The equinox is a natural phenomenon that occurs as a result of the sun’s rays striking the equator perpendicularly. This event refers to the moment when the circle of enlightenment passes through the poles and creates a situation where day and night are equal. The equinox occurs twice a year in spring and autumn. During these periods, the duration of night and day is approximately the same. Equinox times have been a special day that has various meanings and is celebrated throughout history. When people lived in harmony with the cycles of nature, certain days of the year were considered important for vital transformations and celebrated by identifying them with various mythological and religious stories.
The occurrence of the equinox is experienced in different ways in different parts of the world. In the polar regions, it rises or falls several days before sunrise or sunset during the equinox. In the equatorial region, however, the equinox is hardly noticeable, as the length of day and night are always approximately equal. The equinox is an important event for humans because it marks the change of seasons. The spring equinox marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, while the autumn equinox marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter. Therefore, the equinox is also important for agriculture, horticulture and other natural activities.
March 21 Equinox
The March 21 equinox marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the southern hemisphere. With this equinox, the durations of day and night become approximately equal. However, the equinoxes are not considered to be of exactly equal times because they vary with geographic location and local time zone. After the March 21 equinox in the northern hemisphere, the days begin to lengthen and move towards summer. In the southern hemisphere, after the March 21 equinox, the days become shorter and move towards winter. The equinox does not occur on the same date every year because the earth’s orbit is slightly elliptical.
The March 21 equinox has an important place in many cultures and religions. Especially since it is considered the beginning of spring, it is celebrated as a time of renewal, growth and rebirth. Some societies greet the day of the equinox with a special celebration and celebrate this day by wearing colorful clothes that symbolize the beginning of spring and by walking in nature. The equinox is also important for agriculture and horticulture. Because the spring equinox creates an ideal time period for the soils to begin to warm up and the seeds to germinate. Therefore, the arrival of the equinox is also considered a sign for the start of work on the soil.
September 23 Equinox
The date of September 23 is an astronomical event in which the equinox takes place on earth. On this date, between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the sun’s rays fall at a 90-degree angle to the Equator at noon. Therefore, the shadow length is zero at the Equator, and the lengths of day and night on Earth are almost equal. September 23 marks the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. After this date, the sun’s rays begin to fall perpendicular to the Southern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere the days become longer than the nights, while in the Northern Hemisphere the opposite happens and the nights become longer.
Also, on this date the circle of enlightenment is tangent to the poles and the Sun is visible at both poles. Since the lengths of day and night on Earth are almost equal, this date marks the beginning of six months of night at the North Pole and six months of day at the South Pole.
Celebrations of the Spring Equinox in History
This revival and rebirth of nature has aroused enthusiasm and excitement among people and has been celebrated in different ways in various cultures throughout history. For example, the spring festival called “Nowruz” in Persians is celebrated in Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and some other Central Asian countries. In addition, the spring festival known as “Holi” in Hinduism and the holiday “Purim” among Jews also coincide with the Spring Equinox. Besides these, there are various festivals and traditions to celebrate the arrival of spring in Europe. When we look back in history, it is seen that the Spring Equinox was considered a holiday in many cultures and celebrated with various events.
Equinox in the Ancient Mayans
The ancient Mayan settlement of Chichen Itza in Mexico is famous for its unique architecture and astronomical observations. Its pyramids and other structures were built for monitoring astronomical events and for performing calendrical calculations. Astronomical events such as the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes were of great importance to Ancient Maya society, and these events were usually celebrated by gathering together at noon when the sun was directly overhead.
The Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen Itza is an important structure for such astronomical observations. The angular shadow of the steps on the pyramid appears like a snake, forming a wavy shadow on equinox days. This event is called the “Return of the Sun Serpent” and is watched with great interest by the public. It is known that the ancient Mayan people were highly proficient in astronomy. This shadow play on the pyramids probably served an astronomical purpose. However, we do not have precise information about this purpose.
Some researchers think that the Return of the Sun Serpent was used to illustrate the movements of the sun and calendar calculations. Others think that this event is related to Ancient Maya religious beliefs. Regardless, this unique shadow play at Chichen Itza demonstrates the interest and skill of the Ancient Maya society in astronomy and calendrical calculations. For detailed article on Mayans CLICK HERE.
Equinox at Mysterious Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a mysterious Neolithic monument located on the Salisbury plain in Wiltshire, England. This huge stone circle was built between 4000 and 5000 years ago. The giant stones, 93 meters high, weigh many tons and are thought to have come from the furthest reaches of England. There are many theories about what Stonehenge was built for. Some consider Stonehenge to be an astronomical calendar. Others consider this monument to be a place of worship. Some researchers suggest that this place is a cemetery, while others consider it to have medicinal properties because it is close to an underground water source.
The Stonehenge ruins in England are still considered a sacred place for druids and pagans, and are an important meeting point on equinox days. People still gather on the equinoxes and solstices for the arrival of spring and celebrate this day with rituals and songs. However, the original purpose of Stonehenge still remains a mystery, and although various beliefs are common, it is not exactly known why it was officially built. For detailed article on Stonehenge CLICK HERE.
Nowruz Celebrations
Nowruz, which was mentioned for the first time in Persian sources in the 2nd century AD, is celebrated as the first day of the new year according to the Iranian and Baha’i calendars and its word meaning is ‘new day’. This holiday, which has been celebrated for thousands of years, was accepted as the World Nowruz Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 2010. It is celebrated as a spring holiday not only in Iran but also by different peoples in many parts of the world. Great fires are lit, various dishes are cooked, songs are sung, dances are performed, and at the end, the beginning of the new year is celebrated by jumping over the great fire. For detailed article about Nowruz CLICK HERE.
Ostara Goddess
In Central European Pagan belief, the goddess of fertility, spring and dawn, called Ostara, Eostre or Eastre by the Germans, was believed to be revived at the vernal equinox. Symbolized as a young virgin woman, Ostara represented youth, beauty, freshness, productivity and fertility. Ostara, one of the 8 holidays in the cycle called the “Wheel of the Year” in pagan belief, was celebrated with eggs, colorful foods and sweets, which are the symbols of reproduction and abundance. After the pagan belief lost its power day by day and was banned by Christianity, Ostara Feast was also embraced by Christians and started to be celebrated as Easter. The Christian spring holiday we know as Easter has its origins in Ostara.
