People of Zagreb have already started noticing the first signs of spring – warm weather, blooming magnolias on Tomislav square, birds chirping in Maksimir Park, cafe terraces crowded with people absorbing their daily dose of vitamin D and even the occasional rainy day.
You may have thought to yourself extatically that spring is finally here, and you’re right! According to astronomers, Zagreb welcomed the official first day of spring yesterday at exactly 11:29 CET.
In astronomic calendar, equinoxes mark the first day of spring and autumn. On this date, both day and night are around the same length, and from this day on the day is longer than the night.
You could be wondering: “Wait, isn’t March 21 the first day of spring?”
Well, sometimes it is. Actually, equinoxes and solstices do not have fixed dates because the Earth’s orbit around the sun is elliptical. The last time Spring Equinox occurred on March 21 was in 2007 and the next time it will happen is in 2101!
So much for a quick lesson in astronomy. Now stop staring at the screen, go outside and enjoy this beautiful spring day!
