By: Muhammad Atif Rana
By the meteorological calendar, the first day of winter is always 1 December; ending on 28 (or 29 during a Leap Year) February. Meteorological seasons consist of splitting the seasons into four periods made up of three months each. The four seasons – spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter – follow one another regularly. Each has its own light, temperature, and weather patterns that repeat yearly. In the Northern Hemisphere, winter generally begins on December 21 or 22. This is the winter solstice, the day of the year with the shortest period of daylight.
Spring is the season during which the natural world revives and reinvigorates after the colder winter months. During spring, dormant plants begin to grow again, new seedlings sprout out of the ground and hibernating animals awake.
spring is one of two times when the Earth’s axis is not pointed toward or away from the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tipped at its greatest angle toward the sun during the summer solstice, which occurs around June 21. In the Southern Hemisphere, around December 21, it is the South Pole’s turn to be nearer. As such, in the Northern Hemisphere, astronomical spring runs from March 21 to June 21, while in the Southern Hemisphere it encompasses Sept. 21 to Dec. 21, though the dates may shift slightly from year to year.
The air may lose its winter chill before the middle of March or September, though. Weather forecasters define meteorological spring as a three – month period based on rising temperatures. North of the equator, meteorological spring takes place in March, April and May, while in the south it is characterized by the months of September, October and November.
In the hemisphere that is tilted closer to the sun, temperatures become warmer. Warmer temperatures means the ground, which may have frozen over the winter months, grows softer and more yielding to plants. Spring is often marked by increased rainfall, which helps to water the infant seeds taking root in the ground. Animals that spent the winter in hibernation come out of their dens, while those that traveled to warmer regions return. Many animals give birth in the spring. Winter coats are shed by those that sported them, and some animals may change coloration to blend in with their new surroundings.
The rising rainfall of spring may bring with it an increase in flooding as melting snow overwhelms rivers. Spring may also boast storms, as warm air from the equator combines with still-cool air farther north or south. One of the first signs that spring has sprung are the presence of tree buds. A plant’s buds act as a shield for the delicate flowers inside. Flowers of different shapes, sizes and forms come with individual and distinct protection. Throughout winter these buds remain closed and dormant, surviving the cold until their time comes to thrive in the spring, making a vibrant emergence from their compact casing.
Many cultures celebrate the return of spring, the blossoming of nature. The Spring season is celebrated worldwide, rejoicing and organizing exciting and vibrant events. For example, Chinese New Year, Canadian Tulip Festival, Japan Hanami Cherry Blossom Festival, Thailand Songkran Festival, Holy Festival and European Las Fallas are some of the most prominent and widely known spring carnivals around the globe. In Japan, the annual blossoming of cherry trees has become a significant national event. Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, is a time for festivals and gatherings at parks and shrines, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Cherry blossoms, or sakura, symbolize the transience of life, which is a major theme in Buddhism.
The short days and long days are divided into 12-hour times. The days and nights in spring become 12 hours each. This equal division occurs due to the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. The length of day and night becomes equal twice a year.
Similarly, South Asia celebrates, including Pakistan, greets the spring season with exciting, delightful and intriguing events. This article will learn about all the electrifying, flamboyant and conspicuous festivals. Some of these festivals are as follows: Basant festival, Nowroz, Holi Festival, Cholistan Jeep Rally Festival, Horse and Cattle Show, Tree Plantation, Other Festivities.
PTI government announced to make Pakistan green and clean by pledging to plant 10 billion trees across Pakistan. In this vein, the government organizes tree plantation drives to plant trees across Pakistan in spring. It is estimated that 540 million trees will be planted this spring of 2022. At first, it was launched in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa under PTI’s leadership. Now, it has been made part of a national project since 2019. If Pakistan succeeds in achieving this goal, it would be the largest and first-ever tree plantation program in the World.
Besides these spring festivals, people also organize many other festivals at their local level. For example, schools, colleges and universities organize many sports events and spring festivals representing cultural stalls and cuisines. This season of transformation is truly exciting and makes everyone relish the pleasant and cool atmosphere. People celebrate more events and participate in different activities. In Pakistan, government and people arrange many festivals at the national and local levels. The national events provide entertainment and fun to everyone.
