The seasons are off by 21

A random rant for a random Wednesday.

Everyone learns the seasons around about elementary school. You learn that spring starts at March 21st, summer starts on June 21st, autumn starts on September 21st, and winter starts on December 21st.

The reason for this, we’re told, is scientific. Those are the equinoxes and solstices. It has to do with the Earth’s position while it revolves around the sun.

But in culture, we also care a lot about the seasons societally.

You hear about “Hot Girl Summer." You hear people excitedly celebrating the start of “PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) season” at the start of fall. You hear about the sexual tension flowing through the NYC air, once Daylight Savings begins in the spring. There are tons of these cultural touchstones built around the seasons.

I had a realization on this topic recently, and I would like to pitch you on this idea, my dear readership.

Some thought experiments

I want to start by giving you a few dates, and I want you to think in your head what season they belong in.

Let’s start with June 1st. It happens to be one of my best friend’s birthday. It’s also just a few days after Memorial Day. What season is that in?

Okay, how about September 8th. The start of the NFL season (roughly) most years. School is back in session for many students. What season do you think of that as?

Alright, how about December 15th. Back in college, this was the end of the fall semester, when you are wrapping up the last of your last final exams. What season does December 15 feel like?

Finally, let’s think about March 16th. That was “Selection Sunday” this last year (which kicks off March Madness, the NCAA basketball tournament). What season does it feel like?

The scientific seasons are not the cultural seasons

I’ll give you my answers to the previous section: Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring. Notice that those are – all four – incorrect? Funny, isn’t it?

Now let’s pretend that the official seasons started on the first of their respective months. What we’d end up with is:

• March, April, and May are spring

• June, July, and August are summer

• September, October, and November are fall

• December, January, and February are winter

This works. Holy shit, this works. Let’s just go with that, as a society.

That’s all I’ve got

I wish I had more thoughts to add – related diatribes and whatnot – but I don’t have anything extra this week. Have a happy Fourth!