Finally, spring has arrived and everybody can enjoy warm, sunny days, blooming flowers and trees, and birds chirping! However, in Northern Hemisphere, spring officially starts on spring equinox day which falls on March 20 this year. The word “equinox,” derived from Latin, means “equal night.” It occurs twice a year around March 20 (vernal equinox) and September 22 (autumnal equinox) when the length of day and night is approximately equal all over the world. At these days, the Earth does not tilt toward or away from the Sun as it does every other day of the year and the Sun crosses celestial equator.
In many cultures and countries, vernal equinox signifies the time of renewal and rebirth. As such, there are many customs, religious observances, and holidays associated with this day of the year. For example, some calendars, such as Iranian, mark the beginning of the year on the day of spring equinox. Thus, the New Year’s festival of Nowruz is celebrated on either March 20 or 21 each year and lasts for about 2 weeks. People buy new clothes, prepare holiday feasts, and honor their families. Over time, the holiday spread across many parts of the world and became popular in many, largely Muslim, countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Albania, and other. In 2009, the holiday was officially registered on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; and in 2010, the United Nation’s General Assembly recognized this 3000 years old holiday as an International Day of Nowruz.
Vernal equinox also marks the beginning of New Year for the followers of Baha’i Faith and Zoroastrian religion. In addition, it is widely celebrated across South Asia in such countries as Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh where major festivals customarily take place. Moreover, major Christian and Jewish holidays such as Easter and Passover are calculated upon the basis of the spring equinox date. For example, Easter, which celebrates the Christian belief in Jesus Christ’s resurrection, is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after spring equinox day. Jewish Passover, which commemorates the story of Exodus when Israelites were freed from slavery in ancient Egypt, is celebrated on the first full moon after the vernal equinox. In Japan, the day of spring equinox is a national holiday when the Japanese honor their dead by tending to their graves and conducting Buddhist services.
However, not all holidays associated with equinox are religious in their nature. In some Arab countries, the date is designated as Mother’s Day. In some countries, it is celebrated as Earth’s Day when people plant trees, clean up the streets, and promote different initiatives aimed at preservation and protection of our beautiful Earth. In Tunisia, the day of vernal equinox is observed as an Independence Day and commemorates the emancipation of the country from France in 1956. There are some interesting holidays as well which were invented to celebrate the equinox. For example, it became a tradition in Annapolis, Maryland to celebrate a festival of Burning of the Socks. On that day, people who work on boatyards and boat owners burn their socks to mark the beginning of warm season because traditionally sea people wore socks only during winter time. It is a curious tradition which seems to be a good way to greet the spring!
No matter which holiday tradition associated with vernal equinox is significant to your culture and heritage, everybody is happy that spring has arrived!
