so appealing as the approach of spring (except to skiers)
so it doesn’t get the good press.
The summer solstice seems sort of under-celebrated. My guess would be that there’s no pressing reason to celebrate then … no harvest, no mid-winter darkness to dispel, no coming of new growth.
Ah, a pet peeve of mine, people who think seasons begin on the solstice/equinox…
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_170b.html
By my count, we’ve been in Winter for three weeks. Anyone who doubts me should have been in Chicago this week…