VERNAL EQUINOX

Equinox: 

From Medieval Latin aequinoxium, from Latin aequinoctium : aequi-, equi- + nox, noct-, night, via french équinoxe. 

Translated literally, equinox means “equal night”.

March 20 (March 21 in some years) is not only an indicator of the changing seasons, is significant for astronomical reasons. When the Sun crossed directly over the Earth's equator. This moment is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. For the Southern Hemisphere, this is the moment of the autumnal equinox.

(calculate the exact time with table below)

Day and night are about equal in length all over the world during the equinoxes, because the sun is positioned above the equator.

Generations have recognized the vernal equinox for thousands of years. There are different rituals and traditions surrounding the coming of spring.

For many, the basic reason was that their food supplies would soon be restored.

In Christianity the date is significant because Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.

The Egyptians also built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox.

The vernal equinox, is also known as "the first point of Aries," is the point at which the sun appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north.

The Vernal Equinox is a time of renewal, both in Nature and in Man.

It is believed by many ancient cultures, that the coming of "spring" removes any negative energy accumulated over the dark winter months and prepares the home for the positive growing energy of spring and summer.

At this time, the amount of dark and light is balanced, twelve hours of each, day and night.

It is a moment of equilibrium in the year.

The Vernal Equinox used to be considered the beginning of the Pagan New Year. It was a time of joy called forth by the resurrection of the "Light of the World" (sun god) from the underworld of the winter, from where he arose to join his goddess Easter (Easter is named after the ancient German goddess of spring - Easter).

All This finds its primitive origins in earlier European and Middle Eastern cultures, all of which had major festivals, usually to do with resurrection and/or release from bondage, based around the vernal equinox.

But for thousands of years before the Christian era, the Vernal Equinox signaled the beginning of the season of rebirth, the resurrection of nature and of many an ancient pagan god.

Babylonians and Assyrians placed greater importance on the Equinoxes than the solstices. The most important festival in Babylonia was the New Year, which occurred at the Spring equinox.

"The most significant ancient religious structure for the Jewish people (and later Christians as well), was Solomon's temple at Jerusalem, oriented to the Equinox sunrise. Each Spring Equinox, at the time of the ancient agricultural festival of sowing, sunlight was allowed to enter the length of an open passage from the doorway of the temple over the high altar and into the Holy of Holies. It is noted that, "There is evidence ... that the entrance of the sunlight on the morning of the Spring Equinox formed part of the ceremonial. The priest being in the Holy Place, the worshippers outside, with their backs to the sun, could see the high priest by the sunlight reflected from the jewels of his garment".

The Vernal Equinox is a special times where there is a quality of energy in our planet. Energy to plant, energy to grow, energy to renew our lives. What is occurring is that life it self is being renewed, because energy is emerging from the ground where it has been dormant in the earth since the winter solstice.

Here is a table were you can calculate the beginning of spring.