Ready for the first day of spring 2021? The spring equinox, which arrives Saturday, marks the beginning of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere. The new season technically starts at 5:37 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday, which is when the sun will be shining directly on the Earth’s equator, bringing almost equal minutes of daylight and darkness all around the globe. The word equinox was formed by two Latin words: “Equi” is the Latin prefix for “equal” and “nox” is the Latin word for “night.” The other name of this annual occurrence, the vernal equinox, was derived from the word “vernal,” which translates to “new” and “fresh,”
This will bring increasing daylight hours, warming temperatures, softer winds and sprouting plants as the Northern Hemisphere begins to be tilted more toward the sun. It's no surprise that the spring equinox is usually viewed as a time of rebirth and growth.
With its promise of the earth blossoming, the vernal equinox has often been linked with spiritual significance. As a result, the arrival of spring has been celebrated by communities around the world and throughout history, from the ancient Roman festival that honored the goddess Cybele to gatherings at the Mayan architectural site Chichén Itzá, where the equinox's unique lighting creates a shadowy image on the Kukulcan Pyramid's stone walls. Contemporary holidays celebrated around this time include Holi, Passover, and Easter. Nowruz, the Persian New Year, falls directly on the vernal equinox, as does the wiccan holiday of Ostara.
The first day of spring arrives eight days before the full March “worm moon” will glow in the night sky. Similarly, when it comes to astrology, the vernal equinox also holds a deep significance: It’s the start of the astrological new year, which begins when the sun enters Aries (the first sign of the zodiac) in the Northern Hemisphere. From there, the sun starts a new journey around the 12 signs.
The world starts life anew, and truly in 2021 a new future starts to unfurl. The night and the day sit balanced together hand in hand, welcoming a new season of growth and abundance ahead. We plant our seeds of hope, good health, love, and regeneration for the months yet to come. May the dark cloak of winter lift to reveal rays of sunshine and warmth in your life.
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