Spring Equinox
March 20 · Level 4 · #1412 of 2238
The spring equinox begins astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere, as the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading north. South of the equator, the same event welcomes autumn: one planet, two seasonal stories.
How it is celebrated: people watch the sunrise, take nature walks and join activities explaining the seasons. Various cultures also hold their own spring festivals and renewal rituals around this turning point.
Day and night are not usually exactly twelve hours long. Atmospheric refraction and the practice of timing sunrise from the Sun’s upper edge give daylight a little extra time.