What Is the Spring Equinox? And How to Celebrate
For most of the year, Earth tilts either toward or away from the sun at about a 23.5-degree angle. However, twice a year, our planet’s axis is not tilted, resulting in two days with nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness at all latitudes. We call these biannual celestial happenings “equinoxes,” a term derived from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night).
The U.S. Naval Observatory has a complete listing of equinoxes through 2100. The 2024 spring equinox falls on March 19.
This Significance of the Spring Equinox
Ancient civilizations, absent of streaming services and social media platforms, charted astrological events for several reasons, ranging from farming to religion. They built monuments and held celebrations to honor the equinoxes, which represented a time of celestial balance before the start of a new season.
Have Your Own Equinox Celebration
The spring equinox kicks off the spring season, a time when seedlings sprout, animals come out from hibernation, and we, too, find renewed energy to clean our houses and get outdoors. Celebrations of the spring equinox typically focus on finding balance and harmony with nature. Here are a few ideas:
Bring Nature Indoors
Celebrate the spring equinox by bringing the beauty and scents of spring indoors.
- Create symmetrical, pastel floral arrangements for various rooms of your home.
- Adorn your hearth with wildflowers.
- Decorate eggs, an ancient symbol of new beginnings.
- Brew your own tea using herbs from the garden.
Sow the Seeds of Spring
Ancient civilizations would plant crops over the equinox, readying their gardens for a spring bounty. Prepare your own harvest by planting during the equinox using square-foot gardening techniques for fruits and veggies. Or invite pollinators to your backyard by planting a hummingbird or butterfly garden. Skip the gardening gloves and plant the seeds by hand to really connect with the Earth. As you plant, take a moment of gratitude for another spring!
Enjoy a Mindful Moment in Nature
Nowadays, many of us spend much less time outdoors than we did as children. Set some time to immerse yourself in nature in your backyard or a weekend getaway. This could be a planned day trip to a Texas State Park or nature preserve with the family, or you can simply walk around the block at lunch. Get little ones involved with a nature scavenger hunt and try to be as present as possible in the sensory experience of walking in nature. What animals can you hear? What smells can you identify?
These events and activities also deserve a spot on your spring bucket list.
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