Old Farmer’s Almanac
When does spring start?
Welcome, vernal equinox. In 2025, the first day of spring is Thursday at 4:01 a.m. Central time.
What Is the Spring Equinox?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the spring equinox (also called the March equinox or vernal equinox across the globe) occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south to north.
It’s called the celestial equator because it’s an imaginary line in the sky above Earth’s equator. Imagine standing on the equator; the Sun would pass directly overhead on its way north.
On the March equinox, the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere receive roughly equal amounts of sunlight; neither hemisphere is tilted more toward or away from the Sun than the other.
Although in most locations (the North Pole and the equator being exceptions), the amount of daylight had been increasing each day after the winter solstice — and after the spring equinox, many places will experience more daylight than darkness in each 24-hour day.
The amount of daylight each day will continue to increase until the summer solstice (in June) when the longest period of daylight occurs.
Here’s an interesting fact: Equinoxes are the only two times yearly that the Sun rises due east and sets due west for all of us on Earth. While the Sun passes overhead, the tilt of Earth is zero relative to the Sun, which means that Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the Sun. (Note, however, that Earth never orbits upright but is always tilted on its axis by about 23.5 degrees.)
Some Ideas on How to Celebrate Spring
The vernal equinox signals new beginnings and nature’s renewal in the Northern Hemisphere. Many cultures celebrate spring festivals, such as Easter and Passover.
Get outside. Look around. Are worms and grubs reappearing? (The March Full Moon is called the “Worm Moon” for this very reason.)
Watch the arc of the Sun across the sky as it shifts toward the north. Birds are migrating northward, along with the path of the Sun.
Do you plan to garden? The first day of spring is a traditional day to start in the garden! There’s nothing more restorative.
Are you craving fresh foods after a long winter? A Spring Tonic, using the early greens of spring, may be just the thing you need. Also, find some new spring recipes using what’s fresh and seasonal.
Spring Verse, Quotes and Sayings
Verse
For glad Spring has begun,
And to the ardent sun
The earth, long time so bleak,
Turns a frost-bitten cheek.
– Celia Thaxter, American poet (1835–94)
Never yet was a springtime,
Late though lingered the snow,
That the sap stirred not at the whisper
Of the southwind, sweet and low.
– Margaret Elizabeth Sangster, American writer (1838–1912)
Quotes
Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!”
– Robin Williams (1951–2014)
Sayings
Bluebirds are a sign of spring; warm weather and gentle south breezes they bring.
One swallow does not make a spring.
In spring, no one thinks of the snow that fell last year.
When the dandelions bloom early in spring, there will be a short season. When they bloom late, expect a dry summer.
Don’t say that spring has come until you can put your foot on nine daisies.
