The Unofficial/Official Summer Poll

[mutepointe]

It's Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer. Why not just change the starting dates of seasons and make this the official start of summer? I know the seasons are based on solitices and stuff but no one but maybe Denny and astronomers pay any mind to that stuff anymore but everybody pays attention to what's happening in the USA and we're having Bar-B-Q's and picnics and going boating and swimming and camping and all kinds of stuff this weekend.

You may only vote for one option but you may change your vote.

[jsluder]

I think we should locally randomize the seasons. For example, if it's the middle of winter, but some area has a really nice, sunny, warm day, it should automatically be considered summer vacation there.

[fearfaoin]

So summer will start on different days in different countries?
In the UK it's been unofficially summer for, like, 3 weeks now.

[MTGuru]

everybody pays attention to what's happening in the USA

The Aussies and Kiwis in particular need to get with the program. Put on yer woolies dammit and get swimming, ye slackers.

[izzarina]

I don't like the choices in the poll. I think you need to add another one.

[izzarina]

I think we should locally randomize the seasons. For example, if it's the middle of winter, but some area has a really nice, sunny, warm day, it should automatically be considered summer vacation there.

I think so long as there is a nice, warm, sunny day somewhere in general, it should be considered summer vacation wherever I am. It just makes logical sense.

[dwinterfield]

The can stay where they are but my observation over the past 8-10 yrs is that everything around here seems to be 3 or 4 weeks late. March winds in April. April showers in May etc. Maybe someone just needs to update, re-write and modernize all our cliches about seasons.

[MTGuru]

...

With a username like yours, I think you need to disqualify yourself.

[chas]

When the seasons start depends on who you are. Meteorological seasons begin with the months. So summer is June, July, August, which is basically what you're suggesting.

We might's well change New Year to Labor Day, too. Everybody knows that that's when things really change.

[The Weekenders]

Stick with solstice but fergawdsake, move Christmas to July so everybody isn't stuck inside sneezing on each other...and the shopping in the rain and sleet.... and so on....

[s1m0n]

When the seasons start depends on who you are. Meteorological seasons begin with the months. So summer is June, July, August, which is basically what you're suggesting.

The first three weeks of June are officially still spring.

[chas]

When the seasons start depends on who you are. Meteorological seasons begin with the months. So summer is June, July, August, which is basically what you're suggesting.

The first three weeks of June are officially still spring.

I wasn't saying anything about "official", just that the people who study weather for a living have a different take on when seasons start than those who go by solstices and equinoxes.

[mutepointe]

Stick with solstice but fergawdsake, move Christmas to July so everybody isn't stuck inside sneezing on each other...and the shopping in the rain and sleet.... and so on....

You just want us all to be in the same pitiful boat as you, a Whiteless Christmas. I see what you're up to, I don't think so.

[Walden]

If I had my druthers (and I don't) it would be even by months.

December, January, and February: Winter.
March, April, and May: Spring.
June, July, and August: Summer.
September, October, and November: Autumn.

[Innocent Bystander]

The Republican calendar year began at the autumn equinox and had twelve months of 30 days each, which were given new names based on nature:

Autumn:
Vendémiaire (from Latin vindemia, "grape harvest") Starting 22, 23 or 24 September
Brumaire (from French brume, "fog") Starting 22, 23 or 24 October
Frimaire (From French frimas, "frost") Starting 21, 22 or 23 November
Winter:
Nivôse (from Latin nivosus, "snowy") Starting 21, 22 or 23 December
Pluviôse (from Latin pluvius, "rainy") Starting 20, 21 or 22 January
Ventôse (from Latin ventosus, "windy") Starting 19, 20 or 21 February
Spring:
Germinal (from Latin germen, "germination") Starting 20 or 21 March
Floréal (from Latin flos, "flower") Starting 20 or 21 April
Prairial (from French prairie, "pasture") Starting 20 or 21 May
Summer:
Messidor (from Latin messis, "harvest") Starting 19 or 20 June
Thermidor (or Fervidor) (from Greek thermon, "summer heat") Starting 19 or 20 July
Fructidor (from Latin fructus, "fruit") Starting 18 or 19 August
Note: On many printed calendars of Year II ("Year 2"), 22 September 1793 – 21 September 1794, the month of Thermidor was named Fervidor.

The English translations stated above are approximate, as most of the month names were new words coined from French, Latin or Greek. The endings of the names are grouped by season.

In Britain, people mocked the Republican Calendar by calling the months: Wheezy, Sneezy and Freezy; Slippy, Drippy and Nippy; Showery, Flowery and Bowery; Wheaty, Heaty and Sweety.[10][11]

Denny and Astonomers and pagans like to keep track of the solstices and equinoxes.

Slude's idea of randomising the seasons is an excellent one, and we're already using it here in the UK.