celebrating spring equinox instead of easter

What is so special about the spring equinox?

An equinox is an event that takes place in Earth's orbit around the sun. And there are also plenty more effects in play around the time of the March equinox, which all of us can notice. In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox brings earlier sunrises, later sunsets, softer winds and sprouting plants.

What does the spring equinox symbolize?

The equinox happens when the day and the night are at equal length, and the sun's journey to get there signifies the universe's journey as well. ... Therefore, the spring equinox represents new light and life, new beginnings, seeds, and path."

What religion celebrates spring equinox?

Today, Pagans continue to celebrate the coming of Spring. They attribute the changes that are going on in the world to an increase in the powers of their God and Goddess (the personifications of the great force that is at work in the world).

Does spring equinox affect mood?

As the melatonin recedes and the light begins to affect the brain, we can get a light “spring” in our step, we become more alert and experience increase feelings of happiness. The fresh air, scents and visual displays of bloom and birth, feel good as we consume them with our senses.

Is there a spring solstice?

Vernal equinox(about March 21): day and night of equal length, marking the start of spring. Summer solstice (June 20 or 21): longest day of the year, marking the start of summer. Autumnal equinox(about September 23): day and night of equal length, marking the start of autumn.

Is there an equinox in March?

Equinoxes occur twice a year — once in March and once in September at a precise moment in time. On the March equinox, which arrives Saturday at 5:37 a.m. ... The Earth is tilted on its axis by about 23.5 degrees, causing one hemisphere to receive more of the sun's light and energy at different times of year.

Who celebrates spring equinox?

The Iranian New Year (Nowruz, No-Ruz, No-Rooz, or No Ruz) occurs on the March equinox, in accordance with the Persian calendar. It has been celebrated for over 3000 years and is rooted in the traditions of Zoroastrianism. No-Ruz celebrations last for about 12 days.

How does Equinox affect us?

Find out how they influence the seasons and hours of daylight on each planet. Every six months, once in March and again in September, an equinox splits Earth's day almost in half, giving us about 12 hours of daylight and 12 of night.

What determines the first day of spring?

In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox (aka spring equinox or vernal equinox) occurs when the Sun crosses the equator line, heading north. This event marks the start of spring in the northern half of the globe.

What religion celebrates New Year in March?

The Zoroastrian New Year coincides with the Iranian New Year of Nowruz and is celebrated by the Parsis in India and by Zoroastrians and Persians across the world. In the Baháʼí calendar, the new year occurs on the vernal equinox on March 20 or 21 and is called Naw-Rúz.

What is the pagan spring holiday?

Beltane is a Pagan holiday, and one of the eight Sabbats. It falls about halfway between the spring equinox (Ostara) and the coming summer solstice, Litha. The holiday celebrates spring at its peak, and the coming summer. Beltane also sometimes goes by the name May Day.

What are the pagan holidays?

Holidays with pagan origins:

Christmas.
New Year's Day.
Easter.
The Roman version of Halloween.
May 1st - Labor Day.
Epiphany or Three Kings Day.
Saint John's Eve.

Is there always a full moon on the equinox?

While we get a spring equinox every year, the coincidence of a full moon with the spring equinox is much rarer, as it happens only once every 19 years. ... Although equinox literally means "equal night," it isn't exactly true that there are 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night everywhere on Earth during the equinox.

How does the autumn equinox affect us?

At the equinox, days and nights will be approximately equal in length. For us in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is rising later now, and nightfall comes sooner. We're enjoying the cooler days of almost-autumn.

What does solstice literally mean?

The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol ("sun") and sistere ("to stand still"), because at the solstices, the Sun's declination appears to "stand still"; that is, the seasonal movement of the Sun's daily path (as seen from Earth) pauses at a northern or southern limit before reversing direction.

What are the three month of spring?

The spring months: meteorological spring

For most of the northern hemisphere the spring months are usually March, April and May, and so by this definition spring starts on 1 March.

Why is there a Solstice?

Solstices occur because Earth's axis of rotation is tilted about 23.4 degrees relative to Earth's orbit around the sun. This tilt drives our planet's seasons, as the Northern and Southern Hemispheres get unequal amounts of sunlight over the course of a year.

What happens on March 21st equinox?

In the northern hemisphere, the spring, or vernal equinox happens around March 21, when the sun moves north across the celestial equator. The autumnal equinox occurs around September 22nd, when the sun crosses the celestial equator going south.

Who is ostara?

Essentially, the tale is that Ostara, the ancient Germanic goddess of the spring, transformed a bird into a hare, and the hare responded by laying colored eggs for her festival. Some online sources, such as Goddess Gift, claim this story is very old indeed.

How do you celebrate Yule?

Here are some customary ways to celebrate the solstice—you might notice that some resemble beloved Christmas traditions.

Build a Yule Altar. ...
Make an Evergreen Yule Wreath. ...
Burn a Yule Log. ...
Decorate a Yule Tree. ...
Exchange Nature-Based Gifts. ...
Give Back to Nature. ...
Celebrate in Candlelight. ...
Set up a Meditation Space.