"jj66" wrote in message ...


I think we should all stick to 21st Dec to 21st March. The reason is this
that half the population tend to not know there is a difference between what
is traditionally thought of as winter, and what is really winter. It gets to
the point that children grow up thinking that as soon as it gets above a
certain temperature then it's officially spring. They should be told what
exactly is winter, spring, etc
A few months ago I was shocked to be having a conversation with a grown
adult who thought summer covers 1st July to 31st August, Autumn is the month
of September, Winter starts 1st October and lasts until end of March, and
spring takes us up to 30th June.
I asked how Autumn could possibly be only one month and winter 6 months. I
was told I must be stupid to think that a month as cold as November couldn't
be in winter and to go and get an education.

To be honest, I don't think we should spend time getting bogged down
in 'official' definitions of the seasons. Yes, for record keeping purposes
we need to know what 'winter' is comprised of so that winters may be
compared from year to year. Dec/Jan/Feb is the most reasonable option
for this. Beyond this limited scope any further attempt at definitions is
meaningless. It is the weather that decides when it is spring or not, not us
mere humans. For example if this winter runs from mid-November until
the end of March (as it quite well could) then so be it. *That's* winter!

Col
--
Bolton, Lancashire.
160m asl.