Here's to lovely light evenings!

[on the road]

summer will start on the June solstice.

Wrong, that's mid-summer, not the first day of summer.

In my book the spring equinox is mid-spring, not the first day of spring.

 

[mark i]

I'm afriad I'm with Bent Mikey on this one. Spring equinox is the start of Spring, Summer equinox is the start of Summer et al.
Ref this winter, it was interesting, hopefully it is now over!

 

[on the road]

There's no such thing as a summer equinox.

 

[BentMikey]

There's no such thing as a summer equinox.

Yes, but it's fairly obvious that he meant summer solstice.

It might be mid spring in your books, but that's not convention. Convention is that spring starts on the March equinox, and summer at the solstice.

 

[Glow worm]

It's a bloody great time of year. Even better after months of darkness and cold. I reckon all of us year round cyclists have really earnt a bit of a break this year. It's going to hit 60 deg F in some places tomorrow and best of all- the first swallow of the summer has (finally) reached the UK (Portland Bill, Dorset) - see http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/aa_latestnews.htm

 

[on the road]

Yes, but it's fairly obvious that he meant summer solstice.

It might be mid spring in your books, but that's not convention. Convention is that spring starts on the March equinox, and summer at the solstice.

That depends on which culture you follow.

THERE is disagreement between traditionalists and the Meteorological Office about the date when spring starts in the UK.

Traditionally it begins on the night of 20-21 March – the date of the vernal equinox.

However, the Met Office considers 1 March to be the official start date of spring.

Vernal comes from the Latin word for bloom and an equinox is a time when days and nights are the same length.

Traditionally in the UK and North America this date has been regarded as the first day of spring, unlike in many other countries when it is called mid-spring.

The Met Office has abandoned tradition and folklore in favour of a logical approach that slots the four seasons neatly into the 12 months. So June, July and August are the summer months and March, April and May make up spring.

http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Spring-begins--almost-two.6053733.jp

 

[BentMikey]

Doesn't quite match your earlier theory either - of how each season is evenly split across the equinox/solstice as appropriate. Not to worry, I was just as surprised and confuzzled as you when I first heard of this. Now I realise it's the right view.

 

[jimboalee]

"Never cast a clout until the may is out",

for northerners

or even,

"Unite and unite let us all unite,
For summer is acome unto day,
And whither we are going we will all unite,
In the merry morning of May."

for southerners.

 

[Lady LDN]

I can not wait for the lighter (and warmer) evenings. Very excited at the thought of hazy evening cycles... win

 

[Crankarm]

It's a bloody great time of year. Even better after months of darkness and cold. I reckon all of us year round cyclists have really earnt a bit of a break this year. It's going to hit 60 deg F in some places tomorrow and best of all- the first swallow of the summer has (finally) reached the UK (Portland Bill, Dorset) - see http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/aa_latestnews.htm

One swallow does not make a summer. Maybe he was blown off course .

 

[BentMikey]

LOL!