According to some sources, it was at the spring equinox that the ancient Egyptian god Osiris rose from the dead. The Great Sphinx of Giza looks straight at the rising sun exactly two days a year: at the spring and autumn equinoxes. The equinoxes also serve as alignment points for the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. And the Mayan pyramid at Chichen Itza is amazingly designed so that shadows cast by the sun at the equinox seem to show the emergence of Queztlcoatl, the feathered serpent deity.
 |
| Click here to watch the great feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl slither down the pyramid at Chichin Itza |
Easter and Passover both betray their pagan roots in the timing of spring holy days. Passover begins on the first day of the Hebrew month of Nisan—which just happens to be the first full moon after the March equinox, and Christians simply moved the date to the following Sunday to celebrate Easter. Hindus also celebrate on the full moon after the equinox, at the colorful spring festival of Holi.
It’s not hard to see why this symbolism emerged all over the world. The sun is halfway on its journey from south to north. We stand at the threshold between the sparseness and dark of winter and the abundance and radiance of spring. From our standpoint on Earth, the Universe seems to be in balance. We’ve just been through months of quiet, stasis, and stillness, a time to stay indoors and withdraw into ourselves. We’re now entering a time of activity and energy, when we’ll head for lakes and beaches. The snow will melt. Blossoms will bloom soon, local fruits will ripen.
Even if you don’t take part in traditional religious ceremonies and aren’t a follower of the ancient deities, you can still celebrate the equinox. Have a party! Decorate your house! Write a poem! Write a song! Make a special dinner! Drink wine! Ring bells! Honor the sun!