By Robin DuMolin Spring holidays have been celebrated at least since the beginning of recorded history. They all mark the end of winter when the earth sleeps and the start of the spring session when everything seems to be reborn.
Spring arrives when the earth is tilted so that the sun is directly over the equator.
In the northern parts of the world, the first day of spring is on or about March 21. This is the day of the vernal equinox. Night and day are the same length, each lasting exactly twelve hours on this day. In ancient times before Easter was celebrated, people connected spring with the return of life to the earth. The return of spring in ancient times was of more consequence than it is to us today because winter food storages ended, crops could be planted and people didn't have to worry about how to stay warm.