Updated 18 September 2026
What is the spring equinox?
Each year, Earth reaches two equinoxes, moments when the Sun is positioned so that day and night are approximately equal in length. The March equinox is called the spring or vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it marks the beginning of astronomical autumn.
The exact date and time vary from year to year and by time zone. The event is astronomical rather than a fixed civil holiday, so local calendars and observances may place emphasis on nearby days.
The word equinox comes from Latin roots meaning “equal night.” In practice, atmospheric conditions and the definition of sunrise and sunset mean that daylight is not exactly twelve hours everywhere on the date itself.
The equinox occurs at one moment worldwide, while communities experience it at different local times and connect it with their own calendars, stories and practices.
Names and associated traditions
The spring equinox is associated with a range of names and seasonal themes. Examples include the arrival of spring, the vernal equinox, Ostara in some modern Neopagan contexts, and Nowruz, the Persian New Year, whose calendar places it near the March equinox.
Christian communities celebrate the Annunciation on 25 March, close to the equinox. The date of Easter is calculated through a calendar system involving the spring equinox and the lunar cycle, although the ecclesiastical calculation does not always follow the astronomical instant in a simple way.
Jewish Passover occurs in the spring and is linked to the Hebrew calendar, which is lunisolar. Its timing often falls near the equinox, but it is not itself an equinox festival.
Modern Pagan and earth-centered groups may mark the season with gatherings, symbolic offerings, planting, sunrise observances or reflections on balance and renewal. Practices vary considerably among communities and individuals.
Astronomy and cultural interpretation
At an equinox, the boundary between the illuminated and dark sides of Earth passes through the north and south poles. This geometry has encouraged people to connect the event with balance, transition and the return of warmer growing conditions.
Archaeological sites and monuments around the world are sometimes aligned with solar events. Their original meanings are not always known, so responsible interpretation distinguishes documented evidence from later speculation. Contemporary festivals may also use equinox imagery without claiming direct continuity with ancient practice.
Topics covered in this section
- Introduction, timing and history
- Easter and other religious celebrations
- Non-religious beliefs and popular ideas related to the equinox
Reading note
Seasonal customs differ by region, denomination and personal practice. Similar symbols—light, balance, planting or renewal—do not necessarily indicate a shared origin.