Spring

A new season has begun, and as the flowers begin to bloom and temperatures slowly drift higher, it’s impossible to ignore the many meanings that spring has for people.

The scientific connotations of March, April, and May are one of the most universal ways of viewing the vernal months. Practically, what we know as ‘spring’ is the full time period that falls between the spring equinox

and the summer solstice of the Earth’s rotation around the sun.^[1] Days start to grow longer and nights shorter, and temperatures rise. The increased sun and heat are essential for one of the season’s most notorious features - new life. Plants begin to bloom and grow this time of year, as most will notice even just in their neighbourhood. Wildflowers, weeds, grass and trees all start to regrow and regenerate this time of year. Hibernating animals return from their winter slumbers, fresh and often ready to bear young. Birds return from winter migrations, filling the skies with their song for the new year. Rainfall is often more common in the spring, wetting the ground and creating the perfect environment for plants to spread and grow. However, all of the floral growth has a downside that is all-too familiar for many.

Pollen, the infamous scourge, is a fine green-yellow powder created by the ‘male’ parts of plants in order to fertilize ‘female’ parts and create more of their species. During the spring and summer, this dread dust spreads, filling the sky and trees. Especially in a warm, wet, southern state such as Georgia, you may be hard-pressed to find an outdoor fixture not coated in the green granules. On its own, pollen would be a hassle. Its sticky cling makes it harder to wipe off than other substances, and it tends to seep into cracks where it will be difficult to remove. Pollen’s true nefarious nature, however, is only revealed when you consider that pollen allergies are one of the most common ails known to man. For millions, irritated skin and eyes, a runny nose, and fever-like symptoms are what await during spring.^[2]

Thus, spring is a two-sided coin when the objective facts of its nature are considered. Life flourishes under the season’s warm, wet embrace, with sound and colour returning to the trees and fields of the world (or, at least, the hemisphere spring is being experienced by). But allergies also find rejuvenation in this period, making the outdoors unachievable for many individuals. However, many people see this part of the year in different ways.

Traditions have sprung up across the globe revolving around spring. Festivals and other kinds of celebrations are common throughout the world, often celebrating crop cycles or the mating of livestock.^[3] Polar areas such as northern Europe are known for these as the end of the cold season is especially drastic. The increased rainfall that can be experienced in the spring is celebrated by various water festivals in southeast Asian countries. Several holidays take place in the spring, such as Easter, Holi, and Passover.^[4] One unofficial tradition for many people is Spring Cleaning- beginning a fresh year with a fresh start by dusting, wiping, and sweeping away the past.