Vernal equinox refers to the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, marking the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. The term "vernal" means spring, while "equinox" comes from the Latin words for "equal night." This is because during the vernal equinox, day and night are of approximately equal length. The vernal equinox occurs around March 20th or 21st each year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is an astronomical event that has been celebrated and observed by various cultures throughout history. It symbolizes new beginnings, rebirth, and the return of life after the cold winter months.
In Christianity the date is significant because Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
The pagans while watching the sun rise above the stone perform fertility rituals and worship Eostre, an ancient Saxon goddess symbolizing fertility and new beginnings. The most significant ancient religious structure for the Jewish people and later Christians as well , was Solomon s temple at Jerusalem, oriented to the Equinox sunrise.
It symbolizes new beginnings, rebirth, and the return of life after the cold winter months. In many cultures, the vernal equinox is associated with religious or spiritual celebrations. For example, in ancient Roman times, the festival of Hilaria was held during this time, which honored the return of the goddess Cybele and marked the start of spring.
Celebrating Vernal Equinox the Pagan way
An equinox is a moment in which the plane of Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun which occurs twice each year, around 20th March and 23rd September.
In the northern hemisphere, the vernal equinox, conventionally falling on 20th or 21st of March marks the beginning of spring while the autumnal equinox, falling on 22nd or 23rd September, marks the beginning of autumn. In the southern hemisphere, the vernal equinox occurs in September and the autumnal equinox in March. On an equinox, day and night are of approximately of equal durations all over the planet.
Who doesn’t welcome a warmer and colourful spring after a cold and dark winter? Many cultures from across the world celebrate the coming of warmer days in different ways. According to the Persian calendar or Iranian calendars, the vernal equinox is considered as the New Year or as “Nouroz” (new day), and the Hindus celebrate “Holi” marking the end of the chilly winters.
This celestial event is sought with many rituals and traditions. One such is the mysterious and the wonderful Stone Hedge of England. Stonehenge, which is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, has been long considered an important place of worship and celebration during the equinox.
The famous 5,000-year-old site attracts hundreds of Druids and Pagans along with enthusiastic tourists on early march mornings for a ritual of seeing the sunrise above the stones! The spring equinox marks the “turn of the wheel” or the “season of renewal”. The pagans while watching the sun rise above the stone perform fertility rituals and worship Eostre, an ancient Saxon goddess symbolizing fertility and new beginnings.
Isn’t it interesting?
Though it is believed that Stonehenge has been a burial and religious site since it was first built, nothing is known of any specific rituals which might have taken place there in prehistoric times. However, in the 1870s visitors started going to the monument on the night of the Summer Solstice - when the rising sun casts its first rays into the middle of the circle. Some people claim to have resurrected the ancient practices of the Celtic druids.
We don’t exactly know how it started, but it is a practice today! And each year for four days, on the spring and autumn equinox and the summer and winter solstice, people are allowed right in middle of the stone circle. Experiencing this ancient site from so close will be an item on your to-do list! Till then…Collect the awesome stamps depicting Stone Hedge that are there!
Ostara is a celebration of our rebirth into the world. It is time to emerge, to unfurl, to go out and do things! So go and do, Sea Witches. Nature has missed you.
Similarly, the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz, is celebrated on the vernal equinox and is a time of renewal and gratitude. From an astronomical perspective, the vernal equinox occurs when the Earth's axis is neither inclined towards nor away from the Sun. This means that the Sun rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west on this day. It is a moment of balance and harmony in the natural world. In addition to its cultural and spiritual significance, the vernal equinox also has practical implications. It is an important event for astronomers and navigators as it marks the start of a new astronomical season. The vernal equinox is used as a reference point for determining the positions of celestial objects and for calculating various astronomical phenomena. Overall, the vernal equinox is a fascinating and symbolic event that represents the changing seasons and the cycle of life. It is a time of transition and renewal, and it holds both cultural and astronomical significance..
Reviews for "The Vernal Equinox and its Connection to Fertility and New Beginnings"
- John - 1 star - I did not enjoy "Vernal equinox pagab" at all. The plot was confusing and did not make any sense. The characters were flat and lacked depth. The writing style was also very dry and dull. Overall, I found this book to be a complete waste of my time and would not recommend it to anyone.
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was disappointed with "Vernal equinox pagab". The story had potential, but it was poorly executed. The pacing was off, and I found myself losing interest multiple times throughout the book. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, making it difficult to connect with the characters. I was hoping for a more engaging read, but unfortunately, this was not it.
- Mike - 1 star - "Vernal equinox pagab" was not my cup of tea. The writing was overly descriptive to the point of being tedious. I felt like I was reading a textbook rather than a fictional story. The author's attempt at creating suspense and mystery fell flat, as the twists and turns were predictable. I struggled to finish this book and cannot recommend it to others.