The vast and mystical array of the sky is full of wonders and celestial events. These events take place in their due course. Among these events, Spring Equinox is an astronomical event that falls in spring. There are two Equinoxes every year, one on March 20^th or 21^st and the second on September 22^nd or 23^rd. The March equinox is also known as the ‘vernal equinox’ which tells the arrival of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere. While there is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, autumn happens on the other side, the Southern Hemisphere. This year, the March equinox will happen on March 20^th, with many seasonal changes in nature.

Why it is called equinox

The word, Equinox has been derived from Latin means ‘equal night’. It can be correlated to the event when the Sun shines vertically above the equator, making night and day almost equal length, i. e. 12 hours a day and 12 hours a night around the world. Although it is said to be equal day and night it is not exactly true. In ancient times, when there were no advanced methods to measure the length of day and night so people assumed the length of day and night to be equal but nowadays, we have advanced methods to observe these events so we can say that they are almost equal but not exact length.

How Spring Equinox means to the World

• In Middle Eastern countries, the event is celebrated with great zeal and revelry. In Egypt, the festival is called the festival of Isis, devoted to the goddess and the concept of rebirth is celebrated. People decorate their houses, refurbish them if required. Other countries such as Iran, Turkey, and Kosov celebrate ‘Nowruz’ which denotes the beginning of something new or new day.
• In Italy, the event is celebrated as the fertility cult of Roman Goddess Cybele. The festival is considered as the celebration of rebirth.
• In Japan, this event marks the family reunion, people gather to meet each other, go to graveyards to pay homage to their ancestors.
• Since the event denotes a balance-the equal day and night, in China and the US people believe that an egg can be balanced on its tip on this day, though it is a myth.
• In South America, Mexico, the event is celebrated in winter equinox as ‘Snake of Sunlight’, which is related to the Mayan civilization. Thousand of people gather to see a tremendous view of slithering snake on the Kulkulkan pyramid at Chichen Itza. It is created by the shadow of the Sun.
• Russians celebrate Maslensitsa which marks the return of light, warmth, and happiness. In the UK, people gather at Stonehenge to witness the event.
• In India, the time around equinox is celebrated with the Holi festival, which is the messenger of the spring season, joy, and happiness around the country.

March equinox is celebrated around the world for the whole day, but the event occurs at a specific moment in the day when the Sun passes the equator, from south to north. The next equinox occurs in September which is the spring equinox in the southern hemisphere.