The spring equinox is celebrated around the world and has different meanings in various countries. In this article I will be writing about the spring equinox and the very interesting details about it.
Background Info
The spring equinox was on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 10:06 pm CT. The equinox marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, but to be more specific, it’s the day the sun’s rays shine onto the equator while the Earth sits with its axis tilted neither toward nor away from the sun. This causes 12 hours of sunlight everywhere on Earth.
What does the spring equinox mean?
The spring equinox is considered to be the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, also known as the March equinox or Vernal equinox. This means that the sun crosses over the line of the equator. With the sun traveling North, it marks the beginning of spring.
Why is it called Spring Equinox?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox is called the Vernal equinox. It signals the beginning of spring (vernal means fresh or new like the spring). The word “equinox” also comes from the Latin words for “equal night”—aequus (equal) and nox (night). On the equinox, the length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world.
Why do people celebrate it?
In cultures around the world, the spring equinox has represented a time of renewal, fertility, and rebirth. In agricultural societies, the spring equinox marks the start of the planting season, when crops are sown and farmers begin preparing for the coming season of growth. There is also a ritual to honor this astronomical event.
In the United States, people sing songs to their plants while planting them in the Earth. People also plant food and flowers to brighten up the land and they wake up at sunrise to glimpse the sun peeking over the horizon.
In India, The spring Equinox is celebrated during a festival called Holi. The celebration lasts two days and brings tremendous joy across the country. This festival makes it onto many bucket lists and is now celebrated in different countries around the world.
In Japanese culture, the spring equinox is celebrated in a very different way compared to other cultures. It is believed that during the spring equinox, when the day and night are equal lengths, the Buddha appears to help guide lost souls to the afterlife. To honor and aid in this process, Japanese families will visit the graves of ancestors and loved ones.
When is the next Equinox?
The next equinox to take place is the summer equinox on June 20th, 2024 at 3:50 pm.
Conclusion
The spring equinox is an annual astronomical event to witness the balance that comes with an equal day and night.
Works Cited
We’Moon. (n.d.). Spring equinox rituals and traditions. https://wemoon.ws/blogs/pagan-holiday-traditions/spring-equinox#:~:text=Plant%20Seeds%20or%20Garden%3A%20gardening,sun%20peaking%20over%20the%20horizon
The spring equinox: Celebrations in cultures around the world. ShopatMAP. (n.d.). https://www.shopatmap.org/blogs/our-stories/the-spring-equinox-celebrations-in-cultures-around-the-world#:~:text=Various%20countries%20honor%20the%20Spring,there%20is%20Shunbun%20No%20Hi
Solstices & Equinoxes for Hermiston (surrounding 10 years). Seasons: Dates of Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter. (n.d.). https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/seasons.html
