Alban Eiler (Spring Equinox)by felicia eileen douglas Like the fall equinox, the spring equinox is one of two days in the year when the length of day and night are equal. The fall equinox marks the beginning of the dark times, when daylight hours are waning and dark hours are on the increase, and the spring equinox is just the opposite. It is the beginning of the light half of the year, when the number of daylight hours exceeds the number of dark hours. For many of us it is a time of awakening; we experience a boost in energy, an increased interest in nature and the rebirth taking place all around us . . . flowers begin to bloom, animals come out of hibernation and find mates. Everything is waking up, stretching, and enjoying the sunshine. Astronomy defines the spring equinox (also called the vernal equinox) as simply the moment at which the sun passes over the earth's equator. At the fall equinox, the sun moved from north of the equator to south, and now six months later it returns to the north side, crossing the equator again on its way. Like the fall equinox, the spring equinox doesn't occur on the exact same calendar date each year, although it varies by only a few days (March 20-22). This is simply because the number of days in a year is not a whole number. It's approximately 365-1/4 days long, which is why we add a day every four years to make up for the lost quarter-day. Like many astronomical events, the spring equinox coincides with the holidays of many faiths. Ancient Pagan (earth-centered) religions celebrated the changes in the earth, the return of light, and the time of planting and fertility by lighting fires at sunrise, ringing bells, and decorating hard-boiled eggs with dyes made from flowers and leaves. Saxon Pagans invoked Eostre, the goddess of fertility, whose totem animal was the rabbit. The decorating of eggs may have evolved from the earlier custom of collecting the variously colored eggs from birds' nests as talismans. For the ancient Persians, the spring equinox (Tahvil) marked the beginning of the year (Nowruz). Elaborate celebrations that still take place in modern Iran include the dyeing of eggs, thorough cleaning of homes, the lighting of bonfires, and street carnivals in which musicians play trumpets, drums, and tambourines. The Persians believed they were visited by the spirits of their ancestors at this time of endings and beginnings, a tradition that was shared by the ancient Celts at their new year on Samhain (which became the modern All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween). When many Pagan populations were converted to Christianity, the missionaries allowed them to keep their ancient customs as they adopted new ones. Not surprisingly, the Pagan festival of Eostre already occurred at the same time as the Christian observance of resurrection (rebirth), so a marriage of the two was natural, and Eostre gave her name to the modern holiday, Easter. And I'm sure you recognize some customs that have survived from Pagan times . . . the decorating of eggs and the Easter Bunny. The spring equinox takes place this year (2002) on March 20 at 19:16 Universal Time. Happy spring! Sources |