The Rite Of Spring

In spite of recent attempts by those sneaky meteorologists to change the beginning of Spring to March 1st, I adhere staunchly to the astronomical definition of spring. Spring begins on the day of the Vernal Equinox (around March 21st in the Northern Hemisphere), just in time for my birthday, and runs until the summer solstice (June 22 or thereabouts). Vernal comes originally from the Latin word for bloom, this equinox marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring (for us in the North at least).

Costume designed by Nicholas Roerich for the 1913 ballet ‘The Rite of Spring’. Click here for an audio commentary to accompany the piece above.

Hmmm! What does all this have to do with Stravinsky and his ballet? While I was firmly ensconced in my wolf tipi I spent some time thinking about what spring means to me, obviously it is more than just the marker of my birthday. For me this season almost always signals a rebirth of self, the possibilities of life appear to be limitless and I am overtaken by a boundless enthusiasm that would embrace the globe if it could! My mother would say that I am “as mad as a march hare” and I confess that I feel a strong affinity with that beautiful animal. So, I was thinking about growth and new life and realized that one of the things I would most like to celebrate on my birthday is my little family and the fact that it exists at all. I met Adam at a party in the late spring nearly four years ago. I had been to see a performance of Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring that day with the person I was seeing at the time, in fact it was his party I turned up to that night expecting to be bored and probably quite antisocial. I remember sitting amongst a group of people with Stravinsky’s music running through my head; then I saw Adam. Without going into too much detail this ‘relationship’ naysayer (me!) was quickly hooked and 11 months later I gave birth to our son, Ishi. I still find it amazing that me and Adam met and held fast to each other, the proverbial odds were really not in our favour for many reasons. So, spring and the music of Stravinsky: look what we grew and how we have grown!

The past winter has been a difficult one for our family as it has been for many, many others. It may be naive but the return of spring brings with it renewed hope and a longed for dynamism. I am so happy to be spending my birthday and celebrating this new season with my wonderful boys. There will be bed picnics, champagne truffles and all manner of good things. I wish you all some March Hare madness and a happy autumn to our friends in the Southern Hemisphere.