POLL: Irish people clash over the first day of spring - Is it today or March 1?

When is the first day of spring? It's a question that has often divided Irish people, many of whom believe it begins today (February 1), while some are convinced it's the first of March, and others believe it's another date entirely. 

But who is correct? 

Technically - and meteorologically - the March crowd is right. If we subscribe to the idea that June, July and August make up the summer season, and September, October and November are part of autumn, then December, January and February are all winter months, leaving March 1 as the first day of spring. 

Meteorolgocial seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle, and this system is used in Ireland, according to Met Éireann, because it "helps enormously" in the calculations and provision of seasonal statistics. It's also easy to remember. 

But this is a modern interpretation of defining seasons, and not everyone agrees. 

In traditional Chinese medicine, the yearly calendar is reportedly divided into five seasons rather than the four familiar to people in the West. 

This traditional Chinese calendar is made up of Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer and Late Summer, with the fifth season lasting from mid-August until the fall equinox on September 22. 

And it's not the only calendar that bucks the modern status quo. 

According to the traditional Celtic calendar, February 1 is the first day of spring in Ireland during which Imbolc (or Imbolg) - a festival marking the start of spring - is celebrated. 

Pagan practitioners and Christians alike also celebrate the goddess Brigid on this day, albeit a canonised version (Saint Bridget) for Christians. 

Going by the Celtic calendar, summer (Bealtaine) begins on May 1, autumn (Lughnasa) begins in the middle of our meteorological summer on August 1, and winter starts very early on October 31 (Samhain). 

Astronomical seasons are another way of dividing the year, with adherents believing the seasons are dictated by Earth's position in relation to the sun. 

Under this system, spring begins on the Vernal Equinox, which typically occurs around March 20, summer begins on the Summer Solstice (taking place around the end of June each year), autumn begins on the Autumnal Equinox (typically occurring at the end of September), and winter begins on the Winter Solstice (the end of December). 

In Ireland, most people believe it's either February 1 or March 1, but what do you think? Vote in the poll and let us know!