Spring Equinox: Embracing the Arrival of Spring with Time-Honored Customs and Extended Daylight

If you're someone who likes things just right, spring equinox is the ideal time for you. It's all about balance, just like Goldilocks would love.

During the spring equinox, we experience a perfect equilibrium of daytime and nighttime. This balance is felt globally, from the hot equator to the cold poles, with approximately 12 hours of each. It's nothing like the extreme differences seen during the winter or summer solstice.

In 2024, spring equinox is either on Tuesday, March 19, or Wednesday, March 20. All that depends on where you’re located.

Precisely when will the spring equinox happen?

The spring equinox is set to happen at 3:06 UTC on Wednesday, March 20, as reported by EarthSky.

For most people in the Western Hemisphere, this means the equinox will actually occur on Tuesday, March 19. Here is a list of times and dates for selected cities worldwide (adjusted for Daylight Saving Time):

In Anchorage (Alaska), it is 7:06 p.m. on Tuesday. In Las Vegas (Nevada), it is 8:06 p.m. on Tuesday. In Guadalajara (Mexico), it is 9:06 p.m. on Tuesday. In Chicago (Illinois), it is 10:06 p.m. on Tuesday. In Toronto (Canada) and Jacksonville (Florida), it is 11:06 p.m. on Tuesday.

For time zones located to the east of the above-mentioned places, the equinox will occur on Wednesday, March 20.

Looking for the time of the spring equinox in different cities around the world? Here are some examples:

• Halifax (Canada): 12:06 a.m. • Dublin (Ireland) and Accra (Ghana): 3:06 a.m. • Berlin (Germany): 4:06 a.m. • Alexandria (Egypt): 5:06 a.m. • Ankara (Turkey): 6:06 a.m. • Dubai (United Arab Emirates): 7:06 a.m. • Mumbai (India): 8:36 a.m. • Chiang Mai (Thailand): 10:06 a.m. • Hong Kong: 11:06 a.m. • Tokyo (Japan): 12:06 p.m.

If you don't see your city listed, you can click here to find out the exact time of the spring equinox in your location.

For some, fall is in the air

This equinox means fall is coming in the Southern Hemisphere. This is an evening aerial view of the Tokara Wine Estate below the Drakenstein Mountains in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Fall is approaching in the Southern Hemisphere, as indicated by the equinox. Below the Drakenstein Mountains in Stellenbosch, South Africa, we have an enchanting evening aerial view of the Tokara Wine Estate.

In the Northern Hemisphere, people are excited for longer days, blooming flowers, and greenery. However, for those in the Southern Hemisphere, the equinox signals the start of fall.

This is a time for Chileans, South Africans, Australians, and others in the Southern Hemisphere to welcome the cooler autumn weather.

Living near the equator in cities like Quito, Ecuador, or Singapore means that residents experience approximately 12 hours of daylight and darkness every day. This consistent balance of day and night is a normal occurrence for them.

The spring equinox is also known by another name.

If you hear someone mention "vernal equinox," just know that it is the same as saying equinox. The word equinox originates from the Latin term “equinoxium,” which signifies a balance between day and night. Similarly, vernal, also derived from Latin, stands for "spring."

Why does the spring equinox happen?

Salvadoran indigenous people deliver offerings to the fire during the celebration of the spring equinox 2023 at the archaeological site of San Andrés in the Zapotitán Valley of El Salvador.

During the celebration of the spring equinox in 2023, Salvadoran indigenous people at the archaeological site of San Andrés in the Zapotitán Valley of El Salvador offer gifts to the fire.

Photo by Alex Pena/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The Earth spins on an imaginary line known as the axis, running from the North Pole to the South Pole. This spinning is what causes day and night.

According to NASA, the axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees. This tilt means that during half of the Earth's orbit around the sun, one hemisphere receives more sunlight than the other. This difference in sunlight is what leads to the changing seasons.

The effect is most pronounced in late June and late December, known as the solstices. During these times, there are significant variations between day and night, particularly near the poles. This is why places like Scandinavia and Alaska experience long periods of darkness during the winter.

Since the winter solstice three months ago in December, you may have observed that the days are gradually becoming longer in the Northern Hemisphere, while the nights are getting shorter. And now, we have reached the spring equinox!

In the future, the Northern Hemisphere will receive more sunlight compared to the Southern Hemisphere. This is why temperatures start rising as we approach the summer solstice in June.

It's important to note that the equinoxes, which mark the start of spring and autumn, do not actually have equal day and night lengths.

Bonus time! On the equinox, you actually get a little more daylight than darkness. The amount of extra daylight you get depends on where you are in the world.

But wait, isn't the equinox supposed to have 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night?

The US National Weather Service states that the almost equal hours of day and night occur due to the intricate method of measuring sunrise and the bending of sunlight in our atmosphere. This phenomenon causes the sun to seem above the horizon even when it is actually below. The length of the day is slightly longer at higher latitudes compared to the equator because the sun takes more time to rise and set the closer you are to the poles.

We got that truly equal day/night split a few days before the official spring equinox. That’s called the equilux.

Special sites and celebrations

People surround the Kukulcan Pyramid at the Mayan archaeological site of Chichén Itzá in Yucatan State, Mexico, during the celebration of the spring equinox in 2023.

People surround the Kukulcan Pyramid at the Mayan archaeological site of Chichén Itzá in Yucatan State, Mexico, during the celebration of the spring equinox in 2023.

Hugo Borges/AFP/Getty Images

Humans have had a love affair with spring and all thing celestial.

In Mexico, Chichén Itzá is a Mayan site with special equinox ties. The impressive pyramid, El Castillo, was aligned in a way that on the equinoxes, a shadow in the form of a snake of light (Kukulcán) descends the steps.

In England, Stonehenge is a mysterious stone structure that has been a popular gathering place for solstices and equinoxes for ages. The events at Stonehenge are currently organized by English Heritage.

In Malta, an ancient megalithic temple in the Mnajdra complex is positioned in a way that allows the morning sun rays of the spring and fall equinox to shine through the main entrance.

Many cultures worldwide celebrate the equinox. Here are a few examples:

Visitors enjoy picnic spreads on spring equinox 2023 at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.

Visitors enjoy picnic spreads on spring equinox 2023 at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.

In Japan, Vernal Equinox Day falls on Wednesday, March 20 this year and is considered a public holiday. It is a day where many people continue to follow old customs like visiting family graves and having family gatherings to celebrate the start of spring.

Nowruz, also known as Nauryz, Navruz, or Nowrouz, is the Persian New Year celebration. The term itself means "new day."

This special holiday always falls on the first day of spring. The reason for this is that the Iranian calendar is a solar calendar, based on astronomical observations of Earth's movement around the sun. As a result, the new year begins on the day of the vernal equinox.

It's a time to celebrate new beginnings, wishing for prosperity and embracing the future while letting go of the past. Families take this opportunity to thoroughly clean their homes and closets, as well as purchase new clothing.

In China, a fun game during the spring equinox is attempting to stand an egg upright, as shared by VisitBeijing.com. This tradition dates back thousands of years, with the belief that achieving this feat will bring good luck. Additionally, people in China enjoy eating fresh local spring vegetables during this time.

Editor's P/S:

The spring equinox, a time of perfect balance and equilibrium, holds a special significance for those who appreciate symmetry and harmony. It marks the arrival of longer days and warmer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, while signaling the onset of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. This celestial event, with its equal distribution of daylight and darkness, invites us to reflect on the balance we seek in our own lives.

As the Earth orbits the sun, its tilted axis creates the seasons. The spring equinox occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator, aligning directly above the Earth's equator. This precise alignment results in the nearly equal duration of day and night worldwide, creating a sense of balance and harmony that is often celebrated in cultures around the globe. The spring equinox is a reminder of nature's inherent rhythms and a metaphor for the delicate equilibrium we strive for in our own lives.