As Winter fades away and the Earth springs back to life, let's take a deeper look into this fascinating occurance of the start of Spring
What exactly happens?
Spring is officially here! The weather gets warmer (well lets hope), the flowers blossom, and not to mention we are nearing the end of school! These are some things that you may associate with spring, but the arrival of spring is all determined by the Spring Equinox. Whether or not you have heard of it, it is a fascinating occurrence in the changing of seasons. This year is is especially astounding, considering the super moon that occurs on the exact same date. The March equinox marks the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator, which is the imaginary line above the Earth's equator. Some would say that the Earth is in a state of balance, where day and night, the light and dark, are equal. In fact, the proper name for the occurrence is “vernal equinox”, where equinons is derived from the Latin word “equinoxium”, which means “equality between day and night”. The last time a full moon occured on the Spring equinox was 1981. But it is even more fascinating, hence it is a Super Moon, which means the moon will appear larger than normal because of its close proximity to Earth.
How is it celebrated?
The Spring Equinox has been a time for ancient tradition and celebration by many around the world. The vernal equinox is also the Persian New Year, which sparks a month long celebration of new beginnings. In Chichen Itza Mexico, at the Kukulkan pyramid, crowds of people gather to watch aweingly at the shadow casted by the sun which creates a snake sliding down the pyramid staircase. Making way to Stonehenge England, you will witness pagans, drouds, and tourists watch a picturesque sunrise at the prehistoric monument. Finally, celebrate the major festival in India, “Holi”, which marks the start of spring, where people come together for song, dance, and to splash their loved ones with vibrant colors.
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