Facts about the Vernal Equinox for the first day of Spring

Happy first day of spring! Spring officially begins today in the Northern Hemisphere when the Vernal Equinox takes place on March 19th, earlier than it’s been in a century. It typically occurs on March 20th or 21st, and will do so for the next several years after this one.

Here are some fun facts about the Vernal Equinox and spring.

What does “Vernal Equinox” mean?

In terms of language, ‘Vernal’ is Latin for spring while ‘equinox’ is Latin for ‘equal night’. In terms of astronomy, It is the day on which the sun is directly over the equator. After today, the sun’s direct rays then shift into the Northern Hemisphere for the next six months.

Is this the same start date as meteorological spring?

Nope. Meteorological spring begins on March 1, a month when average temperatures increase by 10 degrees over the month. (Anyone else hear choirs of angels singing after reading that statement. Bring on the warmth, please.)

Is it spring everywhere?

Our friends in Australia and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere are marking the first day of autumn today. There’s actually a movement to start calling this event the March Equinox or Northward Equinox to “avoid North Hemisphere bias.” because it is only spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Did the ancients observe the equinox?

Many cultures and traditions have observed the equinox. The Great Sphinx points directly toward the rising sun on the day of the vernal equinox. It is also the start of Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

The Mayans celebrated the spring equinox with “The Return of the Sun Serpent.” The setting sun creates a triangular shadow on the El Castillo pyramid. It creates an illusion that looks like a descending snake that’s said to be the feather serpent god Kukulkan.

Is the Equinox connected with Easter?

Yup. The Vernal Equinox determines the date of Easter for Catholics and other Christians. The date of Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox.

Who was the Greek goddess of spring?

That’s Persephone. She spent winters as Queen of the Underworld but returned in spring to preside over rebirth. She is called Proserpina in Roman mythology.

Can you really stand a raw egg on its end today?

I’ve done it, and it was very cool, so technically, yes, you can, but not because of the equinox. It seems my efforts had everything to do with a bumpy egg and nothing to do with the tilt of the planet. The International Business Times says, “This is an age-old myth that does not hold any truth. Trying to balance an oval-shaped object on its end is no easier on the spring equinox than on any other day. There is no scientific way the Earth’s axis could help stabilize the egg.” Bummer.

Has spring cleaning always been a thing?

Merriam-Webster says the term “spring cleaning” first appeared in 1857 but I’m going to guess that people have been into cleaning out the winter dirt, dust and leftover winter yuckiness for quite a while now. Throw open the windows and at least let in some fresh air.