Why is the vernal equinox important?
An equinox, derived from the Latin words for “equal” and “night,” is either of the two times per year when the sun is directly above the equator. The vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, and is at the center of many ancient and contemporary festivities and practices.SignificanceAs seasons change, the sun moves higher or lower in the sky due to the tilt of the earth’s axis as it orbits. In the northern hemisphere, there is increasingly more daylight than night between the vernal equinox and summer solstice; this triggers a seasonal increase in temperature.Time FrameThe vernal equinox generally occurs March 20 or March 21. The change in date stems from the fact that the earth’s orbit around the sun takes 365 1/4 days, while the Gregorian calendar constitutes 365 days in nonleap years.HistoryThe Ancient Babylonian new year began with the new moon after the vernal equinox. The ancient Greeks first identified the vernal equinox as occurring during Aries.
