The First Day Of Spring: A Time Of Celebration And Renewal

In many countries, cultures, and religions around the world, the first day of spring symbolizes new beginnings and a renewed sense of hope. In nature, spring is a time for growth, as plants and trees that have been dormant throughout the winter begin to sprout again. This sense of rebirth and renewal is celebrated in a variety of different ways across the globe.

The annual temperature cycles of the seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis, which causes the sun to hit a portion of the globe more directly during summer and less directly during winter. During spring, a given part of Earth is beginning to transition from having less direct sunlight to having more. Read on to find out when the first day of spring is, how spring is celebrated worldwide, and how you can celebrate the start of spring yourself. 

When is the first day of spring? 

The first day of spring falls on the vernal equinox: March 20 or 21 in the northern hemisphere and September 22 or 23 in the southern hemisphere. The vernal equinox marks the astronomical spring, and the equinox falls on the day the Earth’s axis is not tilted toward either the northern or southern hemisphere—which causes equal lengths of night and day across the world. In fact, the word equinox comes from the Latin words aequi, which means equal, and nox, meaning night. 

Season of new beginnings: From the vernal equinox to the summer solstice

In terms of astronomical seasons, spring lasts from the vernal or spring equinox until the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year. Similarly, summer lasts from the summer solstice until the autumnal equinox, fall goes from the autumnal equinox until the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year), and winter goes from the winter solstice until astronomical spring on the March equinox. While the days of the astronomical seasons may be the same regardless of location, the intensity and magnitude of the changes are dependent on how far north or south a place is as well as other localized factors. 

Beyond the Northern Hemisphere: Understanding the worldwide importance of Spring

Spring is important to people for many reasons; however, historically, that significance centered around crops and agriculture. During spring, the sun rises earlier and sets later, which is a sign to agricultural communities that it’s time to plant crops. This start of the growing season historically also marked a time when communities would begin to have the opportunity to eat nutritionally important fresh fruits and vegetables.

How different cultures celebrate the first day of spring

Spring is celebrated worldwide with various festivals and traditions, many of which emphasize themes of renewal, rebirth, and nature's awakening. Some major spring celebrations worldwide include: 

• Holi (India and Nepal). Known as the Festival of Colors, Holi is a vibrant Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of spring. People throw colored powders and water at each other, sing, dance, and enjoy festive foods.
• Cherry blossom festivals (Japan). Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, is a beloved tradition in Japan. People gather in parks to view and celebrate the blooming of cherry blossoms, often with picnics and parties under the flowering trees.
• Nowruz (Iran and other Persian-speaking regions). Nowruz, or Persian New Year, marks the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It involves cleaning homes, feasting, visiting friends and family, and various cultural rituals that date back over 3,000 years.
• Easter (Christian communities worldwide). Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is preceded by Lent, a period of fasting and penance. Traditions include church services, egg hunts, and the decoration of Easter eggs, symbolizing new life.
• Passover (Jewish communities worldwide). Passover, or Pesach, commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. The eight-day festival involves a ceremonial meal called the Seder, which includes reading from the Haggadah, eating symbolic foods, and retelling the story of liberation.
• Songkran (Thailand). Songkran is the Thai New Year, observed in mid-April. It’s often celebrated with a water festival, where people splash water on each other to symbolize washing away the last year and welcoming the new one.
• May Day (various countries in Europe). May Day, or International Workers' Day, is celebrated on May 1. In many European countries, it includes festivities like dancing around the maypole, crowning a May queen, and celebrating labor rights.
• Vesak (Buddhist communities worldwide). Vesak, or Buddha Day, celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. It usually falls in April or May and involves prayer, meditation, and various rituals in temples.
• Beltane (Celtic regions and modern pagan communities). Beltane marks the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, traditionally celebrated on May 1. It involves lighting bonfires, dancing, and doing rituals to encourage growth and protect livestock.
• St. Patrick’s Day (Ireland and Irish communities worldwide). Celebrated on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day honors the patron saint of Ireland. It features parades, the wearing of green clothing, and festivities celebrating Irish culture.
• ​​Carnival (various countries, especially in Latin America and Europe). Carnival is celebrated just before Lent with parades, music, dancing, and elaborate costumes. Famous carnivals take place in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Venice in Italy, and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, USA.
• Walpurgis Night (Central and Northern Europe). Celebrated on April 30, Walpurgis Night involves bonfires and festivities to ward off evil spirits. It’s especially popular in Germany, Sweden, and Finland.
• Cimburijada (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Cimburijada marks the first day of spring in the city of Zenica, when people gather by the Bosna River to enjoy a communal meal of eggs.
• Floriade (Canberra, Australia). This month-long festival of flowers celebrates the arrival of spring in the southern hemisphere. It features beautiful floral displays, entertainment, and cultural events.
• Las Fallas (Valencia, Spain). Held in March, Las Fallas involves admiring and then burning large, elaborate sculptures called fallas. The festival includes fireworks, parades, and traditional music.

Simple ways to celebrate the start of spring

Even if you don’t celebrate spring as part of one of the celebrations listed above, it can still be enjoyable and even beneficial to do so in your own way. Recognizing that spring is about bringing hope and renewal as the seasons change, here are some simple ways to celebrate the start of this season: 

Plant a garden 

Spring is the perfect time to plant a garden of vegetables, flowers, or even ornamental trees. Getting your hands dirty and taking some time to connect with the land can be refreshing. Gardening as a hobby has also been linked to potential mental health benefits such as reduced stress and anxiety.

Connect with nature

Taking a hike or a stroll outdoors can be enjoyable and may help you recenter emotionally. Plus, like gardening, time in nature has been suggested to have significant potential benefits for mental health. Doing so doesn’t need to involve exercise, although it can. Sitting next to a pond, watching a sunset, or walking in a forest can all be satisfying ways to spend time in nature. 

Reconnect with an old friend

In keeping with the theme of renewal, spring can be a good time to reconnect with an old friend or a family member you haven’t seen for a while. You could have a spring celebration with this person by going for a picnic, taking a walk, or doing a fun activity.

Do some spring cleaning

Dedicating a day or a weekend to cleaning out your bedroom, house, or yard can be a helpful way to shake off the cobwebs of winter and welcome the new season. Since having a cluttered living space may contribute to stress and anxiety, taking time to tidy up could help your mental health, too.

This spring, you might prepare a meal using fresh, seasonal ingredients available in your region, such as asparagus, strawberries, and peas.

Decorate your home

Spring is the perfect season to bring nature indoors. Decorate your home with fresh flowers, potted plants, and other seasonal accents to brighten up the space.

Make spring crafts

Consider easy DIY projects like painting rocks, making flower wreaths, or building a simple birdhouse. Crafting is also known to help improve mood and boost self-confidence.

Host a celebration on the first day of spring

Finally, you could consider hosting a small gathering or barbecue to celebrate the warmer weather and longer days with family and friends.

Spring is a time of renewal and reconnection

Reconnect with yourself in therapy

Reconnecting with yourself this spring

To continue with the themes of renewal and reconnection, you might also benefit from trying therapy this spring. A therapist can help you create new, healthy habits for the start of this season and support you in addressing any past experiences or feelings that may be preventing you from moving forward. While you can start therapy at any time for any reason (and shouldn’t delay if you need support now), connecting with a therapist in spring may be powerfully symbolic of the renewal of your connection with yourself. 

Benefits of online therapy

If you’re looking for a more convenient way to attend therapy, you might try an online therapy platform so you can attend sessions from home or anywhere you have an internet connection. Research suggests that online therapy and in-person therapy can offer similar benefits in many cases.