When is the spring of 2022? The spring equinox explains the date the new season begins – and what flowers will bloom?

The first month of the new year is near, the days are lengthening and the nights are shortening, we will say goodbye to winter immediately.

Soon it will be spring, we will welcome 2022 – but did you know there are really two different dates that the beginning of the season can kick off?

Here’s what you need to know.

How the beginning of spring is determined, it all depends on whether you are following the ephemeris or the meteorology.

Met Office explains: “The sidereal seasons refer to the position of the Earth’s orbit in relation to the Sun, considering equinoxes and singularities.

“This is due to the 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth’s axis of rotation relative to its orbit around the Sun.

“Because the seasons are of different lengths, the start date of a new season can fall on different days each year.”

This year, the sidereal spring will begin on Sunday, March 20, 2022, and will end on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

However, if you’re looking at a meteorological calendar, these seasons are instead based on “annual temperature cycles and measurements of meteorological conditions, as well as calendar overlaps to define clear transitions between seasons” according to the Met Office.

“Meteorological seasons consist of dividing the seasons into four phases, each lasting three months,” said the Bureau of Meteorology.

“The seasons are split to coincide with our Gregorian calendar, making it easier for meteorological observations and forecasts to compare seasonal and monthly statistics.”

For the meteorological calendar, the seasons are defined as:

The first day of spring welcomes the vernal equinox, with almost equal hours of day and night.

In this context, the first day of spring refers to the astronomically determined date, which is Sunday, March 20 of this year.

The vernal equinox, also known as the March equinox or the vernal equinox, marks the turning point when the hours of daylight officially begin outnumbering the hours of darkness we experience.

Days are slightly longer and longer from the winter solstice in December, but it is the Vernal equinox that causes the scales to tilt forward more favorably for daylight.

When the summer solstice hits later this year, we enjoy the longest day of the year, with the days thus gradually shortening thereafter.

The word “equinox” itself actually translates as “equal night,” from the Latin words “aequus” (equality) and “nox” (night).

Another way some intrepid gardeners mark the start of spring is by keeping an eye out for certain flowers that bloom in season – like the classic daffodils, or tulips of all colors.

Other spring flowers include:

A message from the editor:
Thank you for reading. NationalWorld is a new national news brand, produced by a team of journalists, editors, video producers and designers living and working across the UK. Learn more about who’s Who in the group, and ours editorial value. We want to start a community among our readers, so follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagramand continue the conversation. You can also Subscribe to our newsletter and get a selection of our best readings delivered to your inbox every day.