According to the Solar Terms of 24 Seasons in the Oriental Calendar, last Monday, Feb. 4, was the beginning day of spring. Called "ipchun" in Korean, it means "start of spring" or "spring begins." The Solar Terms of 24 Seasons is a seasonal calendar. It has been designed according to the sun moving through a year across stars or the celestial sphere (12 months in the Zodiac) along a path known as the ecliptic as seen from earth's perspective. The vernal equinox is considered to be the starting point or 0 degrees in the year, which is 360 degrees longitude. The 24 Solar Terms divide the ecliptic into 24 equal segments with 15 degrees of the sun's longitude between terms. And each term has 14 to 15 day intervals.
There are four major divisions, vernal equinox (0) and autumn equinox (180) which are the days in which the periods of daylight and night are equal, summer solstice (90), the longest period of daylight and winter solstice (270), the shortest period of daylight in Northern Hemisphere. Between each major division there are 5 different Solar Terms which are described according to the weather changes and agricultural activities in them. An interesting thing is that the middle Solar Term among each 5 Solar Terms indicates the coming seasons. For example the term that starts Feb. 4 is identified as "spring begins", "moderate cold" Jan. 6 and "severe cold" Jan. 20 and after Feb. 4, "rain water" Feb. 19 and "insects waken" Mar. 6, then comes the vernal equinox Mar. 21, the official first day of spring.
A couple of reasons why UC Chimes talks a little bit about the Solar Terms of 24 seasons is that 1) ancient people were very sensitive about the solar system and reflections of changing weather and how they applied them to their real life situations and agricultural activities; 2) they tried hard to find out a meaning and purpose to the solar systems and changing weather. Like these people, Christian calendar makers also developed a calendar based on the solar system. From last Wednesday, called Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13 to Mar. 31 Easter Sunday, the period of forty weekdays except 6 Sundays, is called the Lenten season. "Lent" is an old English word, "lengten" which means "spring." In German, "lengattin" means "lengthening of the days in the spring." Indeed, the Lenten season is the season of hope for spring coming as Christians are expecting the Resurrection of Jesus through his Passion, Suffering and Crucifixion.
Many people may wonder why Easter Day changes every year. It also depends on Solar system. The early church council decided Easter Day would be the First Sunday after the full moon, called Paschal Full Moon, after the spring or vernal equinox. In 2013, March 26 is the full moon day and the vernal equinox is March 21, so the first Sunday after both of these days is March 31. Therefore Easter day is always limited to landing between 21st of March and 25th of April. After a real cold winter in Saskatchewan, the daylight is getting longer and longer each and every day. It is also getting warmer and warmer day by day. Truly the Lenten season gives many significant meanings for all people whether or not they are Christians. Lenten season has already begun. During this period of the Lenten season, let us enjoy and rejoice in the hope of the lengthening daylight of spring. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Let us walk in the light and enjoy it.
