Check out how we know spring has arrived.
Spring, a time when - to paraphrase Alfred, Lord Tennyson - a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love.
But, what causes the dramatic changes that occur in both man and nature?
While many ancient cultures tracked seasonal shifts, the big breakthrough in actually understanding them occurred when Nicolaus Copernicus posited that the earth revolves around the sun.
The amount of daylight received in any given geographical area is dependent upon its orbital and axial position. Proximity also dictates temperature. As a result, we have seasons.
The more pronounced planetary tilts that occur on the first days of summer and winter are referred to as solstices. The days kicking off spring and fall, when the sun seems to be directly over the equator, are called equinoxes.
Solstices mark dramatic differences in the amount of light versus darkness. On the equinoxes day and night are closer to even.
So, what does all of that have to do with a person’s love life?
Several researchers and psychotherapists agree that the increase in sunlight elevates moods and stabilizes the food chain, factors that create favorable conditions for procreation and romance.
