Before modern calendars, the people of Arabia relied on star movements and the Anwaa to know the seasons of rain, planting, cold, and heat. These seasons remain part of Saudi and Gulf culture. This guide introduces the most prominent ones.
The traditional seasons
| Season | Begins around | Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Suhail | August 24 | Summer heat begins to break |
| Al-Wasm | October 16 | Best rain and planting season |
| Al-Murabbaniyah | December 7 | Coldest days (~40 days) |
| Al-Shabt | January 16 | Cold with daytime warming |
| Al-Aqarib | February 10 | Late-winter swings |
| Al-Dhiraan | March 21 | Spring equinox and greenery |
| Al-Thuraya | May 2 | Heat begins to intensify |
| Al-Jawza | June 14 | Peak summer heat |
Dates are approximate for cultural and agricultural reference and may differ by a day or two between sources.
Why are the dates roughly fixed?
Because these seasons are tied to the rising of stars and the sun's movement — that is, the solar year, not the lunar one. So each year they fall on roughly the same Gregorian dates, unlike the Hijri months which advance each year.
Their place in culture
Phrases like "Suhail has risen," "we entered Al-Wasm," and "the cold of Al-Murabbaniyah" are still part of everyday talk in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, connecting people to their heritage and to the weather around them.