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.
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
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
"The most
significant ancient religious structure for the Jewish people (and later
Christians as well), was Solomon's temple at
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.
|
Table
of Vernal Equinoxes |
|
|
Year |
Date and Time (UTC) |
|
2000 |
20 March, |
|
2001 |
20 March, |
|
2002 |
20 March, |
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
20 March, |
|
2005 |
20 March, |
|
2006 |
20 March, |
|
2007 |
|
|
2008 |
20 March, |
|
2009 |
20 March, |
|
2010 |
20 March, |
|
|
|
|
subtract |
|
|
Eastern Standard Time (EST) |
-5 |
|
Central Standard Time
(CST) |
-6 |
|
Mountain Standard Time
(MST) |
-7 |
|
Pacific Standard Time
(PST) |
-8 |