When do seasons in France begin?

Answer 1

Seasons are the same in all the Northern Hemisphere, where France is. So if you are in North America, or Europe, or Russia, or China, then France is having the same summer as you, or the same winter.

If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, in South America, Southern Africa or Australasia, then the current season in France is the opposite from you. In your summer, France has a winter.

Answer 2

Assuming you are referring to the seasons of the year (i.e. spring, summer, fall and winter) - the best I can say in France, the seasons "begin" at the same approximate time on the Western calendar as do the seasons in any other location place within the Northern Hemisphere. Hence, on a certain day (usually sometime on the 19th through the 22nd of every third month i.e. March, June, September & December) and at a certain time (typically in the morning of that day when the sun crosses an exact longitude or latitude across the sky), we say that it is the first day of a particular season.

So, this year 2009, Spring is set to begin on March 20th at 11:44 a.m. This is also known as the vernal equinox, when the amount of day and night is equal. (see the web page http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox )

And you may know that the change of seasons is the exact opposite in the Southern Hemisphere - being approximately six months different - where Australia for example is in the "heat of summer" not "the dead of winter".

Of course, the beginning of any season is an artificial contrivance of the human mind, since nature does not follow any rigid schedule of beginning or end.

As ancient humans wondered about the natural world, they noticed and learned its repetitive rhythm. Around a particular time of year, it was noticed that: certain migratory animals that were easily hunted came into their territory and at other times left; particular edible plants (and those used in building or weaving) bloomed, growing most hardy and useful then at other times fell fallow; the weather began to grow colder increasing the need for shelter, then at other times grew warmer; or the rain came more frequently then less often, and so forth.

Ancient humans relied entirely and directly on nature for all manner of things in order to survive. Those who paid attention learned about this natural cycle, and discovered that these animal, plant and weather phenomena occurred routinely throughout the year. But, in order to most easily communicate this vital information to others (and thus ensure the survival of their family or clan and establish their wisdom, power and leadership) a clear signal about when this natural phenomena was about to occur had to be discovered.

Ancient humans (who had not yet developed the technology of tracking the sun's movement) may have used some other reliable natural signals (like the abundant presence of a certain easily noticed flowering plant which never bloomed without a specific amount of sun, and which always preceded the first migration of a hunted animal) to let them know when to get ready for the first hunt. This way they could ensure that their family or clan would obtain the largest amount of food and thus increase their chances of survival (while also diminishing the resources of a rival competitive clan).

As this knowledge was passed on through the millenia, and accompanied by other ideas and new technology, some bright person noticed that only on one particular day of the year the sun always shined upon an exact and discrete area of the land - and thus was born the celestial calendar - of which Stonehenge in Britain is the best known example. Every country in the world has its examples.

Although our survival is not as closely tied to seasonal changes as was that of the ancient human, we really are no different: today we rely on the weatherman to tell us that the first day of spring is coming, so we can put away our winter gear (and perhaps finally donate that old coat that got us through one last winter) - or maybe plan for a meal accented by fresh blueberries that will soon bloom.

We are tied to the natural world in far more ways than we know.

Answer 3

Le printemps (Spring) , l'Été (Summer), l'Hiver (Winer) et l'Automne (Autumn)