Season

A season is one of the major divisions of the year, generally based on yearly periodic changes in weather.

Reckoning

The date at which each season begins depends on how it is defined.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the United States, the seasons are often considered to begin at the astronomical solstices and equinoxes: these are sometimes known as the "astronomical seasons". By this reckoning, summer begins at summer solstice, winter at winter solstice, spring at the vernal equinox and autumn at the autumnal equinox.

Related Topics:
United States - Summer solstice - Winter solstice - Vernal equinox - Autumnal equinox

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the United Kingdom, the seasons are traditionally considered to begin about seven weeks earlier: spring begins on Candlemas, summer on May Day, autumn on Lammas, and winter on All Hallows.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Candlemas - May Day - Lammas - All Hallows

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Irish calendar uses almost the same reckoning; Spring begins on February 1 / Imbolc, Summer on May 1 / Beltane, Autumn on August 1 / Lughnasadh and Winter on November 1 / Samhain.

Related Topics:
Irish calendar - February 1 - Imbolc - May 1 - Beltane - August 1 - Lughnasadh - November 1 - Samhain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In meteorology for the Northern hemisphere, spring begins by convention on March 1, summer on June 1, autumn on September 1 and winter on December 1. This definition is also followed in Denmark and former USSR.

Related Topics:
Meteorology - March 1 - June 1 - September 1 - December 1 - Denmark - USSR

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Conversely, for the Southern hemisphere, meterological summer begins on December 1, autumn on March 1, winter on June 1 and spring on September 1. This definition is also followed in Australia.

Related Topics:
December 1 - March 1 - June 1 - September 1 - Australia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Korean, Chinese, and Japanese calendars are based on a lunisolar calendar, where the solstices and equinoxes mark the middle of each season. This is very close to the meteorological definition of seasons.

Related Topics:
Korean - Chinese - Japanese calendar - Lunisolar calendar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mid-season

In the conventional American calendar, the following dates are considered to be halfway through a season:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Winter (February 3)
• Spring (May 5 or May 6)
• Summer (August 7)
• Fall (November 6)