India is a vibrant and colorful country, but it’s at its most colorful during Holi – also known as the festival of color or festival of love, which marks the beginning of Spring. Regardless of spiritual beliefs, it’s remarkable to witness.ĭetails: Stonehenge, Salisbury SP4 7DE, United Kingdom | Official Website Udaipur, India Usually, a few hundred people will gather for spiritual and ancient spring celebrations and traditions. For Druids, the equinox marks the awakening of the Goddess of Spring and the life of nature. To Pagans, the Spring equinox celebration is about giving thanks to the ancient Saxon goddess, Eostre, who represents new beginnings and fertility. ![]() In fact, many historians believe that marking the passage of time is one of the reasons why Stonehenge was built – to be a monument aligned with the movement of the sun. It’s a very old tradition that brings England’s oldest tribes together to honor the coming of spring.įor many ancient civilizations, marking the passing of time has been an important part of their history and culture. However, the illusions can be witnessed the day before and after the equinox, so you can visit them on different days to witness each wonder.ĭetails for Chichen Itza: Yucatan, Mexico | Official Websiteĭetails for Dzibilchaltún: 97308 Yucatan, Mexico | Official Website Stonehenge, UKįor centuries, Druids and Pagans have gathered at Stonehenge in England for a spring equinox ritual – watching as the sun rises above the stones. During sunrise on the Spring Equinox, you can witness the sunshine through the portal in the Temple of the Seven Dolls, showing once again how Maya civilizations incorporated an understanding of astronomy into their architecture.ĭzibilchaltún is 85 miles from Chichen Itza, so it’s not possible to catch both on the same day. This fascinating and ancient optical illusion is what draws thousands of people to the historic site every year for the spring equinox.Īnother popular Maya site to celebrate Spring Equinox is Dzibilchaltún, at the Temple of Seven Dolls, where another marvel of incredible accuracy by Maya architects can be witnessed. When facing the steps of the Pyramid of Kukulkan at Chichen Itza from a given angle, an illusion of light casts a shadow in the shape of a serpent descending the steps of the pyramid. It is believed that Kukulcan once told the Maya people that one day a feathered serpent would come down to the Earth and speak to them.ĭuring the Spring Equinox, somewhere between 4-6 pm, a special phenomenon occurs. The Toltec’s main god, Quetzalcoatl, was adopted by the Maya who they called Kukulcan. When the Toltec warriors arrived at the Maya Peninsula, they founded the Itza tribe. Each year, approximately 25,000 visitors flock to Chichen Itza to celebrate Spring Equinox. No matter where you are, you’ll find spring festivals, celebratory events, and lots of fun ways to honor the arrival of spring.Ĭhichen Itza is the world’s most famous Maya archeological site and is one of the seven wonders of the world. ![]() Spring celebrations around the world make traveling for the equinox a wonderful experience. It marks the beginning of spring in the Northern hemisphere and the beginning of fall in the Southern Hemisphere. The confusion between spring and fall with the hemispheres is why it’s sometimes easier to just refer to it as the vernal equinox (even though vernal means spring, it sometimes sounds less confusing).įor thousands of years, ancient civilizations have held spring equinox celebrations. In 2023, it lands on March 20th in the Northern Hemisphere and September 22nd in the Southern Hemisphere. The Spring Equinox falls on different days each year, although it is usually around the same time. It is also referred to by other names, such as Ostara equinox and the vernal equinox. The spring equinox is the time of year when the sun lies directly above the equator, meaning that the length of day and night are equal.
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