Time of Seasons Can’t Be Changed by Human Fiat

I read with interest Jeanne Betz’s suggestion (Letters, March 28) that the first day of spring be changed so as to fall on April 1, which she claims would be more “accurate” and “logical.”

But while we may be able to tinker with the dates of Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays, it’s impossible to do so with the seasons. Having spring begin on March 22, summer begin on June 22, etc., corresponds with the motion of the Earth around the Sun, and can’t be altered by human fiat any more than can, say, the phases of the moon.

This is the way it works: Spring begins on the March Equinox, one of the two occasions per year when, at the Equator, day lasts exactly as long as does night. Summer begins on the June Solstice, when the Sun has “moved” to its farthest point north of the Equator, giving us our longest day of the year. Autumn begins on the September Equinox, and so on.

The idea of “changing” such a logical, beautiful and immutable pattern reminds me of a ludicrous and frightening law once passed by the Tennessee Legislature. That bunch of wise old gentlemen realized that pi (i.e., the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter), which equals roughly 3.14159265, is cumbersome to deal with. They therefore decreed that from then on, pi would equal 3!

The arrogance of some humans is astounding. I say, to heck with the lawmakers; instead, let’s have three cheers for the laws of nature!

CARL SAMUEL BJERRE

Los Angeles