The Spring Equinox

 

 

                                             Shunbun no Hi, Japan

 

At last the spring equinox has arrived!  Some locals may be feeling a little deflated, since the annual festivity of Las Fallas here in Valencia finished last night, but I’m looking forward to longer days (the clocks go forward on 29th March) and some brighter weather than what we have had of late.

You probably know that the word equinox comes from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night), referring to the equal length of day and night. This happens because the sun is directly above the Earth’s equator, resulting in nearly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. In the northern hemisphere, the days get longer and longer until the summer solstice, on 24^th June.

Throughout history, many cultures have celebrated the spring equinox as a time of rebirth. In ancient Persia, Nowruz, or Persian New Year, coincides with the equinox and symbolizes renewal and prosperity. The Mayans built El Castillo, a pyramid in Mexico, where the sun creates a serpent-shaped shadow on the stairs during the equinox. In Japan, Shunbun no Hi is a national holiday that encourages people to connect with nature and honour ancestors. And in Wiltshire, England, hundreds gather at Stonehenge to see the sunrise.

This time of renewal is also the perfect moment to remember those New Year’s resolutions that you gave up in February.  You can take them up again now  - it’s like getting a second chance! In the UK, many people tackle the task of spring cleaning.  This involves getting rid of, or donating, stuff you don’t use any more, and giving your home a thorough scrubbing to leave it sparkling.

There’s a lot happening in the garden too, as flowers and trees begin to bloom and the air fills with wonderful scents.  Animals also emerge from hibernation and there’s a general sense of energy and freshness in the air.

All in all, the first day of spring is a cause for celebration!

                                     Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England

                               

                                  

                                        It's a fine day, Opus III, 1992

Whether the weather

                                    Crowded House, Weather with you.
 

It's a cliché that Brits love to talk about the weather, but as with most clichés, it's true.  And the same goes for where I live, in Valencia. Whatever the weather, I can hear people protesting, 'No es normal'. So I've come to the conclusion that 'no es normal' is the normal weather condition here.

What is certainly true here on the east coast is that we have a huge number of sunny days, so the forecast is slightly less varied than one you might see or hear in the UK.

When I tune into a radio show (usually Radio6 music) and happen to catch the forecast, the presenter more often than not talks about sunny spells and patchy rain. There might be showers or outbreaks of rain, heavy rain or blustery weather; the day might be wet and windy and temperatures might plunge to -5 Celsius, with a windchill factor of -10ºC (when rugging up is definitely advisable). There might be gale force gusts and even some snow flurries. Winters can be mild or harsh

What is less common is to see temperatures climbing to 25ºC, with boiling/scorching/sweltering temperatures.  What most Brits appreciate is glorious sunshine and a light breeze, and most people would prefer an occasional downpour than neverending drizzle. When Spaniards go to the UK, what gets them down is the overcast/grey skies, constant cloud cover, when there isn't a patch of blue sky to be seen for weeks on end.

If you are asked to write an article/email about weather conditions in your country, feel free to embellish the truth a bit, to make your writing more interesting. No one is going to mark you down for not telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

                            Weather in the UK is usually no laughing matter!

 

Try this tongue-twister

Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!