The History of Spring Equinox

The Spring Equinox, sometimes called the Vernal Equinox, occurs each year on either March 20 or March 21. In 2021, the Spring Equinox takes place today, March 20^th. On this day, the amount of daylight and darkness is nearly equal. The Spring Equinox also signals the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The day has been celebrated for generations by many different cultures. For example, crowds gather at the ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico each year on the Spring Equinox to watch as the afternoon sun creates shadows that look like a snake moving along the stairs of the Pyramid of Kukulkan, or El Castillo. At Stonehenge, the large stone monument in England, druids and pagans welcome spring by gathering to watch the sun rise on the Vernal Equinox. The start of the Persion New Year, Nowruz, begins on the Spring Equinox. And in Japan, the Spring Equinox is celebrated as a national holiday called Shunbun no Hi; many people celebrate the day by visiting their ancestors.