It may be cold outside for some of us and there is actually snow falling in NYC but it is the first day of spring. I'm always confused about why its not the same day every year. Maybe you are too. According to Education World the first day of spring is the Vernal Equinox. "The Vernal Equinox is one of the four great seasonal changes every year. Day and night are equal, and the changing weather can lift the spirits of young -- and old -- alike. Don't miss this opportunity to have some fun and educate at the same time."

If you have a child who loves to talk science or a husband who is into astronomy, surprise them - dinner conversation can include the Vernal Equinox. National Geographic (love them) has quick but wonderful science rendering of the day (including a short video of the balancing day and night thing - use your new HDTV capacity if you have it):

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090319-vernal-equinox-2009-spring.html

and this is the even shorter version from WikiAnswers including that it begins 3/20 at 11:49 PM:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_is_the_first_day_of_spring_2009

Card Fountain gives us an actual history of the "first day of spring" concept: http://www.cardfountain.com/holiday_info/first-day-of-spring.php

Who knew it was so complicated.

If you have little ones at home or after school these are some Celebrate the First Day of Spring Crafts from About.com Family Crafts:
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/marchholidays/l/blmar21st.htm

I love their idea to paint a new stepping stone for the garden or making a wacky rain hat. You'll remember the first day of THIS spring every time you see the stone in your garden or the kid wants to wear the hat. I love making good memories.

Education World has a lot of activities and crafts that they have for teachers but we can use these great ideas at home.
http://www.education-world.com/holidays/archives/spring.shtml

One of their ideas is going on the Spring Journey North site:
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/season/

and picking an animal/bird/insect to begin tracking as they begin their journey north and counting or observing them when it gets to your area. Great for older kids but even little ones can see the birds returning home.

First St.Patrick's Day, than St.Joseph's Day and now the Vernal Equinox and the First Day of Spring. What a week! Isn't life great !!!!!!

By Enchens on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 12:27 pm:

Today is actually Persian New Year. (Another day to add!) It started around 4:35 am PST. That is how our family now knows it is officially spring.

I can't believe it is the first day of Spring because today is cold and foggy!

Off to make some hot chocolate.

By Northcountrymom on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 01:58 am:

Some of our friends and my little guy's pediatrician from New York follow the persian calendar.

Amazing - what a week.

"Navruz mubarak"

Thanks for reminding us.

By ~harlena on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 12:28 am:

wow .... you are just such a wealth of information NorthCountryMom ..... I think I need to have you on speed dial when I'm researching (only half-joking here !)

We're in FL, and finally it's not coat weather daily, but I can only remember one year in the last decade that it was still coat weather (and yes, we wear coats around here til it's above 70 degrees, it's all relative guys !) after baseball season started ..... I know this because my little girl was a baby and I had to bundle her up to go to the oldest's games. That was 8 years ago .... well, it's another year of coats in baseball season. In fact, I took a thermos of hot cocoa (those BIG thermoses, I think they're actually for cold drinks, gator ade maybe, but it works for hot drinks too !) and cups to the game last Friday night ..... the kids loved it and the parents thought it was cool (well, hubby IS the coach of Dd's team, even though she broke her arm during the first week of games - another story altogether! - and I am, of course, Team Parent, have to be politically correct, I'm no longer Team Mom, but Team Parent, oh well, if it gets a dad involved on some other team, I guess I can handle change, hahahaha !)

SO .... global warming hahaha .... we're cooling down here !!!!! Spring or not, even today I was cool waiting for the guys to get out of school !

By Northcountrymom on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 11:09 am:

March madness - crazy weather - endless interesting holidays, NCAA and baseball !!!!!!!

Harlena, You are even busier than I knew before - politically correct and equal opportunity mom - girls scouts and baseball. When you get to sleep if ever - I'm sure you sleep well.

On the weather front - Sunday there was snow, Saturday - 40 degrees was bliss and shirt sleeves. (I of course am still wrapped in my endless afghans but everyone else is out playing ball, bike riding etc.)

Yesterday, to my own credit I waded in a big mud puddle (size of a small pond) wearing boots up to my knees with my youngest son. Loves digging in it etc. Here they call it MUD SEASON and they mean it. Mud encrusted footwear is everywhere.