Why Spring Deserves the New Year Title: A Season of Beginnings, Blooms, and Bizarre Historical Calendars

Ah, spring! That magical time of year when nature decides to put on a technicolor show, allergies come out to play, and everyone's mood lifts with the temperature. It's also, according to the most trustworthy source I know (me), the actual start of the New Year. Forget January 1st with its cold, post-holiday gloom. Spring, with its promise of renewal and growth, is when the new year truly begins. And, as someone who celebrates their birthday in the bloom-filled month of April, I might be slightly biased, but bear with me.

The Real New Year's Eve: Vernal Equinox

While the rest of the world pops champagne in the freezing cold of December 31st, nature signals the start of the new year with the vernal equinox. This is the day when daylight and nighttime are, for a fleeting moment, balanced. Birds start singing as if they've just realized they're late for the world's biggest concert, flowers burst into bloom overnight, and the sun hangs around a bit longer each day, like a guest who can't take a hint. It's nature's way of saying, "Alright, let's get this party started."

A Brief, and Utterly Fascinating, History of Calendar Shenanigans

Did you know that the ancient Roman calendar originally began with March and had only ten months? That's right, December was literally the tenth month (its name deriving from 'decem', meaning ten). Then, some calendar-savvy folks (a.k.a. Julius Caesar and later, Pope Gregory XIII) decided to shake things up, adding January and February to the mix. This pushed the New Year to the dead of winter. Talk about a party foul.

The Southeast's Spring Spectacle

The southeast, where this blog proudly resides, takes spring to heart. Here, the new year is heralded by dogwood flowers painting the landscape white and pink, azaleas blooming in vibrant bursts of color, and the sweet, unmistakable scent of jasmine in the air. It's like nature's version of throwing confetti and blowing party horns. If that's not the start of a new year, I don't know what is.

Spring: A Vegan Recipe to Celebrate the Season

In honor of the real New Year, here's a quick, refreshing vegan recipe to awaken your taste buds to the possibilities of spring: the Avocado and Strawberry Spinach Salad. It's simple: mix fresh spinach leaves with slices of ripe avocado and strawberries. Add a sprinkle of walnuts for crunch and drizzle with balsamic glaze. It's like eating a bowl of springtime.

Best Practices for Welcoming the Spring Year

1. Spring Cleaning: Out with the old, in with the new. This applies to your wardrobe, your cluttered desk, and yes, even those forgotten corners of your mind.

2. Set Intentions, Not Resolutions: Let the growth around you inspire growth within you. Plant a garden, or if you're like me and lack a green thumb, plant an idea and watch it grow.

3. Embrace the Great Outdoors: Nature is throwing a party, and you're invited. Go for a walk, have a picnic, or simply sit and appreciate the blossoming world around you.

So, as we embrace the season of rebirth, let's agree to reset our year counters to spring, when life is literally blooming all around us. After all, if your new years resolutions have gone awry by February, spring gives you the perfect excuse to start afresh. Happy New Spring Year, everyone! May you allergies be mild and your spirits as high as the pollen count.