Okay so I was looking this up and the official "first day of spring" was also called the spring equinox. Now isn't the equinox/solstice of each season in the middle of the season, or have I been completely misled? Sorry if this question sounds like something a really uneducated and stupid person would ask, but yeahh could someone help?
No, the solstices and equinoxes are not in the middle of the season. In the northern hemisphere: The first day of spring is the SPRING equinox. The first day of summer is the SUMMER solstice. The first day of autumn is the AUTUMNAL equinox. The first day of winter is the WINTER solstice. The seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere. I doubt you have been misled, since no scientist or teacher ever said the equinox or solstice was in the middle of a season - maybe you simply misunderstood.
No, not really. The solstices and equinoxes mark the extremes, rather than the beginnings. The solstices are more appropriately called "midsummer" and "midwinter." The equinoxes are true transitions as the Sun crosses the celestial equator.
It does seem a bit silly but keep in mind that the solstice's and equinoxes were the only days of the year that Stone Age man could measure precisely.
That kind of depends on how you DEFINE the equinoxes. Technically, Yes, The equinoxes an solstices are the first of a new season. But when there is is an equal amount ot time between sunrise, sunset and sunrise the nest day is dependent on the latitude of the location you are at. as well. My local spring (vernal) equinox is on March 216 and 17 and the autumnal equinox is on September 25 26.