The day that opens spring: how not to scare off luck at the vernal equinox
The vernal equinox is one of the most important astronomical events of the year, which symbolizes the final transition from winter to spring. It is from this date that it is customary to count the beginning of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The phenomenon has attracted people's attention since ancient times and has been reflected in different cultures. It was associated with the awakening of nature, renewal and the beginning of a new life cycle. The equinox also occupied an important place in agricultural calendars, helping to plan future work. Read more about the meaning and traditions of this day in the Izvestia article.
When is the vernal equinox in 2026
In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox usually falls between March 19th and 21st. In 2026, this astronomical phenomenon will occur on March 20 at 17:46 Moscow time. From this moment, the astronomical spring begins, which will continue until the summer solstice in June, the day when the longest duration of daylight is observed.
What happens to the Earth at the moment of the equinox
In astronomy, the vernal equinox is the moment when the center of the Sun, in its apparent movement along the ecliptic, crosses the celestial equator and moves from the Southern hemisphere of the celestial sphere to the Northern. At this moment, the Earth's axis of rotation occupies a position perpendicular to the direction of the Sun, and the illumination of both hemispheres becomes almost the same.
The reason for this phenomenon is related to the peculiarities of the movement of our planet around the Sun. The Earth's axis is tilted to the plane of the orbit by about 23.5 degrees, and it is this tilt that causes the seasons to change. During the year, one hemisphere receives more sunlight, while the other receives less. However, at the moment of the equinox, the sun's rays are distributed almost evenly over the surface of the planet.
As a result, the length of day and night becomes almost the same and is about 12 hours. Nevertheless, there is no absolute equality. In practice, daylight usually turns out to be a little longer than night. This is due to atmospheric refraction, a phenomenon in which the Sun's rays are refracted in the Earth's atmosphere and make it possible to see the Sun even when it is already slightly below the horizon.
Why does the date of the equinox change
The date of the vernal equinox may shift slightly from year to year. This is due to the fact that an astronomical year, that is, the time of the Earth's complete revolution around the Sun, lasts approximately 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. A typical calendar year consists of 365 days, so there is a slight discrepancy between astronomical and calendar time.
To eliminate this difference, an additional day is periodically added to the calendar — February 29. This year is called a leap year because it has 366 days instead of the usual 365. This system was introduced as early as 46 BC, when the Alexandrian astronomer Sozigena, who lived during the reign of Julius Caesar, created the Julian calendar. His task was to bring the calendar chronology in line with the movement of the Earth around the Sun.
On Earth, the equinox is primarily noticeable by the change in the length of the day. After this date, the Sun rises higher above the horizon and stays in the sky longer than in previous weeks.
An increase in the amount of sunlight gradually affects natural processes. The air begins to warm up faster, the snow melts more actively, and the soil receives more heat. These conditions contribute to the beginning of spring changes in nature, which seems to be awakening after winter.
How the equinox was perceived in ancient times
For ancient peoples, the vernal equinox was of particular importance, as it served as an important guideline in economic life. People carefully observed the movement of the Sun and the change in the length of the day to determine the beginning of a new agricultural season. It was believed that it was after the equinox that one could start preparing the land, start plowing and prepare for sowing the first crops.
In many cultures, the vernal equinox was perceived as the beginning of a new year. This approach was typical for a number of ancient civilizations, where the calendar was based on natural and astronomical phenomena. In particular, archaeologists have discovered that many structures were created taking into account the position of the Sun during the equinoxes and solstices.
Temples, sanctuaries, and ancient observatories were often oriented in such a way that on certain days of the year the sun's rays passed through special openings or illuminated the central parts of buildings. This made it possible to accurately record the occurrence of important astronomical dates and use them for calendar maintenance.
In many cultures, the equinox was perceived not only as the beginning of a new natural cycle, the transition from winter lull to spring renewal, but also as the victory of light over darkness, which was reflected in various rituals and rituals.
For example, in Ancient Iran, Navruz was celebrated on these days — the celebration of spring renewal and the beginning of the new year according to the solar calendar, accompanied by family feasts and cleansing rituals.
In China, the day of the equinox is known as Chunfen. According to traditional Chinese philosophy, it represents the moment of balance when natural forces come into harmony. It was believed that on this date, the world seemed to split in half: yin and yang, day and night, cold and heat achieve an ideal balance.
In ancient European cultures, the equinox was associated with the goddesses of fertility and the awakening of nature, and festive rituals were often accompanied by rituals calling for speedy warmth and a good harvest.
Slavic traditions of meeting spring
In Slavic culture, at this time, the Komoyeditsa holiday was celebrated, dedicated to the meeting of spring. At that time, folk festivals were held and treats were prepared, which symbolized the sun. Round-shaped dishes resembling a sun disk were especially popular.
In some regions, it was customary to celebrate the first spring dawn in open places. People climbed the hills, went out to the fields or gathered on the hills to see the sunrise and greet the luminary as a symbol of new life and renewal. It was believed that at this moment it was possible to appeal to the forces of nature with requests for well-being, a good harvest and prosperity in the house.
Fire rituals were also an important part of the celebration. Our ancestors built bonfires around which villagers gathered. Fire was perceived as a symbol of purification and renewal after a long winter. Sometimes young people jumped over the campfire — this rite was associated with getting rid of diseases and protection from evil spirits.
In the old days, it was believed that such symbolic actions helped to accelerate the arrival of spring and had a beneficial effect on future crops. Over time, many elements of these traditions have passed into other spring holidays, including those reflected in the customs of Maslenitsa.
What can and cannot be done on this day
In the old days, the new season was supposed to be celebrated with pure thoughts and a good mood. It was believed that the inner mood of a person at this transitional moment sets the tone for the entire subsequent period, and if you meet spring with joy and peace in your soul, then the coming months will pass calmly, easily and bring good luck.
One of the key customs was unity with nature. People were eager to meet the dawn or at least spend as much time as possible in the open air. There was a belief that sunlight on the day of the equinox has a special power: it fills the body with energy and health, and attracts prosperity and prosperity to the house.
Quarrels, bad thoughts, and hard work were forbidden. The ancestors believed that any negative emotion or conflict could upset the delicate balance of nature and create a rift for the whole year ahead. Therefore, they tried to remain calm and show kindness to their neighbors.
Special attention was paid to the order in the house. Even before the equinox, it was customary to carry out thorough cleaning, get rid of junk and broken dishes, and sort out the rubble in closets. This ritual had a deep meaning: by freeing up the physical space around oneself, it was as if a person was clearing a place for new opportunities. The completion of old cases symbolized a farewell to the past and a willingness to make changes in life.
Folk signs for the day of the equinox
Like any significant day in the national calendar, the vernal equinox was overgrown with many signs, according to which our ancestors tried to predict the weather for the coming months and how successful the year would be.
The main sign has always been the weather of the day itself. If the sun was shining brightly and it was warm outside, it promised a prosperous summer. Fog in the morning was also considered a good sign — it promised heavy rains in summer, which meant a rich harvest of bread and herbs.
The arrival of the larks on the day of the equinox meant the imminent onset of heat, but if the wagtail was noticed first, it meant that spring would be long and floods could drag on.
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