On Thu, 8 Sep 2011, Nick Maclaren wrote:

Meteorological Aumun started at the beginning of September

Why has the Met Office decided in their wisdom that autumn now begins at
the beginning of September (likewise the other seasons to the first of
the month)? The seasons have always been linked to the solstices and
equinoxes. Changing it is just confusing and there's no point to it.

You must be VERY young! I didn't even come across the equinox/solistice
rule until well into adulthood, and thought that it was bonkers when
I did. I still do.

Of the MANY traditional rules, the 3 months to each season is as
rational as any - and that makes September, October and November
autumn. And that was in widespread and common (perhaps even almost
universal) use in the 1950s.

Now that's strange because I was very much alive in the '50s and the
equinox/solstice rule was the one I learned. I learned about the 1st of
the month rule only when the weather forecasters started trotting it out
in recent years.

David

--
David Rance
writing from Le Mesnil Villement, Calvados, France