Is May Day The Middle Of Spring Or The First Day Of Summer?
I love the way humans embrace the passage of seasons with special celebrations and rituals, but I still struggle to wrap my head around the definition of when a season begins, peaks, and ends.
Today is the first of May, or May Day, or Beltane, which is the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.
But does that mean it’s the middle of spring or the first day of summer?
I feel strongly about the correct answer to that question because it impacts my desire to romanticize the seasons, so let’s dive into it.
Why Seasons Matter To Me
I must preface this opinionated article with why I feel my personal perspective of seasons matters.
As someone who grew up in the Southern Hemisphere and now lives in the Northern Hemisphere, I know what it is like to celebrate the holidays of the year during different seasons.
Anyone who lives south of the equator knows that there is something about Christmas being in the summertime that just doesn’t sit right.
Now that I live in the United States, one of the elements I’m most grateful for is how the seasons make sense with the time of year.
I can finally wear sweaters on Christmas day. And there’s something about that little action that feels so magical.
Noticing how the seasons impact my ability to embrace the moment makes me want to be intentional about celebrating each season as it comes and goes, which becomes difficult when there are conflicting definitions of seasons.
The Big Question: Do The Solstices Represent The Height Of The Season Or The Beginning?
The definition of when seasons begin and end depends on whether we wish to follow the patterns of daylight as the earth orbits the sun, known as the astrological calendar, or based on temperature averages, known as the meteorological calendar.
Both of these perspectives on how to define the seasons are embraced widely across the globe, and despite my overall choice, I do have conflicting opinions about which I prefer.
Astronomical Seasonal Calendar
The astronomical calendar defines the seasons based on the natural orbit of the earth around the sun causing cycles in the number of daylight hours experienced in the northern and southern hemispheres.
The summer months are when the earth is tilted toward the sun and there are more hours of daylight, while the winter months are the opposite.
Here are the approximate dates of seasonal events according to the astronomical calendar:
March 21: Spring Equinox - Height of Spring
May 1: Beltane - End of Spring/ Beginning of Summer
June 21: Summer Solstice - Height of Summer
August 1: Lughnasadh - End of Summer/ Beginning of Autumn
September 21: Autumn Equinox - Height of Autumn
November 1: Samhain - End of Autumn/ Beginning of Winter
December 21: Winter Solstice - Height of Winter
February 1: Imbolc - End of Winter/ Beginning of Spring
What I like about astronomical seasons:
It makes sense in my brain for the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, to fall in the very middle of summer. AKA Midsummer!
The winter solstice is the longest night of the year, so that feels like it belongs in the dead of winter, not the beginning. That is basically Christmas. Also, winter should definitely be halfway over by the time Christmas and New Year's Eve are over, in my opinion.
What I dislike about astronomical seasons:
August is usually one of the hottest months of the year (though to be fair, I do live in Florida), so it usually doesn’t feel like August 1 is the first day of Autumn.
Halloween (Samhain) feels like an Autumn activity, not a Winter one…
Meteorological Seasonal Calendar
The meteorological calendar defines seasons based on the average temperatures experienced across the hemispheres throughout the year, where summer encompasses the three hottest months of the year, and winter includes the three coldest months.
Here are the approximate dates of seasonal events according to the meteorological calendar:
March 21: Spring Equinox - End of Winter/ Beginning of Spring
May 1: Beltane - Height of Spring
June 21: Summer Solstice - End of Spring/ Beginning of Summer
August 1: Lughnasadh - Height of Summer
September 21: Autumn Equinox - End of Summer/ Beginning of Autumn
November 1: Samhain - Height of Autumn
December 21: Winter Solstice - End of Autumn/ Beginning of Winter
February 1: Imbolc - Height of Winter
What I like about meteorological seasons:
The seasons ~feel~ like the seasons. It’s hot in the summer, cold in the winter, and crisp in between.
Events that seem autumn-related fall within that season, such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, for people in the U.S.
What I dislike about meteorological seasons:
The first day of Winter isn’t until December 21st. December should definitely be in the wintertime, right?!
June 21 feels too late for summer to start, also.
The Verdict: I’m Officially Adopting The Astronomical Calendar
As much as I love spring and was maybe not quite mentally prepared for the season to be over already, as far as I’m concerned…
Summer has officially begun.
It’s time for me to reflect upon my spring bucket list, accept that any missed adventures will have to be embarked upon next year, and work on shifting my mindset to romanticize the summertime.
Now it’s time for you to ask yourself the same question… Does today mark the middle of spring for you, or the first day of summer?