Vernal equinox: Difference between revisions

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	{{mergeto\|March equinox}}
	] by ] on the day of equinox]]
	The '''vernal equinox''' (or '''spring equinox''') marks the beginning of astronomical ]. It occurs around ] in the ], and around ] in the ]. In ] the vernal ] marks the middle of spring. At the same moment that the vernal equinox occurs in one hemisphere, it is the time of the ] in the other hemisphere.

	== Astronomy ==
	]

	The ] and the ] are two ]s. As such, they intersect at two points, the ]es. When the Sun, which moves along the ecliptic, occupies the point that crosses the equator while heading north, it is the time of the vernal equinox. Due to the ], the point of intersection moves completely around the sky in a 25,800-year cycle. This century it is in the southwest portion of ] moving slowly toward ].

	== Solar term ==
	{{solstice-equinox}}

	In east Asian ]s, '''Chunfen''' (]: 春分; ]: 春分; ]: chūn fēn; ]: 春分; ]: 춘분) is a ] or period of time when the Sun lies between the ]s of 0° and 15°. It sometimes refers in particular to the day when Sun is exactly at a celestial longitude of 0°. It usually begins around ] and ends around ].

	== Holidays ==
	The ] (]ian) festival of ] is celebrated on the vernal equinox. According to the ancient Persian mythology Jamshid, the mythological king of Persia, ascended to the throne on this day and each year this is comemorated with festivities for two weeks. These festivities recall the myth of creation and the ancient cosmology of Iranian and Persian people.

	The vernal equinox is the most significant day in the pagan calendar, and kemetic pagans spend the day praying to the goddess of cats, Bast.

	The ] ] of ] (or Eostar).

	In ], Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日 ''Shunbun no Hi'') is an official ], and is spent visiting family graves and holding family reunions.

	] is celebrated on the Sunday after the first ecclesiastical ] day on or after the ecclesiastical vernal equinox day ] (see ]).

	] was initially celebrated on the vernal equinox, ] ]. It is currently celebrated in America on ].

	] and Bengali New Years are celebrated after the sidereal vernal equinox (]). The former is celebrated in the South-Indian state of ], and the later in ] and the East-Indian state of ].

	In many ] countries, ] is celebrated on the vernal equinox.

	== Egg-balancing myth ==
	A common ] regarding the vernal equinox is that this is the one day of the year that eggs can be balanced on their end. Although this myth is untrue (eggs can be balanced on any date with enough patience) and unsound (would it be different in both hemispheres? Why only the instant of vernal equinox? Why not autumnal equinox?) it is often perpetuated in the news. Also, the current ] for egg balancing wasn't done on the vernal equinox. For a fuller treatment of the issue, see:
	* {{snopes\|link=http://www.snopes.com/science/equinox.htm\|title=Infernal Egguinox}}
	* {{cite web
	\| url = http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/egg_spin.html
	\| title = Standing an egg on end on the Spring Equinox
	\| work = BadAstronomy.com
	}}
	* {{cite web
	\| url = http://www.clarkfoundation.org/astro-utah/vondel/equinoxver.html
	\| title = Equinox Means Balanced Light, Not Balanced Eggs
	\| work = Project ASTRO UTAH
	\| publisher = The Clarke Foundation
	}}

	This myth was also featured on '']'' in the episode titled ''Evidence of Things not Seen'' (s4e20).

	==See also==
	* ]
	* ]
	** ]
	** ]
	* ]
	** ]
	** ]

	== References ==
	<references />

	== External links ==
	* {{cite web
	\| url = http://landscaping.about.com/cs/pestcontrol/a/groundhog_day_5.htm
	\| title = Groundhog Day and the Spring Equinox
	\| work = Landscaping
	\| publisher = About.com
	}}
	* {{cite web
	\| url = http://www.equinox-and-solstice.com/html/vernal_equinox.html
	\| title = The Vernal Equinox
	\| work = Equinox and Solstice.com
	}}
	* {{cite web
	\| url = http://www.knowth.com/loughcrew-equinox.htm
	\| title = Ancient Equinox Alignment
	\| work = Loughcrew, Ireland
	}}
	*

	{{succession\|office=] (節氣)\|preceded=] (驚蟄)\|succeeded=] (清明)}}

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Revision as of 05:51, 13 July 2006

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Equinox