Four Special Days

In the 365.25 days that it takes our planet to revolve once around the sun, there are four special days that stand out.  These days are unique due to the fact that Earth is tilted on its axis 23.5 degrees.  This tilt causes the sun's light to hit our planet differently at different times of the year creating these four special days.

The Autumnal Equinox is one of two days during the year when the number of daylight hours approximately equals the number of nighttime hours.  The name "equinox" comes from the Latin word aequus which means equal. This special day occurs this year on September 23 and is also known as the first day of fall.  On the Autumnal Equinox the sun's arc reaches its highest point in the sky, but from this point forward its arc will begin to shift to the South. The sun will rise later in the morning and set earlier in the evening. Fewer hours of sunlight and its less direct trajectory, coupled with strengthening of the jet streams will begin to bring cooler weather to our little spot on Earth.  Yay!!

The Vernal Equinox is the only other day during the year on which the daylight and nighttime hours are approximately equal. The Latin term vernalis means "of the spring" causing this special day to also be called the Spring Equinox or the first day of spring.  Again, the sun's arc will reach its highest zenith in the sky.  This, in turn, will cause the sun to rise and set at its truest east and west locations.  This is a good time to locate true east at west in your yard.  From the Vernal Equinox forward, the sun's arc will begin to lean to the north.  The sun will rise earlier and set later creating longer hours of sunlight that, coupled with weaker jet streams, will bring summer weather into our area.  The Vernal Equinox will occur on March 20 in 2016.

Between the Autumnal Equinox and the Vernal Equinox comes the Winter Solstice.  The term solstice comes from two Latin words, sol meaning "sun" and sistere meaning "to stand still".  This is the day when the arc of the sun stops its march toward the south (stands still), and begins to move back to center.  This is also the day with the fewest hours of daylight and the longest night of the year.  Because we are receiving so few hours of sunlight, it gets cold and we call this season winter.  The Winter Solstice will occur on December 22.

The final special day is the Summer Solstice.  Occurring next year on June 20th, the Summer Solstice is the longest day and shortest night of the year.  It also marks the day the sun's arc quits marching north and turns back toward center.  Receiving many hours of sunlight during this season really heats things up and we call this season summer.

Of course, since our planet is spherical, the southern hemisphere's seasonal changes are opposite ours and the exact date of these four special days varies according to time zone.

The ever changing, yet unchanging, seasons of the year create anticipation of what's to come while  comforting us with the reliable rhythm of life.  Let's be thankful for each day.

Love ya'll,

Shelli

The seasons are what a symphony ought to be:

 four perfect movements in harmony with each other.

 ~Arthur Rubinstein