What Is Vernal Equinox?

The Vernal Equinox is one of two annual Equinoxes that we experience, the other being the Autumnal Equinox. "Vernal" comes from the Latin Vernus, or Ver, meaning of, relating to, or occurring in the spring. Equinox comes from the Latin aequinoctium, meaning equal night. Human cultures around the world hold festivals, feasts and holidays on this particular day, celebrating various cultural icons, religious leaders and nature.

Astronomer's View

The Vernal Equinox, from an astronomer's point of view, is the moment when the sun crosses directly over the Earth's equator, creating equal day and equal night. This is significant because throughout the year, the Earth is either tilted away from the sun, or tilted toward the sun at 23.4 degrees. This tilt causes the four seasons. The hemisphere tilted toward the sun experiences summer and the hemisphere tilted away from the sun experiences winter. The Vernal Equinox occurs between winter and summer. In the northern hemisphere, the Vernal Equinox is on March 20/21, and in the southern hemisphere, the Vernal Equinox is on September 20/21.

Judaism

A Jewish celebration called Birkat Hahama states that God created the sun on the fourth day and placed it in the sky on the Vernal Equinox. Every 28 years, the sun returns to the exact point where God placed it, allowing all of Creation to bless the Creator.

Christianity

Festivals occur that either celebrate or use the Vernal Equinox as a marker for holidays, such as Easter. Easter, the holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Vernal Equinox, established by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.

Persia's View

The Persian New Year is celebrated on the Vernal Equinox. According to Persian mythology, Jamshid, a mythological king, ascended the throne on this day and every year, festivals are held to commemorate this event. Currently, Kurdish countries, Azerbaijan, India, Zanzibar, Turkey, Albania, certain Central Asian countries and Afghanistan celebrate this day.

Egypt's View

Ancient Egypt celebrated Sham El Nessim, which occurs on the Vernal Equinox. The Ancient Egyptians offered food sacrifices to their gods at this annual festival. Egypt also built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly at the rising sun on the Vernal Equinox.

The Far Eastern View

Japan sanctions the Vernal Equinox as a national holiday on which the citizens hold family reunions and visit family graves. Traditional calendars from the Far East divide the year into 24 equal sections, placing the Vernal Equinox in the center of spring.

Pagan View

The Celtic Pagans celebrate the Vernal Equinox with a holiday called Ostara. Several customs and interpretations exist, including the day in which the forces of light are balanced with the forces of darkness, honoring God as a warrior, a time of courtship between gods and goddesses, and the celebration of Mother Earth's awakening. They appoint symbols, herbs and colors to mark the occasion.

References

• The Rite of Spring
• Blessing the Sun and the Redemption of Creation
• Wikipedia--Equinox

Resources

• Pagan Holidays Ostara
• The Baha'i Calendar