What Is the Equinox & Solstice?
Equinox and solstice are solar astronomical events, but many people are unfamiliar with their definitions, timing and the fact that they have religious significance for many people around the world. Does this Spark an idea?
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Definition of Equinox
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An equinox is the time at which the day and night come into balance. In other words, there is exactly the same number of daylight hours as there are nighttime hours. According to PhysicalGeography.net, the sun crosses Earth's equator during an equinox, which accounts for the balance in light.
Spring and Fall Equinox
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There are two equinoxes every year. One marks the first day of spring while the other marks the first day of autumn.
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Definition of Solstice
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"Solstice" literally means "sun stands still." The solstice marks the end of the day's increase or decrease in daylight hours, depending on the time of year.
Summer and Winter Solstice
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The Winter Solstice marks the first day of winter, and it is the day with the least amount of daylight hours. The Summer Solstice marks the first day of summer, and it is the day with the greatest number of daylight hours. According to PhysicalGeography.net, a hemisphere's nearest pole is pointing toward the sun at the Summer Solstice and away from it at the Winter Solstice.
Religious Significance
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The solstices and equinoxes are the solar holidays that are the cornerstones of many of the old European pagan religions. Many Christmas traditions are based on old Winter Solstice customs, just as many Easter customs have their roots in Spring Equinox lore.
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References
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Comments
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What countries besides the US commonly use the astronomical definition for seasons.
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