Spring is Here
BY LORRAINE BERTAN,
CULTURE CLUB
March 20, 2020, was the
first day of spring. What
can we expect?
Longer days and shorter shadows
Warmer temperature
Blooming plants and more birds
What are the astronomical changes
which trigger these changes in
plant and animal life?
On March 20, 2020, both northern
and southern hemispheres received
the same amount of sunlight. The
Sun shines directly on the earth’s
equator during the equinoxes and
the length of day and night are nearly
equal. The Earth’s celestial equator
intersects with the Sun’s ecliptic
twice a year, signaling the spring
and autumnal equinox.
Because of the tilt (23.5 degrees)
of the earth’s axis, the direct ray of
the Sun will climb a bit higher each
day after the vernal equinox until
the June solstice, the longest day of
the year, when it will shine directly
on the Tropic of Cancer. After the
June solstice, the direct ray of the
Sun will appear to descend until it
reaches the Earth’s equator at the
autumnal equinox and days will
become shorter, shadows longer
and temperatures decrease. During
the December Solstice, the direct ray
of the sun will be at the Tropic of
Capricorn, the start of summer in
the southern hemisphere.
Early human societies lived by the
seasonal changes, and early humans
began to observe the skies to find
relationships between astronomical
events and the seasonal changes.
Since plant and animal cycles were
so important to human survival,
ancient people found ways to
record seasonal changes in holiday
celebrations.
The Iranians celebrated March 20,
2020 as their New Year, Nowruz. In
all religious observances, food plays
a significant role, and rice is especially
important in the celebration
of Nowruz.
Passover is celebrated on the
first full moon after the spring, or
Vernal equinox, during the month
of Nisan. This year it will be on sundown,
April 8, 2020. The month of
Nisan is the first month of the Jewish
From the North Shore Towers Courtyard - Photos courtesy of Lorraine Bertan
Ecclesiastical Year. However, the
Civil Jewish year is observed during
the month of Tishri, which falls
during September. Tishri is actually
the seventh month of the Jewish year.
The observance of the Jewish New
Year, Rosh Hashanah, begins on
the eve of the new moon during the
month of Tishri. The celebration of
the autumn harvest, Sukkot, begins
on the night of the full moon, two
weeks later.
Easter is observed on Sunday,
April 12, 2020, after the Paschal
Full Moon. Eggs, a symbol of fertility,
are prominently featured in both
observances.
What other religious observances
are associated with astronomical
events like the equinox and
solstice? Greek mythology describes
the abduction of Persephone, goddess
of the spring and daughter of
Demeter by Hades, god of the underworld,
during the autumn equinox.
She stayed three months, from
September through December, and
returned to Earth after the December
solstice, the time of longest shadows
and shortest days, in which plants
did not appear to grow. After the
December solstice, the days become
longer, shadows become shorter and
Demeter, goddess of the harvest, has
her daughter back and the cycle can
begin.
Iranians observe the winter
solstice, the longest and darkest
day of the year, with the triumph
of the Sun god, Mithra, over
darkness (Shab-e-Yalda). The
Romans observed the winter solstice
during the Saturnalia, named
for the father of the gods, Saturn.
It was a partying time, when grudges
were forgiven and people were
encouraged to enjoy themselves.
Ancient German tribes lit candles
and brought evergreens into their
homes to make them festive during
the winter solstice, a tradition that
has become very popular.
As we look for signs of spring
around us, see the blossoms on the
plants in the North Shore Towers
Garden. The robins are back.
Flowers are the reproductive organs
of plants, so watch for the insects
and birds which pollinate them. Get
ready for allergies.
April 2020 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 29