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  1. We’ve all heard the term ‘vernal equinox’. Vernal means ‘spring’ and equinox means ‘equal night’. Both words are from Latin.
  2. Despite the term, the day when there are 12 equal hours of daylight and darkness usually happens before the first day of spring.
  3. The first day of spring in the southern hemisphere is the date of the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere, usually in September.
  4. Benjamin Franklin was the first American to propose Dalylight Saving Time in 1784. However, it wasn’t fully implemented in the US until after the Second World War.
  5. The practice of starting Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday in March in the US started in 2005.
  6. Daylight Saving Time starts and ends at different times around the world.
  7. In Europe, Daylight Saving Time is known as Summer Time.
  8. The reason that there’s more daylight during spring is that the earth’s axis tilts towards the sun at this time of year.
  9. Some of the plants that have strong associations with spring include dandelions, daffodils, lilies, primroses, hyacinths, tulips, azaleas, iris and lilacs.
  10. Dandelions originated in Asia.
  11. Several singers have sung about spring including Van Morrison (Celtic Spring), Billie Holiday (Some Other Spring) and Frank Sinatra (Suddenly it’s Spring).
  12. Animals and insects associated with spring include the rabbit, frog, deer, fox, bear, bee, butterfly, ladybug and hummingbird.
  13. Spring fever is not just a myth – the body may experience physiological changes due to changes in diet, hormone production and temperature.
  14. Melting snow and additional rain may cause more flooding in spring.
  15. Children grow faster in spring.
  16. Spring is when birds return home after migrating in winter. About 1800 bird species migrate.