Photos: Five reasons to watch the sun on the first day of spring

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A seagull flies in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on the first day of spring. The temperature was expected to hit 60 in the area Thursday. (Alex Wong / Getty Images)

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People enjoy the first day of spring on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

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Donald Croteau works to clear nearly a foot of snow off his car on the first day of spring in North Woodstock, N.H. Much of the country remains in a deep freeze. (Jim Cole / Associated Press)

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Flowers bloom in Central Park in New York City on Thursday. Today marks the first official day of Spring - the spring equinox occurred at 12:57PM today. (Andrew Burton / Getty Images)

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Men play volleyball in Central Park in New York City on Tuesday. Today marks the first official day of Spring - the spring equinox occurred at 12:57PM today. (Andrew Burton / Getty Images)

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John Senden of Australia hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla. (Michael Cohen / Getty Images)

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Spring de Haviland is overwhelmed by a wave while handing out carnations as part of the 3rd annual “Spring Into Kindness” day north of the Santa Monica Pier in celebration of the first day of Spring. She hopes to encourage everyone to support the group One Million Acts of Kindness whose goal is to encourage every one to perform one million acts of kindness in one’s lifetime. On the first day of Spring, participants are asked to surprise someone with an act of kindness. This is the third year that Spring de Haviland has participated in the campaign on the first day of Spring. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter sets up a hose as he battles a fire in York, Pa. Firefighters said seven buildings were damaged, four of them heavily. No injuries were reported. The Red Cross was assisting 11 people forced from nearby row homes. (Jason Plotkin / Associated Press)

By Paresh Dave

March 20, 2014 1:28 PM PT

1. After giving Australia, parts of South America and other land masses south of the equator a warmer summer than usual, the sun slipped north of the equator Thursday. Now, with the arrival of spring, the United States, Europe and most of Asia can expect longer spans of daylight.

For the United States and the Middle East, which were among the only places in the north to experience a colder winter than usual, the extra sunlight could start delivering a reprieve. The Upper Midwest and Northeast, however, can expect below-freezing temperatures to last another weekend.

2. Thursday is technically supposed to bring equal amounts of nighttime and daytime. But the Earth’s atmosphere and positioning actually produces a slightly longer day than night. And that trend of longer and longer days, which started back in December, continues through the start of summer.

3. Because of the Earth’s positioning the next few days, drivers on flat roads traveling due east at about 7 a.m. and due west at about 7 p.m. will find themselves staring straight at the sun. At the North Pole, the elves have it hardest in some respects. They will see some degree of sunlight continuously until fall.

4. Flowers should be blooming soon, but climate scientists have been finding that spring has actually been beginning as much as three weeks earlier during the past couple of decades. Though a warming climate might be shifting the biological clocks of plants, scientists haven’t determined what the effect of the earlier spring will be in the long term.

5. Christians, Persians and Pagans have a reason to celebrate the sun’s split of the globe this week.

Easter, the Christian observance honoring the resurrection of Jesus, falls on the first Sunday after spring’s first full moon. Since a full moon wrapped up earlier this week, Easter won’t come until April 20.

In the Iranian tradition, the vernal equinox marks Nowruz, or New Year’s Day. Some Persians celebrate by venerating ancestors, feasting, and gathering around a table with seven symbolic items (apple, garlic, vinegar, flowers, pudding, sprouts and coins).

For Pagans of the Germanic tradition, the equinox brings an early celebration of the goddess of spring and fertility, Eostre, who is often depicted with hares at her side.

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